Sustainable Water Harvesting for Improving Food Security and Livelihoods of Smallholders under Different Climatic Conditions of India

• DOI: 10.3390/su15129230
• Publication Date: 2023-06-08T06:58:32Z
• Authors: Pankaj Panwar; Deepesh Machiwal; Vandita Kumari; Sanjay Kumar; Pradeep Dogra; S. Manivannan; P. R. Bhatnagar; J. M. S. Tomar; Rajesh Kaushal; Dinesh Jinger; Pradip Kumar Sarkar; L. K. Baishya; Ningthoujam Peeta...; Vijaysinha Kakade; Gaurav Singh; Nongmaithem Raju ...; S. Gojendro Singh; Abhishek Patel; P. S. Renjith; Sharmistha Pal; V. K. Bhatt; N. K. Sharma; O. P. S. Khola; Sheetal K. Radhak...; V. Kasthuri Thilagam; P. L. Bhutia; Kouberi Nath; Rekha Das; Dhiman Daschaudhuri; Arun Kumar; G. S. Panwar; S. V. Dwivedi; Sanjeev Kumar; B. K. Singh
• Keywords: Rainwater Harvesting; Agricultural diversification

In India, the per capita availability of water is projected to be 1465 m3 and 1235 by years 2025 2050, respectively, hence, India would a water-stressed country as United Nations’ standard less than 1700 availability. predominantly an agricultural-dominant country. Rainfed agriculture in contributes 40% food grain production supports half human population two-thirds livestock population. The has 15 different agro-climatic zones, each region its own constraints management along with potential for their optimum utilization. Such situations warrant formulation regional-level strategies. Efforts were made integrate evaluate feasibility harvesting utilization at twelve sites representing six conditions spanning pan India. It was found that through tanks/ponds feasible approach can increase crop well diversification. results reveal range diversification index increased from 0.49–0.85 0.65–0.98; productivity 0.28–0.66 0.66–0.90; cultivated land 0.05–0.69 0.34–0.84; 0.20–0.51 0.56–0.96, among other indices, due additional rainwater intervention. Moreover, gross return INR 43,768–704,356 220,840–1,469,108 ha−1, 108 400% returns water. findings this study suggest small ponds/tanks economical feasible, requires technological intervention, increases all studied conditions, same needs encouraged rainfed areas