Bharat Sharma

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Groimdwater externalities of large, surface irrigation transfers: insights from the Godavari-Krishna river link, India

IAHS-AISH publication, 2009

The Krishna basin in South India is a fast closing basin. Consumptive water use, mainly for agric... more

The effects of agricultural water and landholdings to rural livelihoods in Indo-Gangetic basin

Water use and landholding factors are widely acknowledged as major determinants of agricultural d... more Water use and landholding factors are widely acknowledged as major determinants of agricultural development in agrarian regions of the Indo-Gangetic basin (IGB). High attention is mainly given to irrigation policy while land is often apprehended through soil productivity aspects. However, the nexus between land scale and water consumption in respect to the economic implications of agricultural development is poorly elaborated. To this aim, this paper examines the economic effects of water use and landholding scale to farming in agricultural communities of IGB area. The research is based on an extensive survey conducted in representative areas of Pakistan, India and Nepal situated along the IGB basin. The results signify that the economic viability of marginal and small landholders and water users is threatened when the study focuses on the land scaling effects to farming. Practical recommendations towards the rescheduling of irrigation and land use policies are introduced.

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Water resources, water productivity, and poverty in the Indus-Ganges River Basin

The Indus and Ganges river basins (collectively called the Indus-Ganges Basin) in South Asia cove... more The Indus and Ganges river basins (collectively called the Indus-Ganges Basin) in South Asia covers 2.20 million km2 and is inhabited by a population of more than a billion people, many living in poverty with livelihoods based on waterdependent agriculture. The northwestern Indus basin is highly developed and over-abstracted with only about 10 % net river discharge; whereas in the eastern Ganges basin 37 % of the total precipitation discharges into the Bay of Bengal. The upper reaches of the basin are in the high Himalayas and seriously influenced by the melting of snow and glaciers and impending climate change. The average land and water productivity for the predominant rice-wheat cropping system is low with only about 5 per cent of the basin in the northwest (a regional “bright-spot”) having high productivity that is central to South Asia’s food security. This region is, however, now at risk of groundwater over-exploitation, aggravated mainly by energy and food policies. Access to water resources is relatively low in large areas and critical irrigation water requirements remain unmet due to inadequate access to the resource, high energy prices for water pumping, transboundary nature of the basin, and lack of an organized basin development plan. There is a strong linkage between poverty and low water productivity. Reduction of pervasive rural poverty in the basin can be accelerated by providing access to water to help achieve improvement in productivity, diversification and other pro-poor livelihoods. Based on the hydrological, agricultural and socio-economic variations in the two basins, as summarized in this chapter, the development frameworks and policies need to be regionally differentiated. Pathways to alleviate poverty might include improving agricultural productivity through optimal use of the available water resources, out-scaling bright-spot management practices to other parts of the basin, improved access to groundwater through affordable energy and cooperative tubewells for the smallholders, and policy and investment tools leading to land consolidation, rural infrastructure improvement, and market development

The realities and challenges of contemporary groundwater-based smallholder irrigated farming across the Indus, Ganges and Yellow River basins

IAHS-AISH publication, 2009

Groundwater has played an increasing role in irrigated farming, livelihood support, poverty allev... more Groundwater has played an increasing role in irrigated farming, livelihood support, poverty alleviation, and national food security in India, China, Pakistan, Bangladesh, and Nepal since the advent of the green revolution in the 1960s. This paper presents a synthesis of the results of a cross-regional research effort, based on surveys in more than 60 villages, to map the contemporary realities and constraints of groundwater use and adaptation in irrigated agriculture within smallholder farmer communities across the alluvial plains of the major Indus, Ganges and Yellow river basins in Asia. The results show a general overexploitation of groundwater resources in Pakistan, western India and China, and relative under-utilization in eastern India and Bangladesh. But more interestingly, and despite its great significance, practically nowhere is groundwater managed in an integrated manner. As a result, its use is sub-optimal where smallholders today employ a range of adaptation and coping strategies to uphold groundwater benefits. The research findings point to various axes along which to identify solutions and focus equitable and sustainable policies and management interventions.

