AbstractThis study investigates water availability in Barabanki District, Uttar Pradesh, and its implications for agricultural sustainability under the growing pressures of climate change. Situated in the Indo-Gangetic Plains, the district has experienced significant declines in groundwater levels, contraction of surface water resources, and increasing variability in rainfall over the past two decades. These changes have exerted substantial stress on the agricultural sector, which remains heavily dependent on water-intensive cropping patterns and conventional irrigation practices. Employing a mixed-methods approach that integrates primary and secondary data, the study analyzes long-term trends in water availability, the impacts of climate change, and the effectiveness of adaptive agricultural practices. The findings reveal a persistent decline in groundwater reserves, reduced and erratic monsoon precipitation, and an increasing frequency of extreme weather events, including floods and droughts. While initiatives such as crop diversification and the adoption of water-efficient irrigation technologies show some promise, existing measures are insufficient to adequately address the escalating challenge of water scarcity. The study underscores the need for more comprehensive and integrated water management strategies to ensure long-term agricultural sustainability in the region.
Kumar et al. (Wed,) studied this question.