Irrigation

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August 10, 2022 The irrigation at all costs mindset and narrow policies for drought protection during the colonial rule ignored rainfed agriculture and local practices that sustained agriculture in the Bombay Deccan. This continues even today.
Recurrent droughts and the struggle for survival (Image Source: Gaurav Bhosale via Wikimedia Commons):
August 9, 2022 Ensuring irrigation through farm ponds in tribal Chhattisgarh
Many tribal farmers opted for individual farm ponds under MGNREGA ensuring protective irrigation. (Image: Meenakshi Singh)
April 8, 2022 Lack of governance and six toothless irrigation acts have done very little to change the water situation on the ground in Maharashtra, argues water expert Pradeep Purandare.
Peanut irrigation in India (Image Source: Seratobikiba via Wikimedia Commons)
March 11, 2022 Subsidies enable tribal farmers to adopt micro-irrigation systems providing them assured irrigation
A key mitigation strategy to deal with water scarcity due to climate change is on-farm management of water using techniques like micro-irrigation (Image: India Water Portal Flickr)
September 17, 2021 Benefits of well-managed commons on livelihoods
Collective efforts revived the canal structure of Bichhiya dam bringing water to the village (Image: Foundation for Ecological Security)
August 29, 2021 Experience of Aga Khan Rural Support Programme (India) in revitalizing the traditional phad irrigation system in hilly tribal villages of Western Madhya Pradesh
Community members contribute voluntary labour required for laying the pipeline network and tank construction (Image: Anjali Aggarwal)
Wheat sowing dates influences yields in Eastern Gangetic Plains
Study indicates that better management of the annual cropping calendar can pay dividends for food security Posted on 01 Nov, 2022 08:56 AM

Wheat is a principal crop staple in South Asia with current cultivation extending across 36.1 million ha; around 73% of this area is in India where wheat provides approximately 21% of the aggregate food energy and 17% o

Greater adjustments to the annual cropping calendar are anticipated to increase wheat yield potential by an average of 0.84 t/ha (Image: Pixnio)
Shrinkage of aus rice in eastern India
A paper looks at the darker side of agricultural intensification - disappearance of autumn or aus rice, entry of high yield varieties, and implications in terms of environmental sustainability in West Bengal Posted on 12 Oct, 2022 01:13 PM

Agricultural intensification riding on the Green Revolution ushered bountiful production of selected staples (rice, wheat, maize) in the developing nations and caused a significant economic growth.

Rice has undergone an unprecedented rise in production and yield during the green revolution (Image: Wikimedia Commons)
Taming water - Irrigation and drought protection in colonial India and the present
The irrigation at all costs mindset and narrow policies for drought protection during the colonial rule ignored rainfed agriculture and local practices that sustained agriculture in the Bombay Deccan. This continues even today. Posted on 10 Aug, 2022 07:12 AM

Following independence and with the advent of the green revolution, agriculture in India has been based on input intensive farming, and agricultural policies and investments continue to support irrigated agriculture. This excessive focus on irrigated agriculture has led to the neglect of rainfed agriculture.

Recurrent droughts and the struggle for survival (Image Source: Gaurav Bhosale via Wikimedia Commons):
MGNREGS becoming the quintessential scheme for tribal agriculture
Ensuring irrigation through farm ponds in tribal Chhattisgarh Posted on 09 Aug, 2022 03:00 PM

Chhattisgarh was carved out of Madhya Pradesh in 2000 in response to the demand for a separate state with the unique Chhattisgarhi identity. Among various facets that make up this identity, being a tribal state is also prominent. It is one of the ten states that constitute the Central Indian Tribal Belt (CITB).

Many tribal farmers opted for individual farm ponds under MGNREGA ensuring protective irrigation. (Image: Meenakshi Singh)
Jal Jeevan Mission implementation lags in 13 states: Centre
Policy matters this fortnight Posted on 03 Aug, 2022 03:08 PM

Centre identifies 13 focus states lagging in implementation of Jal Jeevan Mission

A household water pipe (Source: IWP Flickr photos)
Evaluating water use reduction strategies in Marathwada
Tracking the outcome of select water conservation structures with the community in Aurangabad Posted on 18 Jul, 2022 05:07 PM

Marathwada, comprising eight districts in Maharashtra, often makes the headlines due to recurring drought. Irregular rains and shifts to cash crops have made the water situation precarious in the region.

Farmers are assured of regular irrigation water, hence they have started cultivating ginger (Image: Sehgal Foundation)
Panel takes note of two project proposals that could affect Yamuna floodplains
Policy matters this fortnight Posted on 18 Jul, 2022 12:51 PM

NGT panel raises concern about two project proposals that could affect Yamuna floodplains

Climate change and transition in cropping patterns in West Bengal
Crop choice decisions made by the farmers largely depend on the infrastructure facilities, technology applied and ecological conditions Posted on 26 May, 2022 01:35 PM

With changing climatic and market conditions, Indian agriculture sector needs appropriate transition in cropping patterns to ensure sustainability in growth of the sector and inclusiveness of land-constrained farmers in the intensification process.

The presence of infrastructure facilities influence crop choice in favour of non-foodgrains (Image: UN Women/Ashutosh Negi)
Ministry weakens protections against coal mine expansion
Policy matters this fortnight Posted on 24 May, 2022 08:02 PM

Ministry weakens protections against mine expansion using coal shortage excuse

Work in progress in coal mines in Jharsuguda (Image Source: Makarand Purohit)
Water for all, still a dream?
Lack of governance and six toothless irrigation acts have done very little to change the water situation on the ground in Maharashtra, argues water expert Pradeep Purandare. Posted on 08 Apr, 2022 09:57 PM

Irrigation in Maharashtra

Peanut irrigation in India (Image Source: Seratobikiba via Wikimedia Commons)
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