Alok Sikka

• International Water Management Institute

This chapter assesses the variations and options for improving water productivity to address water risks and insecurity in South Asian countries. The water productivity indicators of focus are physical water productivity (PWP)—the production per unit of water use, and economic water productivity (EWP), the value of production per unit of water use....

A major challenge for agricultural water management (AWM) in the 21st century is to feed a growing population in the face of increasing intersectoral resource competition, evolving diets, degradation, pandemics, geopolitical conflicts and climate change. This has to be achieved within the planetary boundaries and without compromising the livelihood...

The primary aim of this book chapter is to showcase the design and implementation of index-based flood insurance (IBFI). Merging hydrological and hydrodynamic modeling, satellite imagery, and on-the-ground data, the IBFI aims to establish efficient payout strategies for economically disadvantaged communities vulnerable to floods. Its purpose is to...

This study aims to conduct water accounting in the groundwater-depleted districts of Haryana and Punjab states, analysing the potential irrigation water savings achievable through implementing efficient management techniques in these selected districts. The study area encompasses Kaithal and Karnal districts in Haryana and Patiala and Sangrur distr...

The adoption of agricultural water interventions for climate change adaptation has been slow and limited despite their established efficacy and benefits. While several studies have identified socioeconomic , biophysical, technological and institutional factors that influence adoption, psychological factors have often been overlooked. This study exa...

Population and economic growth, urbanization, and lifestyle changes are key drivers of water demand estimation. Climatic change and risks add another dimension to the calculus. However, unreliable baseline information and future uncertainties of many drivers are barriers to accurate demand projections, which are essential for future planning. This...

The adoption of agricultural water interventions for climate change adaptation has been slow and limited despite their established efficacy and benefits. While several studies have identified socio-economic, biophysical, technological and institutional factors that influence adoption, psychological factors have often been overlooked. This study exa...

The human-water feedbacks associated with agricultural water interventions may result in unintended and adverse externalities such as the phenomenon of supply-demand feedback, i.e. of increasing water demand in response to measures that enhance water supply. By integrating a spatially explicit hydrological model with a farmer’s behavioral module, s...

Protocol for Groundwater Modeling under TAFSSA initiative

Groundwater irrigated agriculture accounts for approximately 70% of global groundwater withdrawals and around 38% of the total irrigated area. The indiscriminate use of groundwater has resulted in the depletion of groundwater resources across many regions globally. To ensure sustainable use, it is imperative to limit abstraction to within the avera...

There is increased awareness that the current food system is unsustainable and that transformative research, development and innovation in agricultural water management (AWM) are needed to transform water and food systems under climate change. We provide an overview of research efforts, challenges, opportunities and innovations to improve water res...

Study region The study region is the Kamadhiya catchment (1150 km²), located in the Saurashtra region of the western state of Gujarat, India. The region has seen intensive development of check dams (CDs) for groundwater recharge with an estimated 27,000 CDs constructed up until 2018. Study focus The impact of CDs on groundwater storage, food produ...

Appraisal of water resources at tempo-spatial scales enables proper planning for water resource utilization and efficient management for sustainable development. Water availability in the Kurukshetra district is declining due to the indiscriminate withdrawal of the groundwater aquifers. Therefore, this investigation aimed to carry out a water accou...

Increased variability of the water cycle manifested by climate change is a growing global threat to agriculture with strong implications for food and livelihood security. Thus, there is an urgent need for adaptation in agriculture. Agricultural water management (AWM) interventions, interventions for managing water supply and demand, are extensively...

This Resource Book is a summarised guiding document on best practices in springshed management in the IHR.

The book provides vivid explanation of computation of water footprints for agricultural crops, crop based products, livestock and livestock products and fish.

This paper proposes scenarios to achieve more crop per drop and irrigation for all in water-scarce irrigation systems, with a particular reference to India. It uses economic water productivity (EWP) and water cost curve for EWP as tools to reallocate irrigation consumptive water use (CWU) and identify economically viable cropping patterns. Assessed...

Water availability for food production is becoming stressed from growing and competing demands from urbanization and industry, natural resource degradation and exacerbated spatio–temporal variability due to climate change. These challenges warrant the need to improve agriculture water productivity (WP), which is below its potential in large parts o...

Pragmatic, cost-effective, socially inclusive and scalable solutions that reduce risks from recurrent cycles of floods and droughts would greatly benefit emerging economies. One promising approach known as Underground Transfer of Floods for Irrigation (UTFI) involves recharging depleted aquifers with seasonal high flows to provide additional ground...

