Speaker: Dr. Mihir Shah (Former Member, Planning Commission)Abstract: We present the argument for twin propositions: (a) that solving India’s water problem requires a paradigm shift in agriculture and (b) that the crisis in Indian agriculture cannot be resolved without a paradigm shift in water management and governance. If farming takes up 90 percent of India’s water and just three water-intensive crops continue to use 80 percent of agricultural water, basic water needs of millions of people, for drinking water or protective irrigation, cannot be met. We outline the constituent elements of each of the existing paradigms of water and agriculture, explain why they need to be transformed and then describe the nature of the paradigm shift required in both areas. Click here to join the meeting |
Chair: Prof. S. Mahendra Dev | Discussant: Dr. Digvijay Singh Negi |