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The impact of shallow tubewells on irrigation water availability, access, crop productivity and farmers’ income in the lower Gangetic Plain of Bangladesh

CRC Press eBooks, Jun 8, 2009

... Rice, wheat, mustard, jute, lentil, spices, vegetables, sugarcane are the major crops cultiva... more

Overcoming growing water scarcity: Exploring potential improvements in water productivity in India

Natural Resources Forum, Aug 4, 2010

... Correspondence: Upali A. Amarasinghe, RPS Malik, Bharat R. Sharma,. *Correspondence: Upali A.... more

Groundwater Governance in the Indo-Gangetic and Yellow River Basins

CRC Press eBooks, Jun 8, 2009

Preface Foreword Acknowledgements About the editors Introduction Glossary of non-English words In... more Preface Foreword Acknowledgements About the editors Introduction Glossary of non-English words Introduction Chapter 1. The role of groundwater in agriculture, livelihoods, and rural poverty alleviation in the Indo-Gangetic and Yellow River basins: A review K.G. Villholth, A. Mukherji, B.R. Sharma & J. Wang Chapter 2. Towards better management of groundwater resources-lessons from an integrated capacity building project in the Indo-Gangetic and Yellow River basins K.G. Villholth Chapter 3. A comparative analysis of the hydrogeology of the Indus-Gangetic and Yellow River basins S.K. Jain, B.R. Sharma, A. Zahid, M. Jin, J.L. Shreshtha, V. Kumar, S.P. Rai, J. Hu, Y. Luo & D. Sharma Region specific case studies Chapter 4. Groundwater resource issues and the socio-economic implications of groundwater use: Evidence from Punjab, Pakistan S.M. Kori, A. Rehman, I.A. Sipra, A. Nazeer & A.H. Khan Chapter 5. Groundwater resources and the impact of groundwater sharing institutions: Insights from Indian Punjab V. Selvi, D. Machiwal, F. Shaheen & B.R. Sharma Chapter 6. Groundwater resource conditions, socio-economic impacts and policy-institutional options: A case study of Vaishali District of Bihar, India A. Islam & R.S. Gautam Chapter 7. Groundwater resource conditions and groundwater sharing institutions: Evidence from eastern Indo-Gangetic basin, India K.H. Anantha, D.R. Sena & A. Mukherji Chapter 8. The impact of shallow tubewells on irrigation water availability, access, crop productivity and farmers' income in the lower Gangetic Plain of Bangladesh A. Zahid, M.A. Haque, M.S. Islam & M.A.F.M.R. Hasan Chapter 9. Reaching the poor: Effectiveness of the current shallow tubewell policy in Nepal D.R. Kansakar, D.R. Pant & J.P. Chaudhary Chapter 10. Agricultural groundwater issues in North China: A case study from Zhengzhou Municipal Area R. Sun, Y. Liu, Y. Qian & K.G. Villholth Chapter 11. Groundwater use and its management: Policy and institutional options in rural areas of North China J. Cao, X. Cheng & X. Li Thematic issues on groundwater irrigation Chapter 12. Anthropological perspectives on groundwater irrigation: Ethnographic evidence from a village in Bist Doab, Punjab R. Tiwary & J.L. Sabatier Chapter 13. Social regulation of groundwater and its relevance to the existing regulatory framework in Andhra Pradesh, India R.V. Rama Mohan Chapter 14. Using the living wisdom of well drillers to construct digital groundwater data bases across Indo-Gangetic basin S. Krishnan, A. Islam, D. Machiwal, D.R. Sena & K.G. Villholth Chapter 15. Crop per volume of diesel? The energy-squeeze on India's small-holder irrigation T. Shah, A. Dasgupta, R. Chaubey, M. Satpathy & Y. Singh Chapter 16. Managing the energy-irrigation nexus in West Bengal, India A. Mukherji, P.S. Banerjee & S. Daschowdhury Chapter 17. Groundwater markets in the North China Plain: Impact on irrigation water use, crop yields and farmer income L. Zhang, J. Wang, J. Huang, S. Rozelle & Q. Huang Subject index Author index SERIES IAH-Selected Papers Colour Plates

Estimating the potential of rainfed agriculture in India: Prospects for water productivity improvements

Agricultural Water Management, 2010

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Water productivity improvements in Indian agriculture: potentials, constraints and prospects

RePEc: Research Papers in Economics, 2009

This volume of papers is the fifth and last in a series of publications under the IWMI-CPWF resea... more This volume of papers is the fifth and last in a series of publications under the IWMI-CPWF research on "Strategic Analyses of India's National River Linking Project." The project team would like to thank the authors of the respective chapters for their thoughtful contributions to the research presented in the workshop and reported in this volume. We are grateful to Dr.

