"The Food System is critical to the existence of human life. Unfortunately, it's been managed unsustainably by using more and more water, chemicals and land to increase production, resulting in water depletion faster than ever, polluting air and water and impacting biodiversity. WWF-India is taking action to bring sustainability into food systems, which has resulted in significant savings of limited resources. WWF will continue to intervene till sustainable production systems become the standard. "
Out of 54% of the world's accessible freshwater, 70% of the consumption is accounted for agriculture. Thirsty crops consume 80% of the water used in agriculture. Freshwater withdrawals have doubled every 30 years in the last 100 years, with about 4000 km2.
In India, 80% of the surface water is utilised for agriculture, putting significant pressure on groundwater resources. These resources are particularly in states with a high agricultural output of water-thirsty crops like Paddy, Cotton, and Sugarcane. If business continues as usual, India could soon face an unprecedented groundwater crisis, which will have a massive impact on the country’s agro-economy and food security.
The Sustainable Agriculture Programme aims to address the issue of water scarcity and dwindling groundwater reserves. It involves working with and engaging farmers and implementing sustainable agriculture approaches at the farm level. The programme uses best management practices, sustainability standards and innovative technologies to reduce and optimise the water footprint of water-intensive crops in identified regions across India.
Agriculture has a distinctive relationship with forests in India, with many of WWF India’s priority conservation landscapes intersecting significantly with agricultural production systems. It is critical to maintain a balance between agricultural production systems and forested areas for wildlife movement, including protected species, which use wildlife corridors to move between forests.
The core aim of WWF India is for farmers to be the critical stakeholders in protecting biodiversity and affecting conservation outcomes by farming in a sustainable and wildlife-friendly manner. To access the assured and profitable markets in India it is essential for farmers to realise remunerative returns from sustainable agricultural practices. In that case, they will continue to farm sustainably, ensuring agricultural land is not diverted towards land-use practices that adversely impact wildlife and local ecosystems.
WWF India consistently works with farmers and helps them enhance their farming practices through best management approaches and sustainability standards. It facilitates market access, ensuring the delicate balance between forests and agriculture.
The core work areas can be categorised as follows-
Maharashtra is India's largest cotton production area, but the land lacks yield. Limited irrigation facilities, less suitable soils, and common pest incidents are putting cotton farmers in a difficult situation.
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