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Abstract
The objective of the study is to explore the scope for water productivity enhancement in irrigated agriculture
in India through: i] water control; ii] optimizing nutrient input to crop; iii] improving the quality and reliability of
irrigation water; and, iv] growing crops in regions where climate is favourable. The study is based on data from three
important river basins in India, viz., Indus, Narmada and Sabarmati. The study involved: 1] estimating the incremental
water productivity of selected crops viz., wheat and cotton in response to applied water, and fertilizer dosage; 2]
estimating water productivity of the same crop across agro-ecological zones within the basin, and 3] comparing
determinants of crop water productivity with different sources of irrigation with differential reliability and quality.
Most farmers are applying water within a regime where the yield response to both irrigation and fertilizer
dosage is positive. Also, their water application corresponds to a regime where water productivity (Rs./m3
) response
to irrigation is negative and fertilizer is positive. But, in certain situations, farmers’ water application regime
corresponds to a regime where both yield and water productivity responses to irrigation are either positive or
negative. Within basins, for the same crop, water productivity in both physical and economic terms is much higher in
high rainfall, sub-humid area as compared to that in low rainfall, arid areas. The quality and reliability of irrigation
can significantly impact the type of crops chosen by farmers and the crop yield, thereby raising water productivity.
There is ample scope for improving water productivity in irrigated agriculture through water control. But, in
most cases, it may lead to reduced net return per unit of land. Hence, they would have incentive to go for water control
measures only if there is sufficient land, which can be put to use for irrigated production using the saved water.