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Water for agriculture vis-à-vis environment

Conference Papers, 2004

Invited paper presented at the 91st Session of the Indian Science Congress, January 3-7, Chandiga... more

Understanding and managing the water-energy nexus: Moving beyond the energy debate

RePEc: Research Papers in Economics, 2006

Energy and water are key instruments for agricultural production and their interlinkages pose sig... more Energy and water are key instruments for agricultural production and their interlinkages pose significant management challenges. Lack of appropriate energy policy and policy to deal with management of groundwater has not only contributed to over-exploitation of groundwater; it has also resulted into a nexus. Perverse incentives provided as part of the energy policies have led to economic inefficiency in the performance of the electricity utilities, playing havoc with the energy economy of the country and viability of the energy sector. Analyzing the growth in use of groundwater and energy for pumping coincides with India's overall development policy of attaining food security. However, much of the debate on water-energy nexus as an indirect approach for groundwater management has focused on the energy side of the nexus, ignoring the role of agriculture policy, especially those dealing with gaps in market linkages for agricultural products and role of minimum support price, which have greater influence on farmer's choice of cropping pattern and hence excessive groundwater use. Policies governing agriculture and energy are apparently dictated more by political populism rather than sound management strategies for sustainable resources development. Combined effect of these policies has resulted in the hydrological unsustainable over-exploitation of groundwater. In this paper, the authors argue that there is need to further the debate on water-energy nexus beyond the realms of those focused primarily on energy policies.

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Ground Water Use Across Command Area of Pabnawa Minor of Bhakra Irrigation System

Journal of Agricultural Engineering, 2012

The northwest Indo-Gangetic plain of India endowed with fertile soil, defined seasons and fair cl... more The northwest Indo-Gangetic plain of India endowed with fertile soil, defined seasons and fair climate produces about 52% of the national food requirement. Currently, this plain is facing a number of second generation problems, declining water table being the major one. The paper presents the status of ground water table, and looks at the scope of conjunctive use of water at field scale in the command area of the Pabnawa minor of the Bhakra irrigation system. The study showed that there is a steep decline in water table after 1998 in middle and tail reaches. The study revealed that ground water contribution to irrigation and productivity in the canal command is very high. While canal irrigated area is shrinking, ground water irrigated area is increasing every year. The contribution of shallow and medium depth tube wells is negligible/limited, and the area covered by deep tube wells is large in all the reaches of the command area. This system of intensive irrigated agriculture is unsustainable in the long run because of declining water tables and high use of energy.

PN60 Project Report. Tackling Water & Food Crisis in South Asia: Insights from the Indo-Gangetic Basin

