Lok Sabha Question No. 1316 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2024-07-30
Subject: Effects of Water Resources Depletion on Agriculture
Ministry: AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE
Asked by: Shri E T Mohammed Basheer

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE& FARMERS' WELFARE

## DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE & FARMERS' WELFARE

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1316

TO BE ANSWERED ON THE 30 TH  JULY, 2024

## EFFECTS OF WATER RESOURCES DEPLETION ON AGRICULTURE

1316.  SHRI E T MOHAMMED BASHEER:

Will the Minister of AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS' WELFARE क ृ िष एवं िकसान कʞाण मंũी

be pleased to state: (a)  whether the Government realise that water resources  depletion  and  biodiversity loss  is affecting the agricultural sector in the country; (b)  if so, the details thereof; and (c)    the    details    of    the    corrective    steps    that    the    Government    proposes    to

- introduce  in  this regard?

## ANSWER

MINISTER OF STATE FOR AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE क ृ िष एवं िकसान कʞाण राǛ मंũी (SHRI RAMNATH THAKUR) (a) to (c): It  is  a  fact  that  the    loss  of  biodiversity  and  depletion  of  water  resources affect  the  agriculture  sector.  However,  Government  of  India  is  undertaking  various initiatives  for ensuring the sustainable agriculture in the country. To promote sustainable agriculture  and  good  agricultural  practices  with  environment  concern,  Government  is implementing  National  Mission  for  Sustainable  Agriculture  (NMSA)  which  is  one  of  the National Missions under National Action Plan on Climate Change. NMSA aims to evolve and  implement  strategies  to  make  Indian  agriculture  more  resilient  to  the  changing climate. NMSA was approved for three major components i.e. Rainfed Area Development, On Farm Water Management  and Soil Health Management. Subsequently, new programmes  such  as  Soil  Health  Card,  Paramparagat  Krishi  Vikas  Yojana,  Mission Organic  Value  Chain  Development  in  North  Eastern  Region  and  Agroforestry,  National Bamboo Mission, Per Drop More Crop (PDMC) etc. were also included under NMSA. Department of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare (DA&FW) is also implementing Crop

Diversification Programme (CDP) in original green revolution States viz. Punjab, Haryana and  in  Western  Uttar  Pradesh  to  divert  the  area  of  water  intensive  paddy  crop  to alternative  crops  like  oilseeds,  pulses,  coarse  cereal,  nutri  cereals,  cotton  etc.      PDMC Scheme focuses  on  enhancing  water  use  efficiency  at  farm  level  through  use  of  Micro Irrigation  technologies,  namely,  Drip  and  Sprinkler  Irrigation  systems.  In  order  to ensure sustainable  management of  water  resources  for  agricultural  purposes, Indian  Council  of Agriculture Research  (ICAR) suggests rainwater harvesting measures, groundwater recharge and conjunctive use of surface and groundwater resources besides use of microirrigation and resource conservation technologies. ICAR also suggests diversifying cropping pattern  from  water  intensive  crops  to  pulses,  oilseeds,  maize  and  agroforestry alongwith  other  agronomic  practices  like  raised  bed  sowing,  alternate  furrow  irrigation, mulching,  Direct  Seeded  Rice  (DSR)  through  seed  drills  and  drum  seeders,  System  of Rice Intensification (SRI), alternate wetting & drying method, laser land leveling, adoption of varieties for judicious use of water. The Council also imparts training on these aspects to educate farmers.

Government of India is committed to accord high priority to water conservation and its management. To this effect, Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana (PMKSY) is being implemented in the country with an aim to enhance physical access of water on farm and expand  cultivable  area  under  assured  irrigation,  improve  on  farm  water  use  efficiency, introduce sustainable water conservation practices etc. PMKSY is being implemented by Ministry of Jal Shakti and Department of Land Resources. The Jal Shakti Abhiyan is being organised  every  year  with  the  primary  aim  to  effectively  harvest  the  monsoon  rainfall through  creation  of  artificial  recharge  structures,  watershed  management,  recharge  and reuse  structures,  intensive  afforestation  and  awareness  generation  etc.  Government  of India also supports construction of water harvesting and conservation works such as farm ponds,  dug  wells,  check  dams  and  community  ponds,  etc.  through  Mahatma  Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme.