Water Crisis caused by Rice Production

As the world’s largest rice exporter, India’s agricultural success is rapidly depleting the very groundwater its population and future harvests depend on.

India’s Rise in Rice Production and Exports

• India overtook China as the world’s largest rice producer in 2025.
• Rice exports nearly doubled over the past decade, exceeding 20 million metric tons in the latest fiscal year.
• India accounts for about 40% of global rice exports, playing a pivotal role in world food trade.
• The country produces more rice than needed for its 1.4 billion population, enabling surplus for export.

Groundwater Depletion in Key Rice-Growing States

• Punjab and Haryana, India’s leading rice producers, rely heavily on groundwater irrigation.
• Water Table: The water table has dropped dramatically: from ~30 feet a decade ago to 80–200 feet now.
• Cost to Farmers: Farmers face rising costs for deeper borewells, pumps, and pipes, often borrowing heavily.
• Aquifers in large areas are “over-exploited” or “critical“; extraction exceeds recharge by 35–57% annually (2024–2025).

Role of Rice Production in Groundwater Depletion in India

• High Water Demand of Rice: Rice requires 3,000–5,000 liters of water per kilogram, far more than most other crops (e.g., millets need significantly less water).
• This “thirsty” crop drives massive groundwater extraction, especially since the Green Revolution promoted rice-wheat systems in non-traditional rice areas.
• Current Depletion Statistics (2024–2025):
• • Punjab: Groundwater extraction at 156%of recharge (highest in India).
  • Haryana: 137%of recharge.

Role of Government Policies in Groundwater Depletion

• Subsidies like minimum support prices (up ~70% in a decade) and free/subsidized electricity encourage rice over less water-intensive crops.
• Legacy of food security policies from scarcity eras now promotes overproduction for exports (India holds 40% of global rice trade).

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Efforts to Promote Crop Diversification in India

• India is actively promoting crop diversification to reduce reliance on water-intensive rice and wheat, conserve groundwater, improve soil health, and enhance farmer incomes. 
• Crop Diversification Programme (CDP): A sub-scheme under Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana (RKVY) since 2013-14, targeting Punjab, Haryana, and Western Uttar Pradesh to divert paddy area to pulses, oilseeds, maize, cotton, and nutri-cereals.
• National Food Security Mission (NFSM): Promotes pulses, coarse cereals, and nutri-cereals to boost production and encourage diversification.
• Mera Pani Meri Virasat Scheme of Haryana: Flagship program by Haryana Government offering ₹8,000 per acre (increased from ₹7,000 in 2025 budget) for farmers switching from paddy to crops like maize, pulses, cotton, millets, and vegetables.
  • However, the incentive is short-term (one season), limiting widespread adoption.

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