Policy perspectives on agricultural water management and associated technologies suitable for different agro-climatic zones of West Bengal, India

Abstract

Agriculturally, West Bengal is one of the major productive states in India. It has made significant contributions to the gross state value added through agriculture and allied sectors, and water management is the most vital component to ensure stability and sustainability in agricultural production systems. There is increasing uncertainty in availability, or site-specific excess of water due to climate change. These call for strategic management of this important natural resource to achieve one of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG No. 6) set by the United Nations, i.e. ensuring availability and sustainability in water management, and also providing sanitation to all by 2030. This eastern Indian state has six distinct agro-climatic zones (ACZs) based on its varied physiography, land, soil, weather, cropping pattern, vegetation and other characteristic features. Both water scarcity and water excess are intricately associated with the agricultural activities in the state, which demand integrated approach in the management of water resources and their efficient utilization. Here we elucidate the agricultural importance, distinctive features and constraints of six ACZs, provide an account of the water supply and demand, potential options to increase water-use efficiency, suitable technologies and zone-wise policy perspectives on water management in agriculture and allied sectors in West Bengal.