5 th WORLD WATER FORUM

1. 5th WORLD WATER FORUM WATER AND FOOD FOR ENDING POVERTY AND HUNGER SITUATION IN INDIA AND FUTURE APPROACH PRESENTATION BY CHAIRMAN, CENTRAL WATER COMMISSION MINISTRY OF WATER RESOURCES GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

2. Prologue • Food, water and life are are inter-related • Food production requires agriculture and irrigation • Poverty and hunger mitigation is the challenge of the millennium • Water is a vital input for the farmer engaged in agricultural production • The Millennium Development Goal (MDG) has set eradication of poverty as one of its important goals

3. Some facts about India Geographical Area 329 Million hectare (2.45% of world land area)Cultivable Area 184 Mha (~ 56 %) Forest Cover 21% Ultimate irrigation Potential 139.9 Mha Population 1.027 billion (16% of world population)

4. India’s Water Resources Annual average precipitation - 4000 BCM • Highly variable in space and time - Minimum - 100 mm in Western Desert - Maximum - 11000 mm in North Eastern Region Rainfall during June to September 3000 BCM Average annual potential 1869 BCM Utilisable Water Potential 1123 BCM - Surface water – 690 BCM - Ground water – 433 BCM

5. India –Present Status of Development • Live storage capacity increased from 15.6 BCM in 1950 to 225 BCM now. Another- • 64 BCM under construction • 108 BCM contemplated • Foodgrain production increased from 51 million tonnes in 1950 to 217 million tonnes in 2007 p.a. • Irrigation potential created by 2006 is 102.77 Mha against 22.6 Mha in 1951

6. India –Present Status of Development • Share of agriculture in GDP declined from more than half in 1950 to less than 20% currently but largest employment and livelihood • Irrigated agriculture has massive contribution towards food production • Irrigation enables higher production from land specially with use of high yielding varieties, fertilizers and other inputs

7. India –Present Status of Development • Agricultural production increase through: - expansion of cultivated areas, -shift in cropping pattern, - enhanced productivity by irrigation • Irrigation development influences greatly incidence of poverty and alleviation

8. India – Future scenario • The country’s population of 1027 million (2001 census) is expected to stabilize around 1600 million by 2050 • To meet foodgrain demand reasonably, production of around 500 million tonnes per annum by 2050 is targeted (presently 217 MT) • Irrigation water demand around 810 BCM

9. Approach of Indian Government • National Food Security Mission launched aimed at increasing cereal and pulses production • Additional investment necessary for adoption of best practices • Undertaking watershed management programme in dryland areas

10. Approach of the Indian Government • National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (NREGA) enacted by Government of India • aims for enhancement of livelihood security of rural households • to augment employment, strengthening of natural resource management to address chronic poverty and encourage sustainable development.

11. Approach of the Indian Government • Works identified under NREGA: • Artificial Recharge of Ground Water • Repair, Renovation and Restoration of Water Bodies • Accelerated Irrigation Benefits Programme (AIBP) • Flood Management Programme • Farmer’s Participatory Action Research Programme • Command Area Development & Water Management

12. Speedy Completion of Ongoing Projects • Accelerated Irrigation Benefits Programme launched in 1996-1997 to provide Central Assistance to major and medium irrigation projects for their early completion • Recently scheme of National Projects taken up to expedite completion of identified national projects

13. National Perspective Plan • National Perspective Plan (NPP) for Water Resources Development formulated • Envisages inter-linkages between various for transfer of water from surplus river basins to water deficit basins for optimum utilization

14. Development of Ground Water • Groundwater irrigating about 60% of irrigated area also important for agricultural production. • Concerns about groundwater are- * over-exploitation in some areas * under-utilization in large parts of country

15. Development of Ground Water • In India, ownership of groundwater with owner of land resulting in overexploitation in certain regions. • Priority given to exploit groundwater where abundantly available

16. Development of Rainfed Area • Rainfed areas home to majority of rural poor and marginal farmers. They require technological, institutional, infrastructural, and investment support • Challenge to improve rural livelihoods through participatory watershed development projects to increase productivity in a sustainable manner. • Government constituted National Rainfed Area Authority (NRAA) to provide sustainable development.

17. Water Management • Bridging gap between potential created and being utilised • Optimise agricultural production and productivity through efficient land and water management, Command Area Development a programme for which started in 1975.

18. Water Management • Better O&M of existing facilities and efforts for Extension, Renovation & Modernisation • Water saving technologies such as drip / sprinklers systems being encouraged in larger .

19. Participatory Approach • National Water Policy formulated which emphasizes participatory approach involving all stakeholders • Number of Water Users Associations established by State Irrigation Departments for transferring technology • Appropriate role for women

20. Water Quality Issues • Preservation of water quality very important as availability of fresh water affected due to pollution • Government Water Policy emphasizes treatment of effluents to acceptable level before discharging to the natural streams. • Water quality monitoring is carried out by the Central and State Pollution Control Organisations through nationwide network of water quality monitoring stations.

21. Climate Change • National Action Plan for Climate Change set up by Government under Prıme Mınısterıncludes Water Mission • National Water Mission aıms at conservation of water, minimizing wastage and ensuring equitable distribution through integrated water resources management

22. Climate Change Goals identified under National Water Mission: • Comprehensive water database in public domain • Reliable assessment of impact of climate change on water resources • Promotion of citizen and state action for water conservation and augmentation • Focused attention for over-exploited areas • Increasing water use efficiency by 20% • Promotion of basin level integrated water resources management

23. Epilogue • Poverty alleviation through enhanced food production is biggest challenge. • Sustained agriculturedependant on proper planning, development and management of water.

24. Epilogue • Government of India adopted wide range of policies, programmes and strategies to ensure future food requirements being met without compromising sustainability of resources. • Importance to environmental social and economic issues so that benefits can be maximized and negative impacts kept to minimum.

25. Thank you