Political

Efficiency of water use in Indian agriculture - Madras Institute of Development Studies
This working paper by the Madras Institute for Development Studies informs that the increase in the demand for water in all sectors especially in agriculture, and dwindling nature of the per capita availability of its supply in recent decades has induced scientists and researchers to focus their attention more on efficient use of available water. However, informed discussion of the problem and its solutions is impeded by the lack of adequate and reliable knowledge of how much water is used, where, for what purpose and how efficiently. This paper is a modest attempt to fill this gap.
K.Sivasubramaniyan
Prof. A. Vaidyanathan
Posted on 29 Aug, 2009 01:10 PM

This paper by the Madras Institute for Development Studies presents estimates of the ‘consumptive use’ of water in crop production; the ratio of consumptive use to gross water utilization; and productivity per unit of consumptive use.
Arsenic contamination of irrigation water, soil and crops in Bangladesh: A paper from the UN Food and Agriculture Organisation
Data indicates that approximately 20 percent of the shallow tubewells in Bangladesh exceed the standard and 10000 to 30000 people have been diagnosed with arsenicosis to date
Alex Heikens
Posted on 29 Aug, 2009 12:53 PM

Arsenic contamination of irrigation water, soil and crops in Bangladesh: Risk implications for sustainable agriculture and food safety in Asia.

Click here to download the paper
NREGA is making a difference to the lives of the rural poor: An article from Frontline magazine
"Battle for work", is a cover page article from the magazine Frontline (Vol. 26 :: No. 01, Jan 03 - 16, 2009 Issue), on how the NREGA is making a difference to the lives of the rural poor, in an unprecedented achievement in the history of social security in India.
Anish Vanaik
Ashish Ranjan
Jean Dreze
Kamayani Swami
Kartika Bhatia
Karuna Muthiah
Nandini Nayak
Reetika Khera
Siddhartha
Posted on 29 Aug, 2009 12:33 PM

Read the main article: " Battle for work" by Jean Dreze and Reetika Khera.
Compilation: Resources on NREGA from the Right to Food Coalition
A compilation of resources on the NREGA from the Right to Food Coalition
Right To Food Coalition
Posted on 29 Aug, 2009 12:15 PM

The Right To Food Coalition website has many resources on NREGA and includes:
Government of India's national action plan on climate change (NAPCC)
The developed countries (known in Climate Change parlance as Annexe 1 countries), have taken greater responsibility for mandated GHG cuts. Hence, developing countries like India were not too bothered about climate change, its impact, and what needed to be done. But in the long term, especially as in the case of a large country like India, a large population would increase consumption exponentially as it developed.
Rama Mani
Posted on 29 Aug, 2009 12:08 PM

This would lead to a drastic increase in GHG emissions. There is the need to make a choice for a low-carbon path, even if there is no mandated reduction in GHG emissions.
Resource on the National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (NREGA)
Information and resources on the NREGA on the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) website
Centre for Science and Environment (CSE)
Posted on 29 Aug, 2009 12:06 PM

This includes articles, background papers, photo slideshows and Down To Earth magazine coverage of issues realting to the NREGA.

Click here to read more about the NREGA
Remediation of arsenic for agriculture sustainability, food security and health in Bangladesh
FAO's working paper on remediation of arsenic for agriculture sustainability, food security and health in Bangladesh.
Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO)
Posted on 29 Aug, 2009 11:44 AM

Arsenic (As) in groundwater is a major health concern in Asia and the risks from using shallow tube wells (STWs) for drinking-water are well- known. At present, twelve countries in the Asian region have reported high As levels in part of their groundwater resources.
Pani panchayat in Orissa: The practice of participatory water management
This paper published in the journal Development explores the impact of new institutions in participatory water management such as Pani Panchayat (PP) in Orissa in the context of equity and access to water, transfer of property rights and handling water conflicts.
Basanta Kumar Sahu
Posted on 29 Aug, 2009 11:32 AM

This paper, published in the journal Development argues that new policy interventions such as Pani Panchayat in Orissa, India ignore the local socioeconomic contexts and fail to ensure co
Jai SRI': Celebrating civil society involvement in System of Rice Intensification (SRI) in India
This paper provides an overview of civil society engagement and spread of SRI in India. Examining why civil society contribution has been important for SRI dissemination and adaptation in India, and what civil society organisations bring to the SRI agenda., The paper suggests that recognising this and understanding the changing dynamic of state civil society relation is critical for SRI uptake.
Dr. C. Shambu Prasad
Posted on 29 Aug, 2009 11:17 AM

SRI is an agroecological innovation that emerged as a civil society innovation and has since captured the imagination of thousands of farmers across the world, including India.
Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change: Constituents, working groups and compilation of resources relating to the IPCC
The IPCC is a scientific body; the information it provides with its reports is based on scientific evidence and reflects existing viewpoints within the scientific community.
Rama Mani
Posted on 29 Aug, 2009 10:58 AM

When climate change was first posited as "real" people all over the world realized that this issue encompasses the inter linkage of several other issues. The scope and magnitude of the consequences of climate change are also very far reaching.
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