VIRTUAL WATER EFFICIENCY IN COTTON PRODUCTION ACROSS THE INDIAN STATES

Abstract

Background: Water is a natural resource required for human existence on this planet. Even though we have access to nearly two-thirds of the water on the earth, there is still a severe lack of water. It’s because of unequal distribution and overexploitation of water resources and withdrawal of water for use in personal and agricultural endeavours.

 Objective: The objective of this article is to determine the virtual water use efficiency across the Indian states regarding cotton production.

Method and Tools: These studies based on secondary data in cotton production was taken from the INDIASTAT. The results show water requirement for cotton production is generated by the CROPWAT 8.0 model (FAO software) with the help of CLIMWET software (FAO software).

 Finding: This result shows that Orissa, Punjab, and Haryana, are the most efficient states regarding virtual water use in cotton production, while Maharashtra, Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu, and Madhya Pradesh are inefficient.

 Implication: The implication of this article is to decrease the average water requirement of cotton at the national level by shifting production from inefficient states to efficient states.