Rainwater Management and Indian Agriculture: A Call for a Shift in Focus from Blue to Green Water

Abstract

Agriculture depends on irrigation water supplies provided either through rainwater management (green water) or by withdrawing water from surface or the groundwater (blue water). Summer monsoon rains are a prime water resource which contributes to both green and blue water supplies and guides the future of Indian agriculture. For improving the adaptive capacity of agriculture to climate change, soil and vegetation provide the links for inter-conversions of blue and green waters through improved carbon and gene management. It is opined that green water management so far has received less attention but hence forth be put into driving seat along with conservation agriculture to take care of uncertainties introduced by climate changes. A suite of climate smart agro-technologies, which impart resistance and resilience to farming by improving the use efficiency of green and blue waters, is suggested. For faster out-scaling of agro-technological interventions, a case for policy reforms and options available to us has been made for practicing conservation agriculture in watershed approach at appropriate scales.