PRESENTATION ON THIRSTY CROP BY WWFINDIA Structure of

PRESENTATION ON THIRSTY CROP BY WWF-INDIA

Structure of Presentation Water & Agriculture Water Consumption by Thirsty Crops Challenges Addressing the Challenges Framework Project Area Description Project Process Results Project Outcome Project Potential Project Impact

Water & Agriculture in India • Irrigation consumes more than 80% of the available water in the country Source: indiastat. com (1997)

Water & Agriculture in India (cont) • Changing trend of water availability… evident from adequate to stress and will strike to scarcity within a span of 75 years

Water consumption by Thirsty Crops

……. . WHY THIRSTY ARE SOME CROPS • Heavy requirement of water per unit yield of produce • • Blue water Green Water Grey water Identified Thirsty Crops Sugarcane: 1500 – 3000 litres/kg of cane Cotton: 7000 – 29000 litres/kg of fibre Rice: 3000 – 5000 litres/kg of grain Basis of identification • • • Usage of water Usage of inputs and thereby losses Area under cultivation

Challenges • PRODUCE MORE WITH LESS • Proper farm water management • Introducing concept of Integrated Plant Nutrient Management • Promote practice of Integrated Pest Management at farm level

Addressing the Challenges • WWF-India’s Initiative • Sustainable Cotton Initiative Project in Andhra Pradesh & Maharastra • Sustainable Sugar Initiative Project in Maharastra

FRAMEWORK Available Water Fertilizer Pesticide Thirsty Crop Better Management Practices on Thirsty Crop Results Outcome Impact Improve water productivity Farmers adapted to BMPs Water to be retained for other ecosystem functions Reduction in chemical input The concept of producing better cotton/sugar gaining momentum Market transforming towards sustainable production base Improve in gross margin Improved livelihoods for the producer

Project Area • Warrangal (Andhra Pradesh) • Aurangabad (Maharastra)

DESCRIPTION Implementation. AREA Approach • Dominated by crops like Paddy, Cotton & Sugarcane • Region is marked by huge consumption of chemical pesticide (ranging from 30 – 50% of the respective state consumption) Traditional water use in agriculture taking a heavy toll on ground water (e. g. flood irrigation, serpentine furrows) Majority of the area is technically unintervened Area comes under Godavari basin, a priority basin for WWF agri & water works • • •

Implementation. PROJECT Approach PROCESS • Development of Better Management Practices for each of the thirsty crops under the following guiding principles • Improving water productivity • Reduction in chemical fertilizers • Lessening use of pesticides • Improving gross margin of the farmers

PROJECT PROCESS (Cont) Implementation Approach Demonstration of trial plot Raising of Demonstration plot BMP demonstrated through implementing partners Awareness campaign through Farmers’ Field School /Learning Group/Farmers’ Group Creating Resource Centre Formation of Society under Cooperative act Outcome monitored by M&E partner

RESULTS Cotton Sugarcane • 49. 4% of water reduction in BMP fields • 48% of water reduction in BMP fields • 81% lessening of chemical pesticides in BMP field • Improvement in juice quality • 21% of reduction in chemical fertilizer • An extra profit of Rs 4700/- per acre/BMP farmer • • 18% of reduction in chemical fertilizer An extra profit of Rs 4000/- per acre/BMP farmer (Source: NABARD report) (Source: CRIDA report)

Implementation. PROJECT Approach. OUTCOME • Around 17000 ha of cotton growing area & 8000 ha of cane area would be under BMP • Farmers’ shifting towards micro irrigation to improve water productivity & profit per unit of water • The success story has laid down the concept of producing better cotton/sugar through an environmentally sustainable crop production system…. and gaining momentum • Industry promoting practices which is environmentally sustainable

PROJECT POTENTIAL Implementation Approach Usual Scenario Project Potential • Water use efficiency : 40 – 50% • Water use efficiency : 75 – 90% • 30 BCM of water annually is provided to cotton • 14. 7 BCM of water can be saved annually in cotton cultivation • 78 BCM of water annually is provided to sugarcane crop • 37 BCM of water can be saved annually in cane cultivation

PROJECT IMPACT Implementation Approach • Water to be retained for functioning of other ecosystem services • Water quality to be restored • Improved livelihoods for the farmers • Attaining commodity market stability through optimum resource utilization