Building Resilient Water Systems in Akole and Shahada, India: A Geohydrological Perspective

Agriculture faces critical challenges, including water scarcity, soil degradation, and erratic rainfall, threatening productivity and ecosystems. CGIAR’s Nature-Positive Solutions initiative addresses these issues through innovative interventions like aquifer mapping, water harvesting, and soil conservation. Studies in Maharashtra’s Akole and Shahada reveal tailored strategies that improve groundwater recharge and soil moisture, boosting resilience and crop yields. These interventions align with global sustainability goals, promoting sustainable development and ecological restoration. The initiative offers a replicable model for balancing agricultural needs with environmental health for a prosperous future.

By researchers and officials at the International Water Management Institute, BAIF Development Research Foundation, the Alliance of Bioversity International and CIAT, and the CGIAR Nature-Positive Solutions Initiative. (See full author list below.)

While agriculture accounts for 30% of global greenhouse gas emissions, with sufficient investment in the right areas, agriculture also offers a unique opportunity to mitigate emissions, restore the planet, and promote sustainable growth. Agriculture supports food security but is increasingly threatened by water scarcity, soil degradation, and unpredictable hydrological patterns. These interconnected challenges harm agricultural productivity and endanger the ecosystems that support it. Building healthy, sustainable, and inclusive food systems is crucial to achieving global development goals. Agriculture also plays a vital role in reducing poverty, driving prosperity, and feeding an estimated 10 billion people by 2050. However, conflicts, climate change, COVID-19 disruptions, and rising food prices are intensifying food insecurity, affecting some 2 billion people worldwide.

Nature-Positive Solutions: A Path to Resilience

The Nature-Positive Solutions Initiative (NATURE+) by CGIAR exemplifies a proactive approach to addressing these challenges. It aligns with global goals of achieving net-zero emissions while improving ecosystem health and mitigating resource degradation. As part of this Initiative, a geohydrological scoping study and aquifer mapping were conducted in the Akole and Shahada clusters in Maharashtra’s Ahmednagar and Nandurbar districts, respectively. This collaborative effort between GeoExTerra and the BAIF Development Research Foundation (BAIF), and supported by IWMI and the Alliance under NATURE+, provides the on-ground picture of the aquifer mapping and geohydrological scoping study to develop actionable frameworks while strengthening agricultural resilience.

Geohydrological Insights: The Context of Akole and Shahada

Akole and Shahada present distinct hydrogeological challenges. Akole features shallow black and red sandy soils in hilly terrain, resulting in high infiltration rates and limited surface runoff. Conversely, Shahada’s basaltic geology, characterized by hard rock formations, restricts water infiltration, limiting groundwater recharge potential. These differences necessitate tailored water management strategies to optimize both surface and groundwater resources.

Rainfall patterns in these clusters also significantly influence water balance. Akole receives rainfall exceeding the national average, but 80% is lost to evapotranspiration and infiltration, leaving only 20% as surface runoff. Shahada, with below-average rainfall, loses 75% to evapotranspiration, with only 10% infiltrating the ground and 15% contributing to surface runoff. These statistics underscore the urgent need for interventions that improve rainfall retention and utilization, especