Irrigation Expansion in Water-Stressed Regions: India Leads with 36%

Recent research has unveiled a concerning trend in global agriculture, revealing that over half of the irrigation expansion since the beginning of the 21st century has occurred in water-stressed regions. India notably accounts for 36% of this unsustainable growth. Despite the crucial role of irrigation in bolstering crop production, the expansion in areas with already limited water resources poses significant risks to environmental sustainability and human needs. The study, published in Nature Water, emphasizes the critical need for sustainable agricultural practices to prevent further depletion of precious water resources.