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Open well irrigation in arid parts of Rajasthan: Adaptation to multiple stressors affecting agricultural sustainability

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Title Open well irrigation in arid parts of Rajasthan: Adaptation to multiple stressors affecting agricultural sustainability
 
Creator Arvind Upadhyay, Ankit Goswami, Ranjay K. Singh, Dheeraj Singh, Parvender, Anshuman Singh, Satyendra Kumar, Thimmappa K and DK Sharma
 
Description Resource scarcity and exposure to multiple stressors have compelled the small-holder farmers world over to
develop location-specific adaptation strategies to sustain their livelihoods; especially in risk-prone
ecosystems. This paper attempts to understand two questions: (i) how agro-ecological knowledge of farmers
of Pali district, Rajasthan, India is used to harvest the rainwater through open-wells to sustain the
agricultural production, and (ii) how different stressors are impacting the socio-ecological resilience of these
agro-ecosystems. To answer these questions, a study was carried out with 20 key informants from four
purposively selected villages of Pali district. Data were collected through transect walk, soil and water
sampling, focus group discussions, personal interviews, participant observations and telephonic discussions.
Results indicated that rain water, open-well system and river water (Luni river at few places) constitute the
main sources of water for sustaining crop and animal production. Over 85.0% of the studied farmers owned
1-4 open-wells (CV: 47.0%). On an average, 300 to 500 farmers obtained irrigation water from a single openwell
to irrigate an average 2.72 ha (0.48-8.0 ha, with CV: 7.0%) of the crop land. During November to
December, one open-well having 60-70 feet high watertable could supply water for about 15-18 hours which
reduces to 6-8 hours during February-March. The major crops grown using open-well water are cumin, wheat, mustard and fenugreek. At most of the locations, 25-30% of such wells have gone dry, and, at some
places, as much as 80% of the open-wells (e.g., in Rampura, Rohat block) are now dry. In such wells, the
remaining water is too saline (ECiw ~5.5-13.2) for irrigation. Reduced number of rainy days as well as
restricted seepage from the drying Luni river seem to have accentuated the salinity problem. The water
storage in the river bed has considerably reduced over time resulting in reduced seepage to the adjacent
agricultural lands. These hydrological changes have adversely affected the soil health with far reaching
consequences for water and nutrient availability and sustainability of the local cropping systems. Many
locally adapted landraces in crops such as cumin and chilli are on the verge of extinction, while area under
wheat has decreased. Farmers’ dependence on external sources for seeds and other vital inputs has also
increased. In a nutshell, rapidly declining watertable and the concurrent increase in salinity, likely to be
aggravated by climate variability, may attain alarming proportions in the coming period. In order to
overcome this situation, a multipronged, community-based approach with polycentric policy support is
urgently required to revive the open-wells which were once the lifeline of these rural communities in Pali
district of Rajasthan.
 
Date 2017-06-27T08:59:30Z
2017-06-27T08:59:30Z
2017-01
 
Type Other
 
Identifier Upadhyay, A., Goswami, A., Singh, R. K., Singh, D., Parvender, Singh, Anshuman, Kumar, S., Thimmappa, K. and Sharma, D.K. 2017. Open well irrigation in arid parts of Rajasthan: Adaptation to multiple stressors affecting agricultural sustainability. In: Abstracts 5th National Seminar Climate Resilient Saline Agriculture: Sustaining Livelihood Security held during 21-23 January 2017 at SKRAU, Bikaner, Rajasthan. p. 131-132
http://krishi.icar.gov.in/jspui/handle/123456789/4484
 
Language English
 
Publisher Indian Society of Soil Salinity and Water Quality, Karnal