Reversing groundwater depletion in Northwest India: Insights from agronomic interventions and potential opportunities

The groundwater table in Northwest India is depleting at a rate of approximately 3 meters per year – largely attributed to irrigation led by intensified paddy cultivation. Adopting sustainable food production practices is a priority for food security and the continued availability of water resources for future generations. This webinar presents the findings of research by NEXUS Gains on farmers’ water application and water productivity under both DSR and PTR across four districts in Haryana, India, as well as a case study on the co-benefits of crop diversification in the region. The results show how water savings can be achieved and can contribute to groundwater rejuvenation. Speakers – Proloy Deb, Postdoctoral Fellow – Water Management, IRRI South Asia Regional Center – Swatantra Kumar Dubey, Senior Specialist – Economic Modeling, IRRI South Asia Regional Center