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Crop switching for water sustainability in India's food bowl yields co-benefits for food security and farmers' profits

Agriculture

Crop switching for water sustainability in India's food bowl yields co-benefits for food security and farmers' profits

R. Chakraborti, K. F. Davis, et al.

Discover how a revolutionary crop switching optimization model could combat groundwater depletion in the Indo-Gangetic Plain, as explored by Ruparati Chakraborti and colleagues. This innovative research reveals the potential to reduce water consumption by 32%, boost calorie production by 39%, and enhance farmers' profits by 140%.

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Playback language: English
Abstract
Groundwater depletion due to agricultural intensification is a major threat to water and food security in the Indo-Gangetic Plain (IGP). This study developed and applied a crop switching optimization model for cereals in the IGP to maximize calorie production and farmers' profits and minimize water consumption. Switching from rice to millets and sorghum in the Kharif season and from wheat to sorghum in the Rabi season could potentially reduce water consumption by 32%, improve calorie production by 39%, and increase farmers' profits by 140%. Crop switching offers a larger reduction in groundwater depletion and energy savings than improving irrigation efficiency.
Publisher
Nature Water
Published On
Oct 09, 2023
Authors
Ruparati Chakraborti, Kyle Frankel Davis, Ruth DeFries, Narasimha D. Rao, Jisha Joseph, Subimal Ghosh
Tags
groundwater depletion
crop switching
calorie production
farmers' profits
Indo-Gangetic Plain
agricultural intensification
water consumption

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