Diminishing Water-Energy-Food Nexus Approach and Sustainability in Agricultural Practices: A Study in Saharanpur District, Uttar Pradesh, India

Background: Western Uttar Pradesh in India is facing escalating extraction of groundwater through privately owned tube wells for irrigation which raises concern for environment and sustainability. The major reasons for increasing groundwater exploitation are inefficient water supply through Government superficial canal water, changing cropping pattern towards cash crops and subsidized power utility used in groundwater pumping. It has resulted in diminishing water-energy-food (WEF) nexus approach and sustainability in agriculture practices in the region. Methods: Data were collected through semi-structured in-depth interview technique from 100 farmers of two villages of Saharanpur district in western Uttar Pradesh in India. Date were also collected from 11 other stakeholders who are associated with agriculture sectors. Participatory rural appraisal (PRA), focus group discussion (FGD) and case study techniques were also used for strengthening the quality of data. Result: The cultivation practices in Saharanpur district have completely transformed. It has changed from subsistence agriculture, involving diverse crops, animal husbandry and horticulture to primarily sugarcane, wheat and rice crops. The average percentage of the use of groundwater is 83% and the superficial canal water is 17%. Out of total 100 sample size of farmers in Jakhwala and Rankhandi villages of Saharanpur district, only one farmer was using innovative methods of irrigation. Only two farmers tried to economise water usage by efficient surface irrigation. Similar are the other findings. The study suggests that farmers should be trained to improve the situation of agriculture cropping pattern by encouraging crop diversification and promote the use of drip and sprinkler methods of irrigation.