Existing regulations should be modified to permit farmers to convey groundwater through watercourses used for surface irrigation, as long as they do not interfere with canal deliveries or cause deterioration of the infrastructure. Technical assistance programs for farmers who wish to invest in a tubewell are valuable in helping farmers to locate pockets of fresh water, avoiding saline areas. Information on water tables and sustainable withdrawals should be made available at the local level, to assist farmers and government officials in making appropriate decisions on resource use. Finally, although purchased water makes a significant contribution to agricultural productivity, there is still a decided productivity gap between farmers who purchase groundwater and those who own their own wells. To improve the reliability of groundwater markets, more research is needed to identify incentives for sellers and factors that promote more equitable sharing of groundwater resources.
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