Hi AC,
While there are no magic bullet solutions, several policy initiatives are available to alleviate the situation. One major shift requires moving away from “Big Dams and mega irrigation projects” obsession to giant scale network of localized micro irrigation schemes through check dams, percolation tanks, ground water recharge, tree plantations – not mono-culture – for soil conservation, etc. Emphasis in PDS on coarse cereals & grains rather than on wheat & rice that are grown only in well irrigated areas. A complete neglect of traditionally grown crops that were drought resistant and offered a bio-technological insurance against failure of monsoons in favour of high yielding varieties or GM crops that require heavy doses of water, fertilizers and yes, even pesticides. In the late 50s & 60s there was debate on energy choices before a young & ambitious nation. Homi Bhabha advocated nuclear option where as Damodar Kosambi, a rare genius straddling many disciplines, favoured options that harnessed abundant solar energy. Nuclear energy won then, but there is a dire need now to revisit that debate in today’s environment once gain.
Main idea is to have judicious combination of all the available options depending upon resources available, long and short term impact, empowering local communities to decide priorities in their lives & enabling them to build what capacities they want to build; rather than allowing choices to be driven by the behind scene power politics & interests of the few.
Cheers / Sadanad/shivanand/
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