'Need to increase crop output through efficient use of water'

Concerned over fall in per capita water availability, Agriculture Minister Radha Mohan Singh today said it is necessary to increase crop production through efficient use of water and land for ensuring food security.
Addressing an expert panel meeting on International Green Week-2017 at Berlin, Germany, Singh called for collective "resolve to enhance the access to water, improve water quality, reduce water scarcity risks and manage surplus water."
He recommended that "greater efficiency in irrigation be pursued vigorously" and concept of multiple use of water should be popularised.
Singh said the emphasis should be given on water resources conservation through watershed development in suitable areas and development of micro-water structures for rainwater harvesting.

The minister said that specialised solutions must be found and adopted for chronically water stressed areas. He also suggested that cultivation of coarse cereals particularly millets should be supported.
"Good seeds and fertilisers fail to achieve their full potential if plants are not optimally watered. In India, about 86 per cent is used for agriculture, 6 per cent for industries and 8 percent for domestic uses.

"(Per capita annual water availability) was 5,177 cubic meter in 1951 and will reach to 1,341 and 1,140 cubic meter in 2025 and 2050 i.E. Near to water scarcity line, respectively," Singh was quoted as saying in an official statement.

With continuous fall in per capita water availability and increasing population of the nation, Singh said "it becomes necessary to utilise every drop of available water efficiently and to produce more crops from the same available water and land, for providing food security to growing population."
Singh said it is a big challenge and responsibility of the agriculture sector to provide quality and quantity of food to the population with a scarce resource.
"Increasing water use efficiency is a necessary step to counter the water scarcity issues, where water budgeting has to be done," the minister said.
Singh noted that India and other countries are currently facing major issues related to sustainable management of water. The issues are over-exploitation of ground water resources, lack of proper crop alignment, low water use efficiency (WUE), lack of awareness among farmers, improper recycling and reuse of water, and problems related to industries.

To overcome such challenges, he said India has launched various plans/schemes for sustainable use of water such as Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana, National Mission for Sustainable Agriculture (NMSA) and National Water Mission.