Water availability for agriculture may dip up to 12% by 2025

Water availability for agriculture is estimated to go down by up to 12 per cent from the current level by 2025 if remedial measures are not taken, a top scientist of the country on Thursday warned.

"The water availability for agriculture is projected to be 10-12 per cent of what is now available," Director General of Indian Council of Agricultural Research Mangala Rai said while inaugurating the Krishi Vigyan Mela here.

He said the farmers would in fact require 25 per cent more water in 2025 than what they are consuming currently to produce food grains for feeding the domestic population.

He warned farmers not to misuse water, which is precious, by seeking short-duration rice varieties. "I cannot agree to the demand for growing rice in May-June as you want another crop before Rabi," Rai said, adding that 3,000 litres water are required to produce one kg of non-Basmati rice.

The ICAR DG also said that the country can produce 40-50 million tons more food grains by increasing the water-use efficiency level by 10 per cent.

Commenting on productivity of crops, he said the yield level could not be raised unless farmers get remunerative prices for their products. "Productivity will not improve till farming becomes remunerative."