ABSTRACT
ABSTRACT: Hoshiarpur district in the north-eastern part of state of Punjab, India is a region with ample groundwater potential. Variability in groundwater resources along with the existing caste system has given rise to two distinct patterns of groundwater access-shared wells and private, informal water markets. The sharing of groundwater in one study village has helped farmers to achieve equitable access to groundwater as well as increase their crop and water productivity. Even a very competitive groundwater market in the two neighboring study villages did not allow the water buyers to realize the same levels of benefits as obtained by the well owners. The government policy of providing free electricity for the farm sector has provided incentives to the farmers to install additional tubewells. However, this has also led to a decline in the groundwater table. A more sustainable approach would be to propagate small water harvesting measures for utilization of torrents in rainy season and micro irrigation techniques for plantation crops.