Irrigation using groundwater has expanded rapidly in South Asia since the inception of the Green ... more Irrigation using groundwater has expanded rapidly in South Asia since the inception of the Green Revolution in the 1970s. Groundwater currently represents the largest source of irrigation in the Indus-Ganges Basin (IGB), which feeds over one billion people and provides direct livelihoods for hundreds of millions of farmers. Although abundant in absolute terms, groundwater is overexploited in the western IGB plains and is underutilized in the east. The spatial and temporal patterns of groundwater development are the result of multiple demand factors: (a) farmer investment, (b) subsidies and markets, and (c) population density; as well as supply factors: (d) sources of groundwater recharge, and (e) energy supply and pricing. This paper examines trends in electricity supply and groundwater development in the Indian portion of the IGB over the 1980 – 1999 period, with contextual reference to groundwater irrigation in Pakistan, Nepal, and Bangladesh. Principal findings include early-1980s’ growth in numbers of electric pumps across the Indian IGB followed by 1990s’ stagnation in the eastern part of the basin; this trend is linked to electricity supply and pricing policies, which have varied markedly from state to state. The eastern IGB presents an energy-groundwater paradox: a region rich in energy sources but with inadequate electricity supply that has led to increased reliance on diesel power, which in turn is limiting development of groundwater – one of this region’s most abundant and agriculturally productive resources. Water Resource Management DOI 10.1007/s11269-009-9513-3 (Springer Science) Challenges and Prospects of Sustainable Groundwater Management in the Indus Basin, Pakistan Asad Sarwar Qureshi , IWMI-Office, Lahore, Pakistan e-mail: [email protected] Peter G. McCornick IWMI, Colombo, Sri Lanka e-mail: [email protected] A. Sarwar, Punjab Agricultural Department, On-Farm Water Management, Lahore, Pakistan e-mail: [email protected] Bharat R. Sharma, IWMI-Office, New Delhi, India e-mail: [email protected] ABSTRACT In Pakistan, on-demand availability of groundwater has transformed the concept of low and uncertain crop yields into more assured crop production. Increased crop yields has resulted in food security and improved rural livelihoods. However, this growth has also led to problems of overdraft, falling water tables and degradation of groundwater quality, and yields generally remain well below potential levels. Over the last three decades, Pakistan has tried several direct and indirect management strategies for groundwater management. However the success has been limited. This paper argues that techno-institutional approaches such as introducing water rights, direct or indirect pricing and permit systems are fraught with difficulties in Pakistan due to its high population density and multitude of tiny users. Therefore there is a need to develop frameworks and management tools that are best suited to Pakistani needs. Pakistan should follow both supply and demand management approaches. For demand management, adoption of water conservation technologies, revision of existing cropping patterns and exploration of alternate water resources should be encouraged. For supply management, implementation of the groundwater regulatory frameworks developed by Provincial Irrigation and Drainage Authorities (PIDAs) and introduction of institutional reforms to enhance effective coordination between different organizations responsible for the management of groundwater resources should be given priority.In Pakistan, on-demand availability of groundwater has transformed the concept of low and uncertain crop yields into more assured crop production. Increased crop yields has resulted in food security and improved rural livelihoods. However, this growth has also led to problems of overdraft, falling water tables and degradation of groundwater quality, and yields generally remain well below potential levels. Over the last three decades, Pakistan has tried several direct and indirect management strategies for groundwater management. However the success has been limited. This paper argues that techno-institutional approaches such as introducing water rights, direct or indirect pricing and permit systems are fraught with difficulties in Pakistan due to its high population density and multitude of tiny users. Therefore there is a need to develop frameworks and management tools that are best suited to Pakistani needs. Pakistan should follow both supply and demand management approaches. For demand management, adoption of water conservation technologies, revision of existing cropping patterns and exploration of alternate water resources should be encouraged. For supply management, implementation of the groundwater regulatory frameworks developed by Provincial Irrigation and Drainage Authorities (PIDAs) and introduction of institutional reforms to enhance effective coordination between different organizations…

A comparative analysis of the hydrogeology of the Indus-Gangetic and Yellow River basins

Hydrogeology (International Association of Hydrogeologists), Jun 8, 2009

ABSTRACT: The Indus, Gangetic and Yellow River basins have supported thriving agriculture economi... more ABSTRACT: The Indus, Gangetic and Yellow River basins have supported thriving agriculture economies from time immemorial. Of late, unplanned over-exploitation of their resources, especially groundwater, has raised concerns about the long-term hydrological sustainability of the irrigated agriculture in the region. This calls for a fresh look at the hydrogeological resources and the management options for these basins. The Indus basin with a drainage area of 1.1 M km2 supports the world&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;#x27;s largest contiguous irrigation ...

Four decades of rice water productivity in Bangladesh: A spatio-temporal analysis of district level panel data

Economic Analysis and Policy, Mar 1, 2014

ABSTRACT The bulk of the water productivity (WP) literature has focused on static cross-sectional... more ABSTRACT The bulk of the water productivity (WP) literature has focused on static cross-sectional analysis with inadequate attention given to long-term, time series analysis, either at the country level or at a lower level of aggregation (e.g., district). The present study fills this gap by analyzing WP in Bangladesh using panel data of 21 districts over 37 years (1968–2004) divided into three phases. It estimated levels of, and trends in, WPs of one irrigated rice (rabi) crop, and two mainly rain-fed (kharif) rice crops, with occasional supplementary irrigation. Also examined were WPs for rice crops in irrigated and rain-fed ecosystems. The findings indicated that WP levels in Bangladesh were significantly lower than that by global standards. Overall, WP growth rates varied significantly among districts and between phases with no consistent pattern emerging. On the whole, WPs trended upwards while differing widely among districts and between phases, seasons, ecosystems and areas differentiated by physiographic characteristics. The 1980s represented a period of stagnation. Drought-prone areas grew faster while salinity-prone areas grew slower vis-à-vis non-drought and non-saline areas. In the Ganges-dependent area, WP grew faster than that in the non-Ganges-dependent area. Rice production in Bangladesh represented a highly groundwater-dependent and fossil fuel-using process with significant environmental implications suggesting that WP growth may be unsustainable. Sustaining WP growth required a range of market and non-market-based policy options.

