More crop for every drop - A holistic analysis of Indian water stress through Virtual Water Trade and Policy

ndia ranges among the countries experiencing most water stress in recent years, while being a major virtual water net exporter. The country’s position relative to its water sources exacerbated since its trade liberalization in the early 1990’s, which calls for a future national water crisis. To comprehend India’s water stress, this study aims to examine the country’s agricultural water use at three levels: Indian agricultural water use in the past and factors steering the sectors water use and economic activity; a meta-analysis on its international and interstate virtual water trade; and a review of policy interventions aiming to alleviate Indian water stress. Results suggest rebalancing trade in water-intensive goods and economic restructuring away from cereal-centralism, promotion of coherent national and state water policy to raise awareness for water scarcities, investments in R&D and irrigation technology to enhance efficiency and productivity, and considering water pricing and quotas on water use to avoid overexploitation.