ABSTRACT
Amidst rapidly-growing economic activity in India, there are increasing concerns of water scarcity. Eighty-five per cent of all water use in the country occurs in rural India, most of it in the form of groundwater irrigation. In North India, the popularity of water-intensive crops (paddy, sugarcane) is said to be responsible for the decreasing groundwater tables. This raises concerns about the over-exploitation of groundwater resources, and the consequent sustainability of agriculture in this region. In this context, it is important to ensure that the quantum of groundwater that is used for irrigation yields the maximum possible crop output.
