Agriculture and water
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1. Wheat production: India is not the ideal geography for wheat, which requires cooler climate. It is unable to export surplus wheat due to high MSP. However, according to gain.fas productivity has risen in last three years from 3.2 to 3.35. Record production was seen in 2018-19 (101.2, 3rd estimate).
"Farmers prefer wheat to other crops in irrigated areas because of ‘assured’ returns due to Govt’s effective MSP wheat procurement program. Wheat productivity is relatively stable under irrigated conditions vis-à-vis other competing crops. While wheat yields in the irrigated northern states are comparable to other high yielding producers in the world, yields in other states have also been steadily increasing with the expansion in irrigation facilities and adoption of improved varieties and production technologies, resulting in an upward yield trajectory in recent years".
2. Rice production: India has ideal geography for rice, but rainfall limits its production. India is price-competitive so it can export surpluses, making it the top global exporter. Record production was seen in 2018-19 (115.6, 3rd estimate).
"India’s rice acreage has plateaued at around 44 MHa in recent years. However, production shows steady increases on improving yields due to the new varieties, better agronomic practices, and expansion in irrigation facilities. GOI's National Food Security Mission and other crop specific programs, have enabled productivity gains in the eastern and southern states. However, India’s overall rice yields are still well below the world average and has wide variations, creating further room for increasing rice productivity.
"Various rice-growing states like Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh, West Bengal, Orissa and Chhattisgarh follow intensive rice-based cropping systems (rice-wheat or rice-rice). These intensive cropping systems are repeated year-after year on the same land, leading to deteriorating soil health, declining water tables, and the emergence of new resistant diseases/pests".
3. Production of food grains and other crops during Kharif and Rabi"Various rice-growing states like Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh, West Bengal, Orissa and Chhattisgarh follow intensive rice-based cropping systems (rice-wheat or rice-rice). These intensive cropping systems are repeated year-after year on the same land, leading to deteriorating soil health, declining water tables, and the emergence of new resistant diseases/pests".
http://agricoop.gov.in/sites/default/files/3rdADVEST201819_E.pdf
4. Area and Production of Horticulture (2nd estimate 2018/19)
http://agricoop.nic.in/sites/default/files/2018-19%20%282nd%20Adv.Est_.%29%20-%20For%20Website-1.pdf
5. Agricultural value added, time trend for India, China, Indonesia, Brazil, Pakistan, US
India lost agricultural valued added relative to other performing countries, from 1990 to 2011. In other words, it was a period of relative stagnation in Indian agriculture. Lack of agricultural reforms and lukewarm rural investment probably led to a spike in farmers' suicides and migration out of rural areas to cities (caused by rural distress, affecting not only agriculture but rural livelihoods). Recent growth in agricultural value added in India since 2011 (2015- strong year), shows it can match others provided efforts are made. Reforms and investment in agriculture and rural economy will have a good response.
6. Monsoon and predictions for Kharif crop
https://krishijagran.com/agripedia/prediction-of-upcoming-monsoon-its-impact-on-kharif-crops-in-karnataka-telangana-odisha-haryana-other-states/
7. Maharashtra has seen the highest production of foods in a drought year (2018-19, at 73% rainfall), almost matching 2012 (90% rainfall). CM Maha mentions Jal Yukt Shivar, a flagship scheme for desilting streams, building or restoring farm ponds, etc with an emphasis on replenishing ground water. Besides, Maha was helped by completion of many long-pending irrigation projects, and relief supplies by water tankers & fodder parks. Rainwater harvesting at 13,300 sites is planned for cities like Mumbai, Navi Mumbai, Thane, Pune & surrounds and Nagpur. Marathwada Water Grid, a Rs 15,000 cr drought-proofing project is planned for Marathwada region, comprising 8 districts and 6.5m hectares. An integrated piped water supply grid will be built that secures dam water from outside the region and gives drinking water to 1.87cr people and industries. It is backed by Israeli know-how & technologies.
https://citykatta.com/marathwada-water-grid-feasibility-report-and-scope-of-work/
8a. Irrigation status till 2016 in Telangana
Telegana has 4.96m Ha of agricultural land. Irrigated area has varied due to drought years, from 1.7m to 2.3m Ha between 2014 to 2016. On paper, 1/5th of land was supported by ~6 major and ~30 minor and medium irrigation projects. In practice, 75-84% of irrigation was done by borewell irrigation, and only 10% of arable land was irrigated by canal irrigation Agriculture in Telangana. Reliance on borewell has risen over the last few decades because of lack of proper irrigation projects and canals, due to incomplete projects. For example, ayacut for Nizamsagar project was supposed to be 9 lakh acres but only 5 lakh was getting water. One aim of Jalayagnam, for completing long-pending projects starting 2017, is to provide irrigation to the entire ayacut.
https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/hyderabad/Only-20-lakh-acres-get-irrigation-in-Telengana/articleshow/53866223.cms
8b. Irrigation projects of Telangana and timelines
https://telanganatoday.com/changing-the-face-of-irrigation-in-telangana
Telagana govt was able to secure rights over Godavari and Krishna rivers (1,250 TMC incl 150 TMC flood water), conducted in-depth studies and formed plans to irrigate 10m acres. It redesigned project to take account of the massive withdrawals from upstream barrages being built by Maharashtra. As a result, Kaleshwaram Lift irrigation scheme was given to N. Telangana and Palumuru Lift irrigation scheme to S. Telangana. Overall, govt commenced 23 major and 13 medium projects on a mission mode.
In a major breakthrough with Maharashtra on Aug 2016, Telagana was permitted to build barrages at Medigadda and Chanaka-Korata on River Godavi, and so draw the full share of 950 TMC water. Medigadda agreement paved the way for Kaleshwaram LIS, a massive Rs 80,000cr project that started on May 2016, that would allow 235 TMC to be drawn, for adding 1.82m acres ayacut and stabilising another 1.82m acre ayacut. Sitarama project, Rs 8,000cr for irrigating 0.39m acres in Khamman & beyond, was started in Feb 2016. Bhakta Ramadasu project (Rs 300cr, completed) irrigated 60,000 acre. Also started in 2017, were projects such as Bheema, Nettempad, Kalvakurthi and Koilsagar that could irrigate 450,000 acres and gave 90TMC to ayacut. Palamuru-Rangareddy, costing Rs 35,000cr is on fast track for completion. It would irrigate 1.25m acres and provide drinking water to Hyderabad. Mission Kakatiya is a collection of minor irrigation projects, involving restoration of 46,000 tanks and lakes. So far, 20,000 lakes have been rehabilitated, adding 0.19m acres of irrigation. It has potential to irrigate 1m acres.
9. Water crisis, usefulness of inter-linking and Jal Shakti mission
https://www.healthissuesindia.com/2019/06/11/water-crisis-jan-shakti/
June 15th, 2019
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