Vol. 9, Issue 1 (2020)

Author(s):
Abinaya M, Durgadevi N, Ramya K, Pradeepa I, Balamurugan R and Nirmal Raj R

Abstract:
Water is the utmost necessity for agriculture in the modern world. Water determines the efficient growth and development of the crops. The availability of water decides the type of vegetation that would prevail in a locality. Our globe is covered by 71% of water, but the fresh water availability is only less than one percent. The amount of fresh water in the world is enough to meet the requirement of the world, but fresh water is unevenly distributed making certain areas as water efficient and certain areas as water deficit. Thus about 80 countries in the world are water deficient affecting nearly 40% of the world population. So it is mandatory to use the water efficiently and manage the available water in a sustainable manner. It can be achieved by adapting many conservation techniques such as dams and rain water harvesting. Unprecedented climate change and the resultant global warming had a very diminishing effect on the available water and afforestation is one vital measure which could improve the deteriorating condition. Reuse of saline water, sequential strategies for crop production system and new techniques of irrigation are the need of hour. The present-day concept of efficient use of virtual water improves conservation of water in agriculture. There will be a competition for water for municipal requirement, industries and agriculture. Agriculture must be the focal area where conservation strategies should be applied effectively. Thus efficient use, management and conservation of the available fresh water resources can result in the sustainable development of our country.