Mitigating the Water, Energy and Food Crisis: A Humane Solution

Rising world population coupled with urbanization and industrialization of developing countries impose severe and spurting demand on the limited natural resources as well as endanger fragile eco-system. None can have a second opinion on the three fundamental needs that are associated with life sustenance on this planet: Energy, Water, and Food. In India, agriculture values both water and energy on equal footing and they are very critical for human health as well as essential for keeping the wheels of economy to move ahead. Nearly, 30–40 percent of all energy in India is used to move and process water around and most of that water is used for agricultural purposes. But, still the sector’s contribution to economy is volatile and deficient. There is an urgent need to work out a few practical solutions and draw a system to the table that revisits and addresses the Energy-Water-Food nexus. The time has come for various stakeholders such as policymakers, industry, and the public at large, to focus on specific strategic policy imperatives which can bring about a sustained growth with higher efficiency and optimal utilization of resources. This paper attempts to suggest the ways and means of improving the efficiency in the use of these inputs for a sustainable performance in this sector and with a special focus on environment.