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Mitigation and Adaptation Strategies for Global Change
Published in:

01-06-2024 | Original Article

Groundwater and climate smart agriculture: a reflection from West Bengal, India

Authors: M. N. Roy, S. Das, R. Mitra, D. Mukherjee

Published in: Mitigation and Adaptation Strategies for Global Change | Issue 5/2024

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Abstract

The article delves into the critical issue of water scarcity exacerbated by climate change, focusing on the Indian state of West Bengal. It examines the impact of climate change on groundwater resources and agriculture, emphasizing the need for integrated, multi-sectoral interventions. The study analyzes the unsustainable practices of water usage in agriculture and the emergence of water markets, while also discussing the significance of 'gender-smart' approaches and community participation in climate-smart agriculture. The research, based on primary and secondary data, offers valuable insights into the challenges and potential solutions related to groundwater management and agriculture in the face of climate change.
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Footnotes
1
A block is an administrative unit which is a sub-division of a district in India. Typical population of a block in West Bengal is around 200,000.
 
2
Damodar Valley Corporation (DVC) is one of the oldest multipurpose river valley project of India.
 
3
SOE means the state of extraction of groundwater. This is a measure of annual groundwater extraction for all uses (irrigation, industrial and domestic uses) over annual extractable groundwater resource.
 
4
GP is the lowest tier of rural local government in India. Average population living within a GP in West Bengal is little more than 20,000.
 
5
More farmers in Jangipara reported increasing depth of borewells compared to Chanditala I block, probably because Jangipara block has more shallow depth borewells and Chanditala I block has more deep tubewells.
 
6
A government program to ensure “safe and adequate drinking water through individual household tap connections by 2024 to all households in rural India” (https://​jaljeevanmission​.​gov.​in/​).
 
7
The elected President of the GP in West Bengal is called Pradhan. As per law, at least 33% posts of Pradhan are reserved for women. Many states including West Bengal have raised such reservation to 50%.
 
8
The Schedule 11 under Article 243 (G) of the Indian Constitution provides a list of 29 subjects which may be devolved on the Panchayats by the state governments. However, devolution in “Agriculture, including agriculture extension”, the first item in the list has been very little.
 
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Metadata
Title
Groundwater and climate smart agriculture: a reflection from West Bengal, India
Authors
M. N. Roy
S. Das
R. Mitra
D. Mukherjee
Publication date
01-06-2024
Publisher
Springer Netherlands
Published in
Mitigation and Adaptation Strategies for Global Change / Issue 5/2024
Print ISSN: 1381-2386
Electronic ISSN: 1573-1596
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1007/s11027-024-10137-1

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