Article Title :
Assessment of Water Footprint in Selected Crops: A State Level Appraisal
1 (2017)
11-25
Crops , Consumption , Water demand , Virtual water , Water footprint , Water stress
Every commodity or goods has intake of water i.e. either in processing or furnished stage. Thus, the present study propensities macro-level (states-level) water footprint (WFP) assessment of selected eight crops namely, Wheat, Barley, Maize, Millets, Rice, Sorghum, Soybeans and Tea. The aim of present research is to assess water use in selected crops at field level. In addition, the spatial evaluation at state level also considered as one of the significant objective to understand regional disparity and/or similarly. Methodology and approach of assessment was adopted from Water Footprint Assessment Manual (2011). Data was collected from state Agricultural Directorate, National Bureau of Soil Survey and landuse, published reports and online database such as FAOSTAT, WMO, WFN, and agriculture census. Results show that green component of WFP contributes large fraction as about 72 percent, while blue and grey component amounted of about 19 and 9 percent of the total water consumption, respectively. Moreover, spatial variability of blue, green and grey among the states assimilated by soil regime and climate barriers. Supply of blue water is high where the region imparted to semi-arid or arid land. Consequently, a balanced approach between green and blue water use has been recommended in the present study to address increasing water demand in the future.
The article analysed water footprint for Wheat, Barley, Maize, Millets, Rice, Sorghum, Soybeans and Tea at macro level in India.
Green component estimates 72%, blue 19% and grey 9% of the total water consumption in production of commodities in India.
Utter Pradesh is the highest WFP consumer while North-Eastern states are the lowest.
Sorghum, Soybeans, Maize, Barley, Wheat and Rice consume more WFP in India.
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