On Earth, water is the most fundamental and important resource for existence. Humans, animals, and plants need it to survive. India faces water scarcity as a major problem. Rapidly growing numbers of Indian population suffer from severe to extreme water deficit, according to a report by NITI Aayog. The situation is further worsened by India’s dependence on an increasingly uncertain monsoon for its water supply.
With climate change expected to put even more pressure on water resources due to an increasing frequency and severity of natural calamities— the signified impact continues to rise year after year. At the heart of this crisis are Indian farmers who are affected by it the most. This situation results in a serious impairment of the agricultural productivity and their source of income. One of the things that would benefit them immensely would be better water management and Rajasthan might be on the right track with their digital water distribution system. Let’s look at some thoughts shared by Dr. Subodh Agarwal, a senior IAS officer who has worked as secretary in the water resources department, Rajasthan.
The NITI Aayog report tells us that the amount of water India uses to produce one ton of crops is 2-3 times more than developed nations. The agrarian sector— guzzling about 80% of the nation’s water resources — finds itself precariously at the mercy of monsoon vagaries and dwindling groundwater levels.
According to a 2023 report by the Water, Environment, Land and Livelihoods (WELL) Labs, 70-80 percent of farmers using irrigation in the country rely on groundwater. As climate change exacerbates these challenges, with increased frequency of droughts and floods, the situation for Indian farmers is becoming increasingly dire, necessitating urgent and sustainable water management solutions.
An ominous storm looms large over Indian farmers. These indelible circumstances call for sustainable water solutions, steering them towards (almost like a silver lining) this digital paradigm in water solutions: enter the digital water distribution system.
“Although addressing these challenges is an effort that requires solutions on multiple fronts, a major leap has been made for agriculture through the digital water distribution system. The system will ensure that water reaches farmers at specific times, helping make their farming activities more predictable and assured.” Says IAS Subodh Agarwal
A unique digital water distribution system has been launched in Rajasthan’s Sriganganagar district to enhance the supply of irrigation water. This system has been developed by the National Informatics Centre (NIC) located in Jaipur and ensures that farmers are updated in real-time on details regarding the water reaching their fields— a major step towards curbing human errors rife with most manual systems.
This digital platform aims to enhance transparency in water distribution from the Gang Canal and Indira Gandhi Canal so that all farmers in the district can benefit from it, thereby dealing with age-long problems of water availability and distribution. The Water Resources Department states that these executives representing various associations will be entering details about individual farmers in their areas into the system once. Online turn slips for irrigation will then automatically be sent to farmers. This online “barabandi” (fixed turn) system could be extended and applied as a fair water distribution mechanism across other districts within the state benefiting the farmers. Rajasthan’s agricultural sector stands to gain significantly from this move towards digitizing water management.
“Real-time information helps in improved water planning and usage. Once this technology is mastered, additional elements can be integrated, expanding its application to other parts of the state and it can be applied nationwide eventually. This scalability promises to revolutionize water management across India, offering a sustainable solution to agricultural and environmental challenges.” IAS Subodh Agarwal opines.
Efforts such as implementing digital water distribution systems are crucial in addressing India’s escalating water challenges at the heart of which is sustainability. To make sure access to water resources is fair and promote resilient agricultural practices, these initiatives need to be scaled up since the water shortage is getting worse day by day. Adopting new technologies will not only make things more efficient but also lay a foundation for sustainable development thus reducing the negative effects of lack of enough water on rural incomes and national food supplies.
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