Krishna Basin Development

The Journal of Environment & Development, Jun 9, 2008

Since India gained Independence, the Krishna basin has seen an increasing mobilization of its wat... more Since India gained Independence, the Krishna basin has seen an increasing mobilization of its water resources. Warnings of basin closure (minimal flow to the ocean) emerge during dry periods. Basin water development and local rural dynamics have led to a degradation of downstream ecosystems manifesting itself by salinizing soil and groundwater, increasing pollution, making mangroves disappear, and desiccating wetlands. Reversing this evolution requires the formal recognition of the environment as a water user in its own right and the implementation of an environmental water provision. This provision should be based on a two-tier allocation system with assured discharges in the irrigation canals of the delta and to the ocean. This will lead to further commitment of water resources, but this is needed to reconcile the social, economic, and environmental objectives of sustainable development. Other measures facilitating integrated natural resources management from the local to the basin level are needed too.

Groundwater resource conditions, socio-economic impacts and policy-institutional options: A case study of Vaishali District of Bihar, India

Improving Water Security to Mediate Impacts of Climate Change in the Ganges Basin

Springer eBooks, 2021

In spite of being water surplus, the 600 + million population of the large Ganges basin spread ov... more In spite of being water surplus, the 600 + million population of the large Ganges basin spread over 1.09 m km 2 in South Asia is water insecure, poor, and highly exposed to water-induced stresses of floods and droughts. The contribution from the glaciers to the streamflow is ~70% in the Himalayan catchments though spatially distributed quantification is unavailable. An application of the Water Evaluation and Planning (WEAP) model with a sub-routine for snow and glaciers melt processes in the basin was set up. The model also examined the possible impacts of an increase in temperature of +1, +2 or +3°C over 20 yrs of the simulation period. The impact on stream flows was high in the upstream (+8 to +26% at Tehri Dam) and moderate in downstream (+1 to +4% at Farakka). These increases shall create flood events more frequently or of higher magnitude in the mountains and Upper Ganga flood plains. To moderate the climate-change induced impacts of floods and improve water security during the non-monsoon season the novel concepts of Underground Taming of Floods for Irrigation (UTFI) and Cranking up the Ganges Water Machine for Ecosystem Services (GAMES) were developed, and pilot tested in the Ramganga sub-basin. Analysis showed that there is an assured possibility of reducing the floods and enhancing sub-surface storage in the identified basins to the level of 45 Bm 3. The demonstrated managed aquifer recharge interventions are technically feasible, operationally acceptable and economically viable.

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The role of groundwater in agriculture, livelihoods, and rural poverty alleviation in the Indo-Gangetic and Yellow River basins: A review

... of mechanical energy is now used, and only in the very shallow aquifer regions can groundwate... more

Co-solving groundwater depletion and seasonal flooding through an innovative managed aquifer recharge approach: converting pilot to a regional solution in the Ram Ganga Sub-basin

Climate induced extreme events such as floods and droughts are often disastrous in incidences and... more Climate induced extreme events such as floods and droughts are often disastrous in incidences and affects Indian economy often. Low per capita surface water storage (225 m3/capita1), few sites for additional storages facilities and depleting groundwater aquifers reduce the resilience of the communities to alleviate the day-to-day short age and larger seasonal shocks. India has a long history of storing and recharging runoff waters through community participation. Ongoing such programs are focused on drought-prone or socio-economically weak areas and exclude the flood prone zones. The present study aims to improve the groundwater resources availability through diverting flows from rivers or canals at times when these flows pose flood risk and recharging the groundwater through suitable artificial recharge structures. This method addresses the issue of groundwater depletion as well as reducing the flood risks. A geo-hydrological analysis in spatial platform using data available in pub...

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