Uttar Pradesh Enhances Groundwater with Advanced Irrigation
Expanding Water Conservation Efforts
Lucknow: Uttar Pradesh is taking big steps to save water. The state’s groundwater department is installing more rooftop rainwater harvesting systems. They are also pushing for drip and sprinkler irrigation. These efforts are mainly in areas where groundwater has been low for years.
Government Aims
Officials want to help over 25% of farmers in dry areas. They plan to give these farmers better irrigation tools. Right now, only 5% of farmers in 10 districts use drip or sprinkler systems under the Atal Bhujal Yojana. But this number is about to go up fast.
Growth in Smart Irrigation
The groundwater department’s data shows big growth. Land using drip and sprinkler irrigation in the 10 Atal Bhujal districts has grown ten times. It went from 1,730 hectares in 2020-21 to 18,189 hectares in 2024-25.
Across the state, the total area using these methods has jumped. It increased from 3.35 lakh hectares to 6.02 lakh hectares in the same time.
Good News for Groundwater
Officials see a clear link between these water-saving methods and better groundwater levels. In the past five years, 22 districts have shown great improvement. For example:
- Agra saw a rise of 164.3 cm
- Barabanki went up by 147.7 cm
- Jhansi increased by 136.4 cm
Why Drip Irrigation is a Priority
Over 70% of farmland in Uttar Pradesh uses groundwater for irrigation. Drip and sprinkler methods save 40–80% more water than old ways. This can boost crop yields by up to 45%. These methods work well for crops like sugarcane and vegetables.
Small farmers get up to 90% off on irrigation equipment. By using modern irrigation and better rainwater harvesting, Uttar Pradesh aims for long-term water security. This is crucial in areas where groundwater has been low for a long time.
