Groundwater depletion threatens to significantly reduce cropping intensity across India
In short: Researchers analyzing satellite and census data from India found that ongoing groundwater depletion could lead to a 20% nationwide decrease in cropping intensity. In regions where groundwater is already heavily depleted, the decline in cropping intensity could be as high as 68%.
The study highlights that increasing surface irrigation, a common government strategy, may not be enough to offset these losses. The findings suggest that groundwater and canal irrigation are not interchangeable, meaning current adaptation efforts might leave crops more vulnerable to unpredictable rainfall.
The researchers used high-resolution satellite and census data to quantify these impacts, though the study focuses on modeling future trends based on current depletion rates.
Why it matters: The loss of groundwater cannot be easily fixed by simply switching to canal water, threatening future food security.
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Sources
- Source: Research: Jain et al. (2021). Groundwater depletion will reduce cropping intensity in India. Science Advances. · cc-by-nc
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