Pragmatic, cost-effective, socially inclusive and scalable solutions that reduce risks from recurrent cycles of floods and droughts would greatly benefit emerging economies. One promising approach known as Underground Transfer of Floods for Irrigation (UTFI) involves recharging depleted aquifers with seasonal high flows to provide additional ground...

The general perception of canal irrigation systems in India is one of built infrastructure with low service performance. This paper presents an analytical framework, applied to the Sina medium irrigation system in Maharashtra state of India, to study the performance of an expanded water influence zone (WIZ) including a buffer zone outside the canal...

South Asia's heavy reliance on groundwater for irrigated agricultural production supports the livelihoods of tens of millions of smallholder farmers but is being undermined by rampant overexploitation of groundwater. Without major intervention, this is expected to be further exacerbated by growing demand and climate change. Groundwater management,...

Report maps several central and state level government initiatives, policies and schemes with the potential for convergence and co-financing to build and enhance climate resilience through Climate Resilient Water Management (CRWM). Opportunities presented through private players, CSR initiatives, international and national donors and civil society...

The managed aquifer recharge (MAR) of excess monsoonal runoff to mitigate downstream flooding and enhance groundwater storage has received limited attention across the Indo-Gangetic Plain of the Indian subcontinent. Here, we assess the performance of a pilot MAR trial carried out in the Ramganga basin in India. The pilot consisted of a battery of 1...

Climate change to be expected impact rainfall patterns leading to higher uncertainty and difficulties in management of both drought and flood events. Floods occur frequently in Uttar Pradesh (almost every year) in some part of the state. Major rivers that bring this disaster to the state are the Ganga, Yamuna and Ramganga. Groundwater depletion is...

Dealing with inherent challenges associated with intra- and inter- year water resource variability, which are expected to intensify under climate change and manifested as extreme flood and drought events, are amongst the most critical water management challenges globally. Most river basins around the world routinely face difficulty in balancing bet...

The impact of projected climate during 2020-2080 on the potential yield of potato in Bihar has been analysed using InfoCrop model. Data from field experiments conducted at Patna, with popular potato variety Kufri Ashoka grown in rabi season of 2008-09 through 2010-11, was used for calibration and validation of model. It is indicated that increased...

Rehabilitation of degraded ravine lands is immensely important to conserve land and water resources for sustaining and improving production and productivity and to counter impacts of climate change. There is a need to effectively implement improved package of practices along with soil and water conservation measures in marginal lands around the rav...

This is compilation towards annual report of highlights from technology demonstration component of NICRA. Enhancing the adaptive capacity and building resilience of the farming communities is important in the context of climate variability and to cope with these extreme events effectively. As part of the Technology Demonstration Component (TDC) of...

This edited and compiled publication towards Annual Research Highlights of NICRA program (2015-2016) covering field crops, horticulture, livestock, fishery, poultry.

Wetland ecosystems play a key role in maintaining water quality. Twelve swamps of Nilgiris district were selected based on altitude and land use to study the physicochemical properties of swamp soil, water and the adjoining stream water which fed the swamps. The Scirpus spp. was the dominant species in all swamps followed by Cyperus spp. and Kyllin...

The undulating topography of the region is mainly categorized into uplands, midland and lowlands. The lowlands are typically used for the production of transplanted rice and very rarely for vegetable cultivation as a second crop. Midlands are terraced and put to paddy cultivation during the kharif season, while most of the uplands are kept fallow r...

Assessing vulnerability to climate change and variability is an important first step in evolving appropriate adaptation strategies to changing climate. Such an analysis also helps in targeting adaptation investments, specific to more vulnerable regions. Adopting the definition of vulnerability given by IPCC, vulnerability was assessed for 572 rural...

Assessing vulnerability to climate change and variability is an important first step in evolving appropriate adaptation strategies to changing climate. Such an analysis also helps in targeting adaptation investments, specific to more vulnerable regions. Adopting the definition of vulnerability given by IPCC, vulnerability was assessed for 572 rural...

1. Synthesized IFS model (0.66 ha) for Nadia district comprising cropping systems (0.44 ha), horticulture with vegetables (0.10 ha), dairy (2 Cross bred cow + 2calves), fishery (0.05 ha)along with supplementary enterprises like vermicomposting, biogas and boundary plantation with a total cost of Rs. 1,46,623 provides estimated net profit of Rs. 1,1...

Natural disasters of hydro-meteorological nature are playing a key role in the economic development of India. Agricultural production in India is largely dependent on the performance of summer monsoon rainfall. Apart from its spatial and temporal variability, several climatic anomalies/extremes attaining disastrous form at times were found to influ...

