Conservation of blue/green water resources for intensification

Water scarcity is one of the major factor for low crop productivity in rainfed semi-arid tropics (SAT). Studies have indicated that one or two lifesaving irrigations can substantially enhance crop productivity. Enhancing on-farm water availability, therefore, cannot only enable farmers to go for crop intensification, but can also open options for diversification and other livelihoods. Along with community-scale water management, construction of small farm-ponds by smallholders in the rainfed tropics will effectively conserve rainwater and provide strong handle to effectively explore options for intensification and diversification. Implementation report on “Conservation of blue/green water resources for intensification”.