Agricultural Water: A Detailed Description

Roughly around 70% of the Indian population is dependent on agriculture and various agricultural activities in some way or other. Contributing almost 16% to the total GDP, agriculture surely has an impact in our daily lives. Our country produces the highest number of agricultural produce, thereby highlighting the importance of agriculture in our lives. Always acknowledge the efforts of a farmer as whatever you’re eating is because of his hard work and determination.

Water has a pivotal role in the Indian agriculture. Can there be any agricultural activity that can be performed without water? The answer is no! 

Agricultural water is the normal water but the only difference is that it is actually used to grow fresh produce and also to sustain livestock. It makes the growth of important fruits and vegetables possible. Apart from growing vegetation, the agricultural water is also used for important things like irrigation, fertilizer applications, frost control, etc. Did you know that almost 65% of freshwater is actually used for irrigation purposes? Where most of the world’s population is struggling to drink freshwater, so much is used on agriculture. It is therefore advised to use it properly. 

If we talk about the source, agricultural water comes mainly from three sources:

 1. Groundwater 

         Wells

 2.  Rainwater

  3. Surface water 

Rivers, canals Lakes, reservoirs, etc.

We cannot just use any kind of water, because like humans, plants too require uncontaminated water to stay healthy. Water quality can be affected by the poor planning too. Poor planning of agricultural farms, industrial setting, dumping of industrial waste, washing of clothes, and throwing garbage in the water bodies. If not destroying the crops completely, the quality of the produce definitely gets affected if the quality of water is not up to the mark.

The farmer or anyone who is working on the farms, should be completely sure about the quality of water being used because it makes the growth of fresh fruits and vegetables possible. Sometimes natural calamities like floods, soil erosion deteriorates the quality of soil and thereby water is used to carefully help in cultivating the crop and sustain the livestock. Consumption of contaminated water can cause water borne diseases. There are technologies too, that are used to further strengthen the process. Agricultural water’s efficiency can be improved by minimizing the soil erosion. 

A decline in the quality of water and water levels results in the decrease in the quality as well as the quantity of the produce. Management strategies come in handy at improving the quality and is perhaps the most important way to maintain the optimal production and yield. The key is to use and implement proper management strategies that improve the water quality, without decreasing yield.

The FAO has forecast that by 2050, the global water requirements for agricultural purposes might decrease by 50%, to meet the demands of the ever increasing demand for food grains.

Another reason why each drop counts. Take small, precautionary steps and ensure that you contribute to saving water before it’s too late. Everyone dreams of having a family, do you want the upcoming generation to live in distress? Start thinking! 

From boiling the water to using chemicals to using multi-stages reverse osmosis water purification system india, we have come a long way to making the water drinkable.