Your search found 11 records
1 Rao, K. V.. 1988. Development of command areas: What are the special requirements that development of rainfed areas do not need? Wamana, 3(2):1, 6-14.
(Location: IWMI-HQ Call no: PER Record No: H03368)
2 Sharma, Bharat R.; Rao, K. V.; Vittal, K. P. R. 2008. Rain water harvesting for enhancing crop water productivity: an assessment for rainfed areas of India. [Abstract only]. Invited paper for the TNAU-UNESCO International Symposium on Water Harvesting: Bringing Green Revolution to Rainfed Areas, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Coimbatore, India, 23-25 June 2008. 1p.
(Location: IWMI HQ Call no: e-copy only Record No: H041698)
Rainfed agriculture generates about 65-70% of the world’s staple foods, but rainfed areas in South Asia and Africa, home to the world’s largest proportion of drought prone areas (about 44%), have extremely low yield levels. India ranks first among the rainfed agricultural countries of the world in terms of both extent (86 M ha) and value of produce. Due to low land and labour productivity poverty is concentrated in rainfed regions. The large yield gap between the attainable and potential yield shows that a large potential of rainfed agriculture remains to be tapped. Besides several other factors related to agriculture sector as a whole, adverse meteorological conditions in long dry spells and droughts, unseasonal rains and extended moisture stress periods with no mechanisms for storing and conserving the surplus rain to tide over the scarcity/ deficit periods were the major cause for non-remunerative yields and the associated distress. As such productivity of water is very low in rainfed agriculture. Supplementary irrigation is a key strategy, so far underutilised, to unlock rainfed yield potentials and improving crop water productivity in rainfed areas. Since irrigation water productivity is much higher when used conjunctively with rainwater (supplemental), it is logical that under limited water resources priority in water allocation may be given to supplementary irrigation. Therefore an assessment was made under an IWMI-CRIDA study to identify opportunities at the national level for India for water harvesting and supplemental irrigation to overcome dry spells during mid/ terminal droughts so as to stabilize the production. The study identified the dominant rainfed districts for different crops (contributing upto 85% of total rainfed production), made an assessment of the surplus/ runoff available for water harvesting and supplementary irrigation in the identified districts, estimated the regional water use efficiency and effect of supplemental irrigation on increase in production of different crops and finally a preliminary estimate of the economics of water harvesting for supplemental irrigation in rainfed areas. The study identified about 27.5 M ha of potential rainfed area, which accounted for most of the rainfed production and generated sufficient runoff (114 BCM) for harvesting and reutilization. It was possible to raise the rainfed production by 50% over this entire area through application of one supplementary irrigation (28 BCM) and some follow up on the improved practices. Extensive area coverage rather than intensive irrigation need to be followed in regions with higher than 750 mm/ annum rainfall, since there is a larger possibility of alleviating the in-season drought spells and ensure second crop with limited water application. This component may be made an integral component of the ongoing and new development schemes in the identified rural districts. The proposed strategy is environmentally benign, equitable, poverty-targeted and financially attractive to realize the untapped potential of rainfed agriculture in India.
3 Sharma, Bharat R.; Rao, K. V.; Vittal, K. P. R.; Amarasinghe, Upali A. 2008. Converting rain into grain: opportunities for realizing the potential of rain-fed agriculture in India. In Amarasinghe, Upali A.; Sharma, Bharat R. (Eds.) Strategic Analyses of the National River Linking Project (NRLP) of India, Series 2. Proceedings of the Workshop on Analyses of Hydrological, Social and Ecological Issues of the NRLP, New Delhi, India, 9-10 October 2007. Colombo, Sri Lanka: International Water Management Institute (IWMI) pp.239-252.
Rainfed farming ; Crop yield ; Supplemental irrigation ; Water harvesting ; Runoff ; Water use efficiency ; Drought / India
(Location: IWMI HQ Call no: IWMI 333.9162 G635 AMA Record No: H041806)
(83.42 KB)
4 Sharma, Bharat R.; Rao, K. V.; Vittal, K. P. R. 2009. Converting rain into grain: opportunities for realizing the potential of rain-fed agriculture in India. In Amarasinghe, Upali A.; Shah, Tushaar; Malik, R. P. S. (Eds.). Strategic Analyses of the National River Linking Project (NRLP) of India, Series 1: India’s water future: scenarios and issues. Colombo, Sri Lanka: International Water Management Institute (IWMI) pp.169-180.
