Energy–irrigation conundrum in India's green revolution states

Abstract

AbstractEnergy consumption patterns have evolved as a crucial component of the groundwater irrigation economy in India's green revolution states of Punjab and Haryana. A major contributor to the exponential growth of groundwater irrigation and its overexploitation is the availability of free (in Punjab) and almost free (in Haryana) electricity for tube wells. Using empirical analysis, this study assesses the link between energy consumption and irrigation practices among farmers with different landholdings at both interstate and intrastate levels. Without power subsidies, the average cost of operating an electric tube well irrigation system for rice is estimated at US$361 (₹25,400) per hectare in Punjab and US$675 (₹47,500) in Haryana. For wheat, the calculated cost comes to US$70 (₹4900) per hectare in Punjab and US$172 (₹12,100) in Haryana. In both crops, variations in energy consumption were observed at all levels across different regions and farmer groups in both states.