Lok Sabha Question No. 2643 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2023-12-19
Subject: Shortage of Water for Irrigation
Ministry: AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE
Asked by: Dibyendu Adhikari

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2643

TO BE ANSWERED ON 19 th  DECEMBER, 2023

## SHORTAGE OF WATER FOR IRRIGATION

2643. SHRI DIBYENDU ADHIKARI

Will  the  Minister  of  AGRICULTURE  AND  FARMERS WELFARE क ृ िष और िकसान कʞाण मंũी be pleased to state:

- (a)  whether  the  Government  has  any  report  on  climate  change  and  its  effect  of

shortage of water for agriculture irrigation in next 25 years thereof; and

- (b) if so, the action proposed therein and if not, the reasons behind thereof?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE क ृ िष और िकसान कʞाण मंũी (SHRI ARJUN MUNDA)

(a)  to  (b):  The  Centre  for  Climate  Change  Research  (CCCR)  at  Indian  Institute  of Tropical Meteorology, Pune under Ministry of Earth Sciences conducted a Research on Climate Change. In 2020, the Centre has published a climate change assessment report entitled 'Assessment of Climate Change over the Indian Region' which covers all the aspects of regional climate change including the climatic extremes across India. This  report  comprehensively  studied  the  impact  of  human-induced  global  climate change on the regional climate and monsoon of the Indian subcontinent, adjoining Indian Ocean and the Himalayan region. As per this report, the summer monsoon precipitation (June to September) over India has declined by around 6% from 1951 to 2015 with notable decreases over the Indo-Gangetic Plains and the Western Ghats. Over central India, the frequency of daily precipitation extremes with rainfall intensities exceeding 150 mm per day increased by about 75% during 1950-2015.

Besides,  ICAR  also  observed  that  there  is  an  intimate  link  exists  between  the hydrological cycle with changes in atmospheric temperature and radiation balance. A

warmer climate may lead to intensification of the hydrological cycle, resulting in higher rates of  evaporation and changes in precipitation. These processes, in association with a shifting  pattern  of  crop  and  cropping system  affect the  spatial and  temporal pattern  irrigation  demand.   It  is  projected  that  most  irrigated  areas  in  India  would require more water around 2025 and global net irrigation requirements would increase relative to the situation without climate change by 4-5% by 2050, and 6-8% by 2075. The effect of climate change on water resources may be mitigated by better water harvesting through creation of micro-storage facilities in watersheds, micro irrigation and  proper  scheduling  of  irrigation  water  for  crops.  These  would  not  only  provide supplemental irrigation but also recharge the groundwater aquifers. ICAR also imparts training  to  different  stakeholder  on  water  resources  and  efficient  management  of irrigation water in agriculture. Department  of  Agriculture  &  Farmers  Welfare  (DA&FW)  is  implementing  Centrally Sponsored Scheme of Per Drop More Crop (PDMC) in the country from 2015-16, which focuses on enhancing water use efficiency at farm level through Micro Irrigation - Drip and Sprinkler Irrigation Systems. The Micro Irrigation helps in saving water and reduction in fertilizer use through fertigation, labour expenses, other input costs and overall  income  enhancement  of  farmers. From  the  year  2015-16  to  2021-22,  the PDMC was implemented a component of Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana (PMKSY).  During  the  year  2022-23,  the  PDMC  is  being  implemented  under  the Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana (RKVY).

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