Abstract
THE WATER FOOTPRINT OF INDIA: A STUDY ON RELATION TO CONSUMPTION OF AGRICULTURAL GOODS
*Kirti Singh and Arvind Kumar Shukla
ABSTRACT
In various places in India, water scarcity has become one of the most pressing concerns affecting humanity. The Water Footprint is the recent concept to evaluate the water consumption by the people. Virtual water commerce evaluates the volume of water withdrawn from and received by a country to maintain sustainable development. This paper aims to analyse the pattern of water usage in the production of major agricultural commodities across the country and by analysing the virtual water trade, we assess the country's water footprint. It is essential because agriculture contributes a major part to the overall trade of the country, leading to the major of the water consumption from available freshwater resources. For the period 2015-2020, this study shows the water footprint varies between 551 m3/cap/yr and 1456 m3/cap/yr and with average of 640 m3/cap/yr. Orissa and Chattisgarh in eastern India, and Rajasthan in western India, are the three states having the highest water footprint per capita. Because of the water production is poor and virtual water import is little, these states have a high water footprint. The Kerala and Tamil Nadu in the southern states of India, as well as in the Delhi, have the lowest water footprints. This study will serve as a foundation for future research on the true volume of water consumed by the agriculture industry. This will aid in the development of a long- term paradigm for addressing the water crisis by providing tools and a policy framework to protect water resources.
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