Hyderabad: Even as the Telangana govt urged farmers to avoid paddy cultivation this rabi due to concerns over water availability, a new analysis has warned that the state’s decade-long expansion of rice cultivation has created a massive and growing demand for irrigation water, power and other resources.The study estimated that the additional paddy area brought under cultivation over the past 10 years alone requires 138-173 tmc of irrigation water annually, while also contributing significantly to greenhouse gas emissions.However, experts and activists cautioned that asking farmers to abruptly shift away from paddy without adequate planning, incentives and support could deepen rural distress.Agricultural scientist GV Ramanjaneyulu, in his analysis ‘From Pump to Plate: Rice, Water, Power and Telangana’s Road to Water Bankruptcy’, examined the interconnected impact of paddy cultivation on water resources, electricity consumption, rice consumption patterns, exports and greenhouse gas emissions.The study estimates emissions of 2.8 tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent per acre for every paddy crop. Cultivating paddy twice a year on the same acre could push annual emissions to 5.6 tonnes. Flooded paddy fields release methane, while the electricity required for pumping and lifting irrigation water further adds to emissions.Over the past decade, an additional 32.7 lakh hectares have been brought under rice cultivation in Telangana. According to the analysis, irrigating this expanded area could require 3.9 to 4.9 billion cubic metres of water annually, based on an irrigation requirement of 1,200-1,500 mm per crop season after accounting for effective rainfall. This translates to roughly 138-173 tmc of water every year.The report highlights the close link between irrigation needs and electricity consumption. Moving large volumes of water through lift irrigation systems requires enormous amounts of power.It estimates that lifting 2 tmc of water a day could require nearly 5,000 MW of electricity, while lifting 3 tmc a day could need more than 7,000 MW. Groundwater extraction also consumes significant power, and the energy burden increases as water tables decline.Rice’s hidden water footprintBeyond cultivation, the analysis points to the hidden water footprint embedded in rice consumption. Urban residents are estimated to consume 240-260 grams of rice a day, including rice-based foods.Producing one kilogram of milled rice requires an estimated 2,100-2,500 litres of water, meaning daily rice consumption in cities indirectly drives substantial demand for irrigation water.While the findings strengthen the case for gradually reducing dependence on paddy and diversifying crops, experts stressed that such a transition cannot be achieved overnight.Ramanjaneyulu said incentives for farmers to move away from paddy would be critical. He noted that despite deficient rainfall in the previous season, paddy cultivation fell by only 11 lakh acres, indicating the challenges involved in changing cropping patterns. Farm distress, he added, should have been addressed much earlier.Environmental activist Donthi Narasimha Reddy said asking farmers to stop cultivation at the last minute would only increase stress in rural areas. “They should ask industries also to use water judiciously. Ask them to set up solar plants for power,” he said.
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