Climate Resilient Water Management for Sustainable Agriculture

Abstract

The management of water resources in both irrigated and rain-fed agriculture is becoming an increasingly complex worldwide due to anticipated water scarcity, and compounded by the challenges of global warming and climate change. Climate-smart water technologies viz. Drip irrigation, Central pivot irrigation, Hydrogel and SWAT method need to be judiciously applied to overcome these challenges. Agriculture is a critical sector in India and other developing countries, providing substantial employment opportunities to rural populations and supporting efforts to achieve food and nutritional security. This paper addresses the challenge of increasing food production and improving rural livelihoods while safeguarding critical water resources for sustainable use, particularly in drought-prone regions, through adaptive measures for effective water management. An integrated approach is necessary for agricultural water management through the adoption of innovative technologies such as water harvesting, micro-irrigation, and resource conservation farming to increase water-use efficiency in agriculture and other critical services to humans and animals. The study aims to enhance understanding of the potential implications of climate change and adaptation options for agricultural water management, thereby enabling them to take up adaptation challenges and develop measures to reduce the farming sector's vulnerability to climate change.