Enhancing Water Productivity and Climate-Smart Technologies

The India water vision on enhancing water productivity aims for a technology-based improved water use by providing affordable, appropriate, and accessible water management technologies at all levels. About 22% of the available technologies/practices are currently adopted and based on the financial viability, only 8–10% of the adopted technologies are successful. Among the regions, southern and western regions account for comparatively a higher percentage of adoption (23–26%) and north-east region for a lower percentage (11%). The region-wise technology gap in water saving is comparatively lower (32%) in the southern region whereas the per cent gap in yield is lower in the northern region (48%). Two possible ways to increase the productivity per unit of water include bridging the technology gaps (i) by adopting the appropriate technologies/practices for different crops in those areas where traditional practices are followed (technology gap1), and (ii) by effectively adopting the technologies for different crops and soils in farmers’ fields as per research station guidelines (technology gap2). Measures like digital agriculture, climate-smart agriculture (CSA), and transformative investment in CSA are also discussed. Refocusing water management research, strengthening the Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana (PMKSY) implementation, initiating capacity building programmes for farmers, and developing public–private partnership are suggested to improve technology up-scaling.