Rainfed agriculture with nearly 58% of the cultivated area is home to about 40% of human and 60% of livestock population in India and contributes 40% of the country's food production. Even after full realizing the full irrigation potential of the country, half of the cultivated area will continue to be under rainfed farming which highly dependent o...

Though the onset of monsoon and sufficient rains in the month of June ensured timely sowing of many crops, prolonged dryspells at the end of June and July month affected the prospects of many kharif crops in almost all regions. The Southern and North-west regions were the most afected ones with a deficit of 15% and 17%, respectively. The deficit ra...

Accurate estimation of crop water requirement is essential for irrigation scheduling, and future planning and management of water resources under changing climate scenarios. In the present study, an attempt has been made to study the sensitivity of reference evapotranspiration (ETo) to changes in different climatic variables, and effect of temperat...

Currently available options in terms of efficient irrigation technologies to the growers in India lacks in technical and economic viability restricting their wide adaptability. Some of the major addressed constraints in this regard have been the majority of the cropping area under field crops, small and fragmented land holdings and limitations of u...

The book consists, summary of research achievements of NICRA project, covering vulnerability of agriculture production systems, agro- advisories for farm level resilience, crop improvement and climate adaptation, emerging pests and diseases in climate change scenarios, adaptation and mitigation strategies, through soil, water, nutrient and energy u...

India ranks first in rainfed agriculture globally in both area (86 Mha) and the value of produce. Rainfed regions in India contribute substantially toward food grain production including 44% of rice, 87% of coarse cereals (sorghum (Sorghum bicolor), pearl millet (Pennisetum glaucum), maize (Zea mays)), and 85% of food legumes, 72% of oilseeds, 65%...

India ranks first in rainfed agriculture globally in both area (86 Mha) and the value of produce. Rainfed regions in India contribute substantially toward food grain production including 44% of rice, 87% of coarse cereals (sorghum (Sorghum bicolor), pearl millet (Pennisetum glaucum), maize (Zea mays)), and 85% of food legumes, 72% of oilseeds, 65%...

Different land management practices were studied for determining soil and water conservation efficiencies, soil and nutrient retention and crop water use efficiencies under vegetable cultivation in sloping and terraced land of the Nilgiris, South India. Inward slope bench terraces (2%) and outward sloped bench terraces (5 and 10%) with riser protec...

The impact of proj ected climate during 2020-2080 on the potential yield of potato in Bihar has been analysed using InfoCrop model. Data from field experiments conducted at Patna, with popular potato variety Kufri Ashoka grown in rabi season of 2008-09 through 2010-11, was used for calibration and validation of model. It is indicated that increased...

Agroforestry provides social benefits by functioning as a protective system that ensures resource conservation, although some of these benefits are not directly measurable. Keeping in view facts this study was conducted at Research farm of Central Soil and Water Conservation Research and Training Institute, Research Centre (CSWCRTI,RC), Udhagamanda...

This study was carried out to examine the economics and soil and water conservation value of prominent medicinal and aromatic plants in the hilly areas of Nilgiris, Tamil Nadu during 1998-99 to 2004-05. The six species of medicinal and aromatic plants were planted in 15m × 5m plots on 15% land slope to assess the relative soil and water conservatio...

The “green revolution” era in India had largely bypassed the rainfed agriculture. In order to achieve overall development of agriculture, it is essential to bridge the yield gaps, enhance profitability, minimize risk and improve the livelihoods of millions of people dependent on rainfed agriculture. Therefore, regionally differentiated intervention...

“Soil is soul and water is life” is the central theme of sustainable soil and water management practices. Soil degradation has become a serious problem in both rainfed and irrigated areas of India. In India, 147 million hectare (Mha) of land suffers from various kind of degradation such as 94Mha from water erosion, 16 Mha from acidification, 14 Mha...

This book presents 140 rainfed technologies, in different rainfed agro ecosystems of India. Details of rainfed technologies, recommendation domain, existing practice, improved technologies, performance, impact, and upscaling strategies are discussed.

Yield datasets of long-term experiments on integrated nutrient management in rice-rice cropping systems were used to investigate the relationship of variability in rainfall, temperature, and integrated nutrient management (INM) practices in rice-rice cropping system in three different agroecological regions of India. Twelve treatments with differen...

