More crop per drop and economic water productivity - Implications for sustainable groundwater irrigation in Karnataka and Punjab

Using economic crop productivity and More Crop Per Drop, crops maximizing net returns to groundwater are recommended for Karnataka. The highest net return per rupee were from low water - high value crops of Marigold (Rs1.89), Mulberry (Rs 1.63), Chrysanthemum (Rs 1.30), Palak (Rs 1.21), Papaya (Rs 1.10); and from high water - low value Capsicum (Rs 0.35), Cabbage (Rs 0.15), Tomato (Rs 0.13), Rose (Rs 0.10), Ginger (Rs 0.10), Grapes (Rs 0.10). With lower groundwater resource and holding than Punjab farms, Karnataka farmers realized impressive net returns of Rs 5 lakhs per farm, Rs 1 lakh per acre and Rs 80,000 per capita. Punjab has immense opportunity for sustainable use by diversification. Role of extension exposure visits is immense to prevent Punjab from predicament of further depletion of groundwater.