The report has been drafted by the World Bank on request of Rajasthan government and data provided by various departments.
A recent report of the World Bank has proposed the state government to demotivate cultivation of wheat and other water-intensive crops. The report though commends the efforts made by the state towards poverty reduction. The report holds that low power tariff for agriculture and price incentives for wheat have contributed to cultivation of ‘water guzzling’ crops thus adversely affecting water sustainability and narrowing fiscal space.
“The report proposes that Rajasthan reduces its dependency on wheat and water-intensive crops and transition to crops such as guar, barley, pear, millet, spices, psyllium husk and oranges,” reads the report.
In the directive, suggestions have been made for rationalisation of minimum support price (MSP) and extending incentives to high-potential crops by inclusion of factors of water sustainability and nutrition value. As the issue requires decision from the central government, the state government has been asked to propose for the change.
The report has been drafted by the World Bank on request of Rajasthan government and data provided by various departments. Implementation of its suggestions though shall not be an easy task for the state that has become a leading wheat producer over the past years. Rajasthan with a yield at 98 lakh tonnes was the highest wheat producing state in 2014-15. The crop covers over 33 lakh hectare of land in the state. Any recommendation won’t be accepted easily and in haste as lakhs of farmers are associated with its production and thus even the concerned officials are reluctant to talk on the report by World Bank.
Meanwhile, water crisis remains a challenge for the state and if ignored things will worsen and trigger issues for employment or can even create a social crisis.
Water requirement
The report indicates that water requirement for agriculture sector will increase over 73 BCM per year and this will require an additional supply of 39 BCM, that is nearly double of the present consumption.
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