The Bureau of Water Use Efficiency (BWUE) under the National Water Mission (NWM), Ministry of Jal Shakti, held its first Regional Conference on Enhancing Water Use Efficiency in the Irrigation Sector at CCS NIAM, Jaipur. This marks the first of four regional conferences planned nationwide this year, underscoring a collective call to conserve every drop, empower farmers and secure India’s water future.

Senior dignitaries — Additional Secretary and Mission Director Archana Varma, Joint Secretary Sumant Narain and BWUE Director Piyush Ranjan — addressed the gathering.

Opening the conference, Narain highlighted the urgency of improving irrigation efficiency, noting that 80–85 per cent of India’s freshwater is used in agriculture. He stressed the importance of micro-irrigation, technology-led solutions and modern irrigation practices to increase productivity, minimise wastage and improve efficiency.

Varma outlined the features of the newly launched MCAD scheme, designed to enhance irrigation efficiency through pressurised pipe systems. She emphasised the rising water stress across the country and called for stronger conservation and efficient water-use measures, urging coordinated action between central and state governments.

Around 150 participants attended, including officials from central ministries and departments, irrigation and agriculture officers from Rajasthan, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Punjab, Haryana, Karnataka, Jammu and Kashmir and Leh, along with agricultural scientists, NGOs and progressive farmers.

Technical sessions explored policy frameworks, technological interventions and best practices to boost irrigation water-use efficiency. Discussions covered the Pilot MCAD Scheme underway in Rajasthan, Himachal Pradesh, Punjab, Haryana and Jammu and Kashmir; micro-irrigation under Per Drop More Crop; and the use of automation and digital tools to optimise water use.

States presented successful models such as Haryana’s Mera Pani Meri Virasat and Sahi Fasal, micro-irrigation expansion in Rajasthan, ice stupas in Leh, Karnataka’s SCADA system, piped irrigation in Himachal Pradesh and lift irrigation in Uttarakhand. Farmers and NGOs shared their experiences and expectations, helping shape solutions tailored to on-ground needs.

The conference concluded with a strong call to accelerate technology adoption, enforce existing policy measures and scale best practices to improve irrigation efficiency across India.