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For more information contact: Jack Durrell (j.durrell@cgiar.org)

Reversing Groundwater Decline

Recent research has demonstrated how modifying existing irrigation schemes can recharge groundwater on a vast scale - improving food security, reducing farmer's vulnerability to drought, and helping to alleviate South Asia's growing water crisis.

"As a result of this strategy, declining water tables have been arrested, pumping costs for irrigation have been reduced, and agricultural productivity has been improved," says Dr. Tushaar Shah of the IWMI-Tata Water Policy Program - a new initiative to introduce research knowledge into the policy planning process.

A 10-year pilot project has transformed an earthen irrigation system into a highly productive groundwater recharge system, simply by switching from providing irrigation during the dry season to providing canal irrigation only during the monsoon.

The project - focusing specifically on the Lakhaoti Branch Canal system in Uttar Pradesh - was carried out out by the Government of Uttar Pradesh, and evaluated by researchers from the International Water Management Institute (IWMI), Roorkee University, the Water and Land Management Institute (WALMI) of Uttar Pradesh, and the State's Irrigation Department

When the monsoon raises river flows, surplus water is diverted through the system to provide farmers with irrigation for wet crops such as rice. Seepage water from the canals and fields recharges the underlying aquifers. That stored water is then pumped back up for a second cropping season post-monsoon.

This system ensures farmers are no longer at the mercy of monsoon rains, which sometimes fail to provide enough water when and where it is needed. They are guaranteed sufficient water to irrigate both a monsoon and a post-monsoon crop.

There are also benefits for national and state governments. "From a government point of view, one of the most attractive advantages of this approach is that the 'infrastructure' - earthen canals and groundwater aquifers - already exist and can be modified at very low economic and environmental cost, compared to planning and building dams, tanks, or other water storage facilities," concludes Dr. Tushaar Shah.

The research suggests the system can be replicated in other regions where there are viable aquifers and surplus river flows during the monsoon. Locations where the construction of a dam or reservoir threatens to cause environmental damage or incur huge financial costs would also benefit.

Direct benefits of the Uttar Pradesh pilot project:

  • 26 per cent increase in average net income pre ha for farmers.
  • Average depth to groundwater decreased from an average of 12 m below ground. (1988) to an average of 6.5 m (1998).
  • Annual pumping cost savings of Rs. 180 million.
  • Annual energy savings of 75.6 million kWh.
  • 15 per cent increase in cropped area for rice.
  • Reduction of 50 per cent in water conveyance losses with potential for further improvement.

For more information on the project see 'Innovations in Groundwater Recharge,' issue 1 of the Water Policy Briefing series (www.iwmi.org/waterpolicybriefing)

For questions and comments contact Dr. Tushaar Shah on +91-2692-29311-13 or e-mail t.shah@cgiar.org

Background

The IWMI-Tata Water Policy Program is a new initiative supported by the Sir Ratan Tata Trust, and the International Water Management Institute (IWMI) - a non-profit research and development organization dedicated to providing practical solutions to a range of water management problems. IWMI-Tata presents new perspectives and practical solutions derived from the wealth of research done in India on water resources management. Its objective is to help policy makers at the central, state and local levels address their water challenges - in areas such as sustainable groundwater management, water scarcity, and rural poverty - by translating research findings into practical policy recommendations.

The Policy Program's web site (www.iwmi.org/iwmi-tata) promotes the exchange of knowledge on water resources management within the research community and between researchers and policy makers in India.

The Water Policy Briefing Series presents new perspectives and solutions to water problems in emerging economic nations. Each briefing is based on peer-reviewed research that challenges policy makers and planners to think differently about the way water is managed for agriculture. To view current issues of the series visit www.iwmi.org/waterpolicybriefing