Water Productivity: A Perspective on Enhancing Ecosystem Functioning and Harvesting Opportunities

By : Vir Singh , Nanda Nautiyal

Page No: 355-361

Abstract
This paper attempts to present a perspective on water productivity in agriculture and in food and nutrition security. Water plays a central role and is vital for ecosystem functioning including productivity of its own, which is inevitable for ecological and environmental outputs, as well as for socio-economic well-being. Water productivity is one of the indicators of sustainable development. In some countries, like India, water resources are limited. Water resources in the Himalayan region are crucial for environmental balance and sustaining livelihoods in South Asia. Also referred to as the Third Pole of the Earth, the Himalayan Mountains need a region-specific development intervention to maintain high water productivity in the region. Various vegetational, social and engineering measures for ensuring sustainable water supplies could be used in the fragile mountain ecosystems. Water productivity is one of the central factors for ecological integrity of the biosphere. Judicious use of water, prevention and control of pollution, harnessing opportunities available in nature (e.g., native biodiversity and ecological regeneration of forests), workable water policies, conservationoriented and water productivity-enhancing development intervention is an imperative for us to usher in a sustainable future.

Authors :
Vir Singh : Department of Environmental Science, GB Pant University of Agriculture and Technology, Pantnagar – 263145, Uttarakhand, India.
Nanda Nautiyal : 74-A, Lane No. 7, Om Vihar, Dehradun – 248001, Uttarakhand, India