What crop in UP India is suitable to grow in less water area?
Within Indian agriculture, a wide variety of crops are cultivated in India due to the different climatic and soil conditions available in different topography across the country. These crops are mainly divided into food grains, commercial crops, horticultural crops and horticultural crops. Water is an essential source for the proper growth of these crops. Many farmers still rely on water-based crops. Irrigation is required during the crop growth period according to its utilization rate, excluding water, rainfall and storage moisture. But the amount of irrigation water required for each plant is different because different plants need to live in different climates, but each plant has its own unique physical characteristics. The rural Indian population is largely dependent on agriculture for their livelihood. , With an 18% share (KPMG report), Agriculture is one of the major contributors to India’s GDP, with this population playing a comprehensive role in the Indian economy.
In this regard, we would like to highlight some of the water consuming crops that are popularly grown by Indian farmers.
In this regard, we would like to highlight some of the water consuming crops that are popularly grown by Indian farmers.
Cotton, also known as ‘white gold’, is a kharif crop. India is one of the largest producers and exporters of cotton yarn. India uses an average of 22,500 liters of water to produce 1 kg of cotton. Most of the Indian cotton is grown in arid areas. The major growing states are Gujarat, Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh, Haryana, Madhya Pradesh, Punjab, Rajasthan, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu and Orissa.
India is the second largest producer of this popular commercial crop. It is one of the longest growing periods and can stop its growth early due to water scarcity. Crops usually need 300-500 mm of rain / water for their growth; However, 1,500-2,500 mm of rain / water is required to complete the sugarcane growth cycle. Therefore 1500-3000 liters of water is required for the crop to produce one kg of sugarcane! In India, the major producers of this crop are Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Bihar, Gujarat, Haryana, Uttarakhand and Punjab.
With a production of 12 million tons; Soybean is one of the fastest growing crops in India. This crop is considered to be well suited to Indian soil. The main source of protein, vegetable oil and fodder, the crop requires about 900 liters of water per 1 kg of yield. This crop is mainly grown in Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra and Rajasthan.
Wheat production in India has been on the rise since the Green Revolution. After rice, wheat is the most widely consumed crop in India. Not only this, our country is one of the largest exporters of all types of wheat, making it the second largest producer of the crop worldwide. However, the fact that 1 kg of wheat production requires 900 liters of water cannot be ignored. In India, the crop is mainly produced in the northern region – Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, Madhya Pradesh, Haryana, Rajasthan, Bihar, Gujarat, Maharashtra, West Bengal and Uttarakhand are the major producers of this crop.
Therefore, we can see how economic growth is indirectly dependent on freshwater. It should be understood that for high agricultural productivity, sufficient water is required for a good crop. If water is used for such waterlogged crops, even agriculture will not be able to find water. Most of these crops are grown in arid areas where there is insufficient rainfall and farmers rely on other freshwater sources or groundwater pumps. In a country like India, where 76 million people do not have access to safe drinking water, it would seem unfair to use large amounts of water in such crops. Water intensive farming takes a liter of water, which helps a significant population survive. The cultivation of these crops has also led to water scarcity in some areas. In fact, due to the severe drought conditions every year, local authorities have made several requests for farmers in Rampur to switch to pulses and oilseeds. The Tamil Nadu government has also asked farmers to switch from paddy to millets and pulses as the new crops will have less water and more nutrients. However, in some areas, switching to different crops due to climatic conditions, soil requirements, etc. may not be considered the optimal solution and hence switching to better irrigation practices such as drip irrigation. In addition, underground irrigation pumps rely on unregulated grid electricity or diesel, which adds additional stress to current environmental conditions. Solar powered pumps can be considered as a prototype solution to overcome that problem. The water needs of these crops should be taken into consideration to formulate immediate solutions.
We can solve our water crisis only through daily water consumption. Save water before it is too late.
