By Amit Khare
Water touches every aspect of life and in India the availability of this basic resource may be reaching crisis levels. With natural water bodies becoming victims of concretization and rainwater harvesting being a low priority, the future appears grim in meeting the water requirements of a growing population.
Dhanuka Agritech’s Water Conservation Initiatives
Dhanuka Agritech is working at the grassroots level of the agriculture sector, and has observed the increasing water crisis and begun working towards water conservation. Recognizing the impending scarcity of water nearly a decade ago, company has come up with a campaign Gaon Ka Pani Gaon Mein aur Khet Ka Pani Khet Mein. Under this, the group is running multiple initiatives to expound the water conservation practices.
Challenges of Water Scarcity in Indian Agriculture
India is a country where a large percentage of GDP is dependent on Agriculture and as per World Bank data only 35% of India’s agricultural land is irrigated. This shows 65% of farming depends totally on rain and distribution of rainfall in our country is highly variable.
Rainwater Harvesting and Check Dams Implementation
Over 70% of annual rainfall takes place during the three months of the monsoon season, therefore, we only utilize less than 30% of the rain water. To conserve rain water, Dhanuka Agritech has constructed check dams in Jugalpura, Devipura (District Sikar), Mainpura ki Dhani and Sankotra, (Jaipur district), Rajasthan. These dams are expected to benefit approximately 3000 households having a population of over 20000.
Operational Check Dams and Water Harvesting Units
All Check-Dams constructed by Dhanuka are now fully operational and have been filled with rainwater. The company is also implementing various water harvesting units in various parts of Rajasthan, so that farmers have access to water for irrigation.
Addressing Groundwater Depletion and Community Support
These units will also help in dealing with issues of dwindling groundwater which is being over extracted by farmers for irrigation. Given that ground water is an open-access resource and anyone can pump water from under his or her own land; it is being poorly managed.
Promotion of Water Conservation Initiatives
In addition, Dhanuka had made a community water center in Banethi Village in Rajasthan for providing drinking water to people. The company strongly supports the government’s agenda in water conservation for irrigation and promotes Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchai Yojana for enhanced water efficiency through Per Drop More Crop. It is also promoting various campaigns on a regular basis to increase awareness amongst the common man pertaining to the judicious use of water.
Advocacy and Education for Water Conservation
Recently, Dhanuka has also launched an award for farmers and institutes who are involved in saving water and rain water harvesting at a PAN India level. To sensitize country’s youth about this alarming issue, Dhanuka Agritech promotes various campaigns to create awareness of water conversation every year. Since 2010, it has been celebrating World Water Day on March 22 year on year in collaboration with National Institutes, and State Agricultural Universities; where lectures on water conservation are organized by industry leaders.
Future Generations & Sustainable Water Practices
In addition, holding drawing competition events on the Conservation of Water as a theme in schools, a sixty second documentary on Insaan Paani Bana toh Nahi Sakta per Bacha Jaroor Sakta Hai, informative literature, Posters, and Yagya are being regularly undertaken to create consciousness among future generations in the country.
The Importance of Water Conservation
Water is one of the most essential resources used in our day to day life, the depletion of this resource has become a reason for many conflicts in country. We all must understand this, the availability of water on earth has blessed this planet with life.
Commitment to Water Conservation
Dhanuka Agritech believes that if we try to conserve rain water, the agricultural scenario and the farmer’s condition will immensely improve, which will invariably effect the overall country’s economy. Including which, the company will remain dedicated in promoting this cause and will come up with various other mass awareness initiatives to save water.
Toward a Water-Conscious Future
Dhanuka strongly believes that all these measures along with government initiatives will bring a major change towards imbibing the habit of water conservation across all communities in the country.
About the author
Amit Khare, Incharge PR and Corporate Communication, Dhanuka Agritech Ltd.
