Developing a community based participatory model for efficient and sustainable use of groundwater – An exploratory research using system dynamics in a village in south India

Abstract

The paper presents a model developed collaboratively with farmers in a south Indian village to visualize productive, efficient and sustainable usage of groundwater. This model is based on information and data collected over several years and analyzed through participatory community interactions. The objective of the participatory modeling process is to trigger thinking among the community regarding the use of groundwater in a sustainable manner. It is expected that a model of sustainable groundwater use would evolve if the community is able to perceive groundwater as a community resource. With the System Dynamics approach, the community was enabled to understand the complexities in groundwater availability patterns, its over exploitation and its impact, and also to visualize scenarios that suit their context for sustaining their agriculture. These scenarios effectively project the potential of groundwater as a critical and productive source of irrigation so as to sustain the agricultural base of the village community. They also helped in visualizing the benefits of collectivizing groundwater from the existing borewells within the village boundaries. The study reveals that there is a possibility for more sustainable use of groundwater in the selected village provided the community makes a viable choice to restrict the irrigated area and pool groundwater to provide protective irrigation to rainfed crops in a much larger area.