ABSTRACT
Punjab and Tamil Nadu state are the center of the Green Revolution in India. Rice productivity in both states increased more than three times during the last five decades, and has benefitted from government-subsidized groundwater irrigation. However, current agricultural statuses are completely different: Rice-wheat cultivation with high operational size is common in Punjab, but intensified agriculture is observed only in the area with high surface water availability in Tamil Nadu. This chapter points out that such differences are caused by geological characteristics. Confined aquifers created by the alluvial soil accumulation provide high groundwater potential in Punjab. On the other hand, geologically consolidated formation in Tamil Nadu restricts agricultural intensification depending on the groundwater, and deterioration of tanks also has a negative effect on irrigated agriculture. As a conclusion, it is impossible to expand water intensive agriculture in Tamil Nadu, and animal husbandry or tree/shrub utilization that require less water have to be more focused in agricultural development strategy.