In order to develop new technical and institutional arrangements, financial incentives provided for power, diesel and credit needs to be actually examined for watershed success. The impact assessment study of Salaiyur Watershed (513ha) in Annur block of Coimbatore District in Tamil Nadu State of India is presented in this paper. The study was condu...

Citation: Dhyani, S.K., MOHAN KUMAR, B. and Sikka, A.K. 2014. Agroforestry research and development in India. Indian Farming 63(11): 9–11.

Citation: Sikka, A.K., MOHAN KUMAR, B. and Rajbir Singh 2014. Rainfed farming: Possible challenges and preparedness. Khethi 66(3): 3–6 (article in Hindi).

Climate change and variability will impact water availability and the food security of India. Trend analyses of historical data indicate an increase in temperature and changes in rainfall pattern in different parts of the country. The general circulation models (GCMs) also project increased warming and changes in precipitation patterns over India....

Citation: MOHAN KUMAR, B. and Sikka, A.K. 2014. Agroforestry in South Asia: Glimpses from Vedic to present times. Indian Farming 63(11): 2–5.

This bulletin presents the implementation of various contingency plans real time basis. The situations covered are late on set of monsoon, mid season droughts, terminal droughts, cyclones, floods, cold wave, heat wave, frost etc. Experiences and field demonstration results are presented from All India Coordinated Research Project on Dryland Agricul...

In order to develop new technical and institutional arrangements, financial incentives provided for power, diesel and credit needs to be actually examined for watershed success. The impact assessment study of Salaiyur Watershed (513ha) in Annur block of Coimbatore District in Tamil Nadu State of India is presented in this paper. The study was condu...

This study investigated the trends in rainfall and temperature and the possibility of any rational relationship between the trends over the homogeneous regions over India. Annual maximum temperature shows an increasing trend in all the homogeneous temperature regions and corresponding annual rainfall also follow the same pattern in all the regions,...

Assessing vulnerability to climate change and variability is an important first step in evolving appropriate adaptation strategies to changing climate. Such an analysis also helps in targeting adaptation investments to regions that are more vulnerable. According to IPCC, vulnerability is “the degree to which a system is susceptible to, or unable to...

During the last two decades, horticultural crops have played a mojor role in increasing the income of farming community by providing a wide range options for crop diversification. The horticulture scenario of India is undergoing sea changes and last five years have witnessed significant growth in the production of different horticultural crops in t...

Participation is a process in which people express themselves, share, contribute and act with mutual responsibility to promote a common set of interest. Natural and human resources are all interdependent and interactive in the watershed. An attempt has been made in this paper to understand the importance of micro financing among the Self Help Group...

Climate change can significantly affect the water resources availability by resulting changes in hydrological cycle. Hydrologic models are usually used to predict the impacts of landuse and climate changes and to evaluate the management strategies. In this study, impacts of climate change on streamflow of the Brahmani River basin were assessed usin...

The monsoon season (June–September) is the major source of rainwater in all the meteorological sub-divisions of India, except the Tamil Nadu & Pondicherry sub-division. In this study, the observed trends in monsoon rainfall, monthly as well as seasonal, were investigated and compared, and the variability and frequency of extreme excess and deficit...

In the eastern region of Indo-Gangetic basin (EIGB), India, more than 80% of the rice (Oryza sativa L.) cultivated area is rainfed and monsoon rainfall is the critical and deciding factor for rice production. The districts comprising Bihar, West Bengal, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh and Jharkhand form the eastern Indo-Gangetic basin in India, broad...

Enhancing productivity of rainfed crops is vital to meet the growing population needs through effective rainwater conservation measures. A field study was conducted during 1995–2003 with rainwater conservation measures, viz., contour staggered trenches (CST), cover crop of French bean (Phaseolus vulgaris) and CST+cover crop in tea plantation on 25%...

Mann–Kendall non-parametric test was employed for observational trend detection of monthly, seasonal and annual precipitation of five meteorological subdivisions of Central Northeast India (CNE India) for different 30-year normal periods (NP) viz. 1889–1918 (NP1), 1919–1948 (NP2), 1949–1978 (NP3) and 1979–2008 (NP4). The trends of maximum and minim...

This paper presents the participatory watershed development at Salaiyur watershed in Coimbatore District of Tamil Nadu, India. The strategies adopted towards community organization, basic resource survey/bench mark data collection, plan preparation and implementation through community participation have been discussed. Watershed interventions have...

Considering the overall farming situation in developing countries particularly India it has been observed that the available options of efficient irrigation technologies are unable to cover up small and marginal farm holders due to lack of the applicability and acceptability in terms of their needs, priorities and financial capabilities. This makes...