Building effective solutions that address India’s water crisis requires an understanding of our unique and challenging water footprint. Here is a ready reckoner:
Only 17%
Only 17%
of precipitation in India is available for agriculture, Industry and household use
If we continue to use water the way we do, India will have only
half the water
half
it needs by 2030
Agriculture consumes nearly
80%
of India’s available water
Rice, wheat, cotton, and sugarcane are grown on
over half
None
of India’s cultivable land
Rice, wheat, cotton, and sugarcane are grown on
over half
54%
of India’s cultivable land
Water use efficiency for key crops in India is significantly lower than comparable countries
Two-thirds
of water for agriculture comes from groundwater extracted through over 30 million wells
60%
of India's districts face either groundwater quality or availability challenges
70%
of India’s rural households depend on agriculture. The future of their livelihoods is at risk