Combatting groundwater depletion in North-Western India: Obstacles, consequences, and water-saving agronomic approaches

The paper synthesizes agronomic, technological, and policy options relevant to groundwater sustainability in north-western India, a region of international significance for food security. Since the advent of the Green Revolution, there has been a significant shift from traditional crops to high-yielding, water-intensive crop varieties that require substantially more water. This transition has led to a dramatic increase in the number of tubewells and the overexploitation of groundwater resources. In the northwestern states of India, namely Punjab, Rajasthan and Haryana, the rate of groundwater extraction far exceeds natural recharge rates. This issue is aggravated by subsidized or free electricity for agriculture, which encourages excessive groundwater extraction. This paper reviews various agronomic and technological interventions and finds that measures such as laser land leveling, zero tillage, the System of Rice Intensification (SRI), direct-seeded rice (DSR), micro-irrigation, and water harvesting can reduce water use while maintaining yields. However, their effectiveness for long-term groundwater sustainability remains mixed. Among these, water harvesting structures appear most effective, offering dual benefits by reducing groundwater extraction and enhancing recharge. Furthermore, government policies, institutional support, and agricultural extension services play a crucial role in promoting the adoption of water-efficient practices. Also, international development cooperation can reinforce these efforts through concessional finance, technical assistance, and data sharing that lower adoption costs and strengthen monitoring. Effective implementation of these measures can help mitigate unsustainable exploitation of groundwater resources in Indian agriculture.