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Importance of snow and glacier meltwater for agriculture on the Indo-Gangetic Plain

Author

Listed:
  • H. Biemans

    (Wageningen University and Research
    International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development)

  • C. Siderius

    (Wageningen University and Research
    London School of Economics)

  • A. F. Lutz

    (FutureWater
    Utrecht University)

  • S. Nepal

    (International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development)

  • B. Ahmad

    (Pakistan Agricultural Research Council)

  • T. Hassan

    (Bangladesh Centre for Advanced Studies)

  • W. Bloh

    (Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research)

  • R. R. Wijngaard

    (FutureWater
    Utrecht University)

  • P. Wester

    (International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development)

  • A. B. Shrestha

    (International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development)

  • W. W. Immerzeel

    (Utrecht University)

Abstract

Densely populated floodplains downstream of Asia’s mountain ranges depend heavily on mountain water resources, in particular for irrigation. An intensive and complex multi-cropping irrigated agricultural system has developed here to optimize the use of these mountain water resources in conjunction with monsoonal rainfall. Snow and glacier melt thereby modulate the seasonal pattern of river flows and, together with groundwater, provide water when rainfall is scarce. Climate change is expected to weaken this modulating effect, with potentially strong effects on food production in one of the world’s breadbaskets. Here we quantify the space-, time- and crop-specific dependence of agriculture in the Indo-Gangetic Plains on mountain water resources, using a coupled state-of-the-art, high-resolution, cryosphere–hydrology–crop model. We show that dependence varies strongly in space and time and is highest in the Indus basin, where in the pre-monsoon season up to 60% of the total irrigation withdrawals originate from mountain snow and glacier melt, and that it contributes an additional 11% to total crop production. Although dependence in the floodplains of the Ganges is comparatively lower, meltwater is still essential during the dry season, in particular for crops such as sugar cane. The dependency on meltwater in the Brahmaputra is negligible. In total, 129 million farmers in the Indus and Ganges substantially depend on snow and glacier melt for their livelihoods. Snow and glacier melt provides enough water to grow food crops to sustain a balanced diet for 38 million people. These findings provide important information for agricultural and climate change adaptation policies in a climate change hot spot where shifts in water availability and demand are projected as a result of climate change and socio-economic growth.

Suggested Citation

  • H. Biemans & C. Siderius & A. F. Lutz & S. Nepal & B. Ahmad & T. Hassan & W. Bloh & R. R. Wijngaard & P. Wester & A. B. Shrestha & W. W. Immerzeel, 2019. "Importance of snow and glacier meltwater for agriculture on the Indo-Gangetic Plain," Nature Sustainability, Nature, vol. 2(7), pages 594-601, July.
  • Handle: RePEc:nat:natsus:v:2:y:2019:i:7:d:10.1038_s41893-019-0305-3
    DOI: 10.1038/s41893-019-0305-3
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    Cited by:

    1. Keyvan Malek & Patrick Reed & Jennifer Adam & Tina Karimi & Michael Brady, 2020. "Water rights shape crop yield and revenue volatility tradeoffs for adaptation in snow dependent systems," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 11(1), pages 1-10, December.
    2. Wu, Hao & Xu, Min & Peng, Zhuoyue & Chen, Xiaoping, 2022. "Quantifying the potential impacts of meltwater on cotton yields in the Tarim River Basin, Central Asia," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 269(C).
    3. Shah, Hassnain & Siderius, Christian & Hellegers, Petra, 2021. "Limitations to adjusting growing periods in different agroecological zones of Pakistan," Agricultural Systems, Elsevier, vol. 192(C).
    4. Xiangyao Meng & Yongqiang Liu & Yan Qin & Weiping Wang & Mengxiao Zhang & Kun Zhang, 2022. "Adaptability of MODIS Daily Cloud-Free Snow Cover 500 m Dataset over China in Hutubi River Basin Based on Snowmelt Runoff Model," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(7), pages 1-20, March.
    5. Zappalà, Guglielmo, 2024. "Adapting to climate change accounting for individual beliefs," Journal of Development Economics, Elsevier, vol. 169(C).
    6. Yang Yang & Shiwei Liu & Cunde Xiao & Cuiyang Feng & Chenyu Li, 2021. "Evaluating Cryospheric Water Withdrawal and Virtual Water Flows in Tarim River Basin of China: An Input–Output Analysis," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(14), pages 1-16, July.
    7. Shijin Wang, 2024. "Opportunities and threats of cryosphere change to the achievement of UN 2030 SDGs," Palgrave Communications, Palgrave Macmillan, vol. 11(1), pages 1-13, December.
    8. Shah, Hassnain & Siderius, Christian & Hellegers, Petra, 2020. "Cost and effectiveness of in-season strategies for coping with weather variability in Pakistan's agriculture," Agricultural Systems, Elsevier, vol. 178(C).
    9. Cook, David & Malinauskaite, Laura & Davíðsdóttir, Brynhildur & Ögmundardóttir, Helga, 2021. "Co-production processes underpinning the ecosystem services of glaciers and adaptive management in the era of climate change," Ecosystem Services, Elsevier, vol. 50(C).
    10. Nazam Maqbool, 2023. "Impact of Climate Change on Water in Pakistan (Policy)," The Pakistan Development Review, Pakistan Institute of Development Economics, vol. 62(4), pages 605-616.
    11. Dalei Hao & Gautam Bisht & Hailong Wang & Donghui Xu & Huilin Huang & Yun Qian & L. Ruby Leung, 2023. "A cleaner snow future mitigates Northern Hemisphere snowpack loss from warming," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 14(1), pages 1-10, December.

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