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South Asian agriculture increasingly dependent on meltwater and groundwater

Author

Listed:
  • A. F. Lutz

    (Utrecht University
    FutureWater)

  • W. W. Immerzeel

    (Utrecht University)

  • C. Siderius

    (Uncharted Waters)

  • R. R. Wijngaard

    (Yonsei University)

  • S. Nepal

    (International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development
    International Water Management Institute, Nepal Office)

  • A. B. Shrestha

    (International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development)

  • P. Wester

    (International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development)

  • H. Biemans

    (Wageningen Environmental Research)

Abstract

Irrigated agriculture in South Asia depends on meltwater, monsoon rains and groundwater. Climate change alters the hydrology and causes shifts in the timing, composition and magnitude of these sources of water supply. Simultaneously, socio-economic growth increases water demand. Here we use a high-resolution cryosphere–hydrology–crop model forced with an ensemble of climate and socio-economic projections to assess how the sources of irrigation water supply may shift during the twenty-first century. We find increases in the importance of meltwater and groundwater for irrigated agriculture. An earlier melt peak increases meltwater withdrawal at the onset of the cropping season in May and June in the Indus, whereas increasing peak irrigation water demand during July and August aggravates non-renewable groundwater pumping in the Indus and Ganges despite runoff increases. Increasing inter-annual variability in rainfall runoff increases the need for meltwater and groundwater to complement rainfall runoff during future dry years.

Suggested Citation

  • A. F. Lutz & W. W. Immerzeel & C. Siderius & R. R. Wijngaard & S. Nepal & A. B. Shrestha & P. Wester & H. Biemans, 2022. "South Asian agriculture increasingly dependent on meltwater and groundwater," Nature Climate Change, Nature, vol. 12(6), pages 566-573, June.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcli:v:12:y:2022:i:6:d:10.1038_s41558-022-01355-z
    DOI: 10.1038/s41558-022-01355-z
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    Cited by:

    1. Danyang Gao & Albert S. Chen & Fayyaz Ali Memon, 2024. "A Systematic Review of Methods for Investigating Climate Change Impacts on Water-Energy-Food Nexus," Water Resources Management: An International Journal, Published for the European Water Resources Association (EWRA), Springer;European Water Resources Association (EWRA), vol. 38(1), pages 1-43, January.
    2. Zappalà, Guglielmo, 2024. "Adapting to climate change accounting for individual beliefs," Journal of Development Economics, Elsevier, vol. 169(C).

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