Rainfed farming ; Crop yield ; Supplemental irrigation ; Water harvesting ; Runoff ; Water use efficiency ; Drought / India
(Location: IWMI HQ Call no: IWMI 333.9162 G635 AMA Record No: H042038)
(96.20 KB)
5 Sharma, Bharat R.; Rao, K. V.; Vittal, K. P. R.; Ramakrishna, Y. S.; Amarasinghe, Upali. 2010. Estimating the potential of rainfed agriculture in India: prospects for water productivity improvements. Agricultural Water Management, 97(1):23-30. [doi: https://doi.org/ 10.1016/j.agwat.2009.08.002]
Rainfed farming ; Water productivity ; Water harvesting ; Supplemental irrigation ; Water use efficiency ; Economic aspects / India
(Location: IWMI HQ Call no: e-copy only Record No: H042486)
(0.35 MB)
A detailed district and agro-ecoregional level study comprising the 604 districts of India was undertaken to (i) identify dominant rainfed districts for major rainfed crops, (ii) make a crop-specific assessment of the surplus runoff water available for water harvesting and the irrigable area, (iii) estimate the efficiency of regional rain water use and incremental production due to supplementary irrigation for different crops, and (iv) conduct a preliminary economic analysis of water harvesting/supplemental irrigation to realize the potential of rainfed agriculture. A climatic water balance analysis of 225 dominant rainfed districts provided information on the possible surplus runoff during the year and the cropping season. On a potential (excluding very arid and wet areas) rainfed cropped area of 28.5 million ha, a surplus rainfall of 114 billion m3 (Bm3) was available for harvesting. A part of this amount of water is adequate to provide one turn of supplementary irrigation of 100 mm depth to 20.65 Mha during drought years and 25.08 Mha during normal years. Water used in supplemental irrigation had the highest marginal productivity and increase in rainfed production above 12% was achievable even under traditional practices. Under improved management, an average increase of 50% in total production can be achieved with a single supplemental irrigation. Water harvesting and supplemental irrigation are economically viable at the national level. Net benefits improved by about threefold for rice, fourfold for pulses and sixfold for oilseeds. Droughts have very mild impacts on productivity when farmers are equipped with supplemental irrigation.
6 Syme, G. J.; Croke, B. F. W.; Ratna Reddy, V.; Ranjan, R.; Samad, Madar; Pavelic, Paul; Herron, N.; Rao, K. V.; Ahmed, S. 2010. Integrated assessment of meso-level watershed development: progress of an integrated evaluation project in Andhra Pradesh. In Sarala, C. (Ed.). Proceedings of the 3rd International Conference on Hydrology and Watershed Management (ICHWAM-2010), with a focal theme on climate change - water, food and environmental security, 3-6 February 2010. Vol.2. Hyderabad, India: Jawaharlal Nehru Technological University, Institute of Science and Technology, Centre for Water Resources. pp.1445-1453.
(Location: IWMI HQ Call no: e-copy only Record No: H042760)
(1.51 MB)
The issue of scale has become paramount for the effective evaluation of WSD programs. Shile terms vary from state to state, the following definitions have been adopted for this study and are deemed appropriate for Andhra Pradesh. Micro scale - less than 1500 hectares; Meso scale 1500 - 10000 hectares; Macro level over 10000 hectares (including basin level investigations). There is a need for a meso-scale benefit and cost evaluation of the WSD programs so that unintended impacts are avoided and that the implementation of programs is improved. Operating at a meso-scale will also provide more effective opportunities to link and address micro and macro scale biophysical and institutional issues. This project will integrate environmental, economic, social, equity and dimensions at meso levels to help ensure that WSD contributes positively to the Indian government's sustainable livelihoods goal and provide the foundations for a resilient and sustainable WSD. Success will not only be determined by spatial scale (e.g. micro versus meso) but will also be determined by the disciplinary scale of analysis (e.g. focusing on short term economic efficiency alone runs considerable risk of ignoring longer term trends in natural and social capital). This paper describes early progress on developing such an evaluation model.
7 Syme, G. J.; Reddy, V. R.; Ahmed, S.; Rao, K. V.; Pavelic, Paul; Merritt, W.; Chiranjeevi, T. 2015. Analytical framework, study design, and methodology. In Reddy, V. R.; Syme, G. J. (Eds.). Integrated assessment of scale impacts of watershed intervention: assessing hydrogeological and bio-physical influences on livelihoods. Amsterdam, Netherlands: Elsevier. pp.23-54.
Hydrology ; Models ; Groundwater recharge ; Water resources ; Water storage ; Water levels ; Watersheds ; Socioeconomic environment ; Stakeholders ; Rain ; Households ; Drought ; Living standards ; Electricity / India
(Location: IWMI HQ Call no: e-copy only Record No: H046720)
(1.34 MB)
8 Rejani, R.; Rao, K. V.; Rao, C. H. S.; Osman, M.; Reddy, K. S.; George, B.; Kranthi, G. S. P.; Chary, G. R.; Swamy, M. V.; Rao, P. J. 2017. Identification of potential rainwater-harvesting sites for the sustainable management of a semi-arid watershed. Irrigation and Drainage, 66(2):227-237. [doi: https://doi.org/10.1002/ird.2101]
Rainwater ; Water harvesting ; Structures ; Planning ; Sustainability ; Watershed management ; Semiarid zones ; Water conservation ; GIS ; Models ; Spatial database ; Remote sensing ; Soil conservation ; Surface runoff ; Land use ; Land cover ; Identification / India / Goparajpalli Watershed
(Location: IWMI HQ Call no: e-copy only Record No: H048128)
(0.98 MB)
In the present study, the potential locations for constructing different water-harvesting structures in a semi-arid watershed located at Goparajpalli, in southern India, were derived using GIS in three stages. The locations were first identified based on land use land cover, land slope, rainfall characteristics, soil texture and soil depth. Then a number of structures and suitable semi-arid rainfed regions have limitations in their runoff potential availability; these locations were further optimized based on the runoff available after in situ water conservation and storage in existing water-harvesting structures. The surplus runoff volume available in a normal year after storage was estimated to be 870 000 m3 . Suitable locations for 25 rock fill dams (RFD), 74 farm ponds and 5 check dams were identified. These derived sites were validated by exporting to Google Earth and investigated for their suitability with ground truth information. At present, the number of structures existing is more than the optimum number of structures derived, but they have less storage capacity. Hence those structures such as farm ponds located at potential sites are recommended for desiltation and renovation by increasing their size along with lining so that they can be utilized for rainwater harvesting and supplementary irrigation. This methodology for identification of potential locations for water-harvesting structures is less time-consuming, more precise and can be utilized for the planning of large catchments to improve the water availability and productivity.
9 Amarnath, Giriraj; Pani, Peejush; Alahacoon, Niranga; Chockalingam, J.; Mondal, S.; Matheswaran, K.; Sikka, Alok; Rao, K. V.; Smakhtin, Vladimir. 2019. Development of a system for drought monitoring and assessment in South Asia. In Mapedza, Everisto; Tsegai, D.; Bruntrup, M.; McLeman, R. (Eds.). Drought challenges: policy options for developing countries. Amsterdam, Netherlands: Elsevier. pp.133-163. (Current Directions in Water Scarcity Research Volume 2) [doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-12-814820-4.00010-9]
Drought ; Monitoring ; Assessment ; Temperature ; Rain ; Precipitation ; Satellite observation ; Weather forecasting ; Land use ; Land cover ; Remote sensing ; Vegetation index ; Agriculture ; Crop yield / South Asia / India / Sri Lanka / Pakistan
(Location: IWMI HQ Call no: IWMI Record No: H049369)
(15.10 MB)
10 Reddy, V. R.; Sreedevi, P. D.; Syme, G. J.; Pavelic, Paul; Tallapragada, C.; Rao, K. V.; Merritt, W. S. 2019. Learning instruments. in Reddy, V. R.; Syme, G. J.; Tallapragada, C. Integrated approaches to sustainable watershed management in xeric environments: a training manual. Amsterdam, Netherlands: Elsevier. pp.81-197. [doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-12-815275-1.00009-7]
Training materials ; Assessment ; Questionnaires ; Watershed management ; Hydrogeology ; Biophysics ; Households ; Socioeconomic environment ; Resilience ; Villages / India
(Location: IWMI HQ Call no: e-copy only Record No: H049470)
(21.10 MB)
11 Amarnath, Giriraj; Ghosh, Surajit; Alahacoon, Niranga; Nakada, Toru; Rao, K. V.; Sikka, Alok. 2021. Regional drought monitoring for managing water security in South Asia. In Amaratunga, D.; Haigh, R.; Dias, N. (Eds.). Multi-hazard early warning and disaster risks. Selected papers presented at the International Symposium on Multi-Hazard Early Warning and Disaster Risk Reduction, Online Symposium, 14-16 December 2020. Cham, Switzerland: Springer. pp.465-481. [doi: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-73003-1_32]
Drought ; Monitoring ; Water security ; Water management ; Climate change ; Agriculture ; Crop production ; Precipitation ; Remote sensing ; Case studies / South Asia
(Location: IWMI HQ Call no: e-copy only Record No: H050800)
(0.60 MB)
Drought is the most complex climate-related disaster issue in South Asia and has affected 1.46 billion people with an economic loss of over 7 billion USD in the last 56 years. South Asia is challenged with water, food, and energy security due to growing populations, incomes, resource degradation, and vulnerability to climate change. Monitoring of drought and associated agricultural production deficits using meteorological and agricultural indices is an essential component for drought preparedness. Remote sensing offers near real-time monitoring of drought conditions and IWMI’s has implemented South Asia Drought Monitoring System (SADMS) in 2014 as an online platform for drought early warning and support in drought declaration. This chapter explores the use of composite drought indices implemented in Google Earth Engine (GEE) and evaluates the crop yield variability during drought years. The study provides a rapid overview of drought-prone conditions that could enhance the present capabilities of early warning systems and enable science based policies for addressing water security in the agriculture sector and develop a drought response plan between water supply and demand, significantly increasing the vulnerability of regions to damaging impacts of drought events.
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