16.02.2023 - Seminar Lecture Series: Institutional collaboration towards addressing water energy food nexus in India

Abstract

Irrigated agriculture plays an important role in ensuring food security in India. Almost 2/3^rd of the gross irrigated area is under energised irrigation which uses groundwater. The government’s input subsidies and skewed procurement support towards a few irrigated crops have resulted in cropping patterns that are leading to water stress and other environmental issues, and also impeding nutritional diversity and risking long-term nutritional security.

One such input, subsidised electricity for irrigation, is the main precursor for groundwater overuse. As a result many areas in states with high cropping and irrigation intensity such as Gujarat, and Punjab experience groundwater overexploitation. In some states such as Rajasthan, groundwater is overexploited as surface water availability is limited. Such a scenario has the potential to adversely impact food security, given that water which is an essential input for crop production, will become scarce.

Further, climate extremes such as droughts will accentuate the situation. Evidence suggests that areas, where climate-smart agriculture practices that can optimise resource use are promoted are different from those that are vulnerable to climate extremes. Globally, various stakeholders are undertaking research on finding the optimal crop diversification solutions that can reduce groundwater usage and, at the same time ensure that crop production is not affected adversely. Similarly, various institutional and economic models are piloted to change farmers’ behaviour towards groundwater extraction and ensure minimal effect on farmers’ income. Unfortunately, such global and national analytical efforts remain in siloes, differ in their methodological scope and approach, and thus offer divergent recommendations on crop diversification. This has resulted in ambiguities leading to limited policy traction and real action on the ground.

At CEEW, they are making perhaps the first such attempt to explore pathways that can help bring different stakeholders engaged in water, energy, and food nexus research to come together and work out solutions that are more holistic and sustainable in the long term.

The presentation will provide insights into the water energy food nexus in India, its potential to affect the food systems, and the work CEEW is doing in that context. It will then discuss the areas and the opportunities for collaboration to address the nexus and ensure food and nutritional security.

Date: 16.02.2023 14:30-15:30 hr CET - virtual

 About the SDGnexus Network Seminar Series

The SDGnexus Network Seminar Series is dealing with topics related to research and teaching along the Sustainable Development Goals. Seminar Series are created for everybody interested in the SDG topic, the network offers the fantastic opportunity to union knowledge and experience from researchers across a variety of disciplines and regions.