Dynamics of groundwater irrigation in Punjab and Haryana institutions markets and management

Abstract

The Indo-Gangetic alluvial area of India consists of two of the most agriculturally developed states of Punjab and Haryana. Both states have similar types of agro-climatic and ecological setups, which led to agriculture growth in both states. Both states have witnessed a structural shift in the source of irrigation from canal water to groundwater irrigation and have adopted rice-wheat cropping pattern monoculture. This has resulted in the over-exploitation of groundwater in both states, which has serious ecological as well as economic repercussions. Therefore, the following study examined the evolution and performance of sources of irrigation in both states and their impact on cropping patterns and water demand. In the energy-groundwater irrigation nexus, it was found that farmers with large landholdings tend to consume most of the groundwater as well as subsidized electricity through the use of deep tube wells. Groundwater market activity has been observed in all the sampled districts of both states. Both states have been found to have low irrigation as well as economic water productivity. Additionally, DEA analysis revealed that the mean groundwater efficiency score was found to be the same in both states in the case of rice crops, whereas in the case of the wheat crop, Haryana outperformed Punjab. It has been estimated that if the current cropping pattern continues in both states, it will result in a fall in the groundwater levels of both Punjab and Haryana to the extent of 46 meters and 39 meters, respectively by 2050.