Efficient water resource management in the farming systems: Key mitigating strategies for climate change led constraints

Not AvailableWater is a vital component of agricultural production and is essential to increase both quantity and quality of produce. Agriculture is the major user of water in most countries and currently this sector faces the enormous challenge of producing almost 50 % more food by 2030 and doubling almost 50 % more by 2050. This has to be achieved with less water resources, mainly because of increased competition arising out of growing population pressure, urbanisation, industrialization and climate change. It is now well accepted that climate change may have large impact on water resources of a region mostly by affecting fundamental drivers of hydrological cycles. Other processes like change in population size and location, economic development and land use, infrastructure, ground water development and changing social values etc. also have major influences on water resources and must be considered along with climate change in a holistic approach to water resource management (Brekke, 2009). At global level, the total water resources amounts to 1385.5 m km3 of which, 97.3% is salt water and 2.7 % is fresh water. Out of the total fresh water available, 75.2% exist as polar ice, 22.6 5 ground water, 1.9% as soil moisture and 0.3 % is available in lakes and river. India accounts for 4.0% of global water resources and 2.45 % of land resources. The country also supports 16% of global human and 15 % of global livestock resources. The North Eastern Region accounts for 34% (653 BCM) of total water resources and 7.9% of Indian land mass. The per capita availability and per hectare availability of water in this region is the highest in the country. However, less than 5% of the existing potential of the region is so far used for societal use. Against the ultimate irrigation potential of about 4.26 m ha, the area presently under irrigation is only 0.85 m ha. Although the availability of ground water at relatively shallow depth (within 20 m) is very high in this region, especially in the valley areas, only 4.3% of the existing ground water potential has been developed so far. The region is endowed with average annual rainfall of 2500 mm with variability ranging from 1200 mm in some parts of Nagaland to 11,000 mm in Cherrapunji (Meghalaya). Out of 3500 wetlands (Beels) in Assam, 170 are more than 100 hectares in size and warrants immediate attention for conserving the flora and fauna that exists in such wetlands and also Natural Resource Management for Enhancement of Adaptation and Mitigation Potential under Changing Climate. 2014. Saikia US, Ramesh T, Ramkrushna GI, Krishnappa R, Rajkhowa DJ, Venkatesh A and Ngachan SV (Eds). pp1-6. ICAR Research Complex for NEH Region, Umiam, Meghalaya, India 2 Natural Resource Management for Enhancement of Adaptation and Mitigation Potential under Changing Climate to maintain environmental quality. More than 70% of the rainfall concentrates in four months (July-September) and unfortunately, the lion’s share of the rainfall particularly in the hilly region is lost as runoff due to peculiar topography and absence of adequate storage device.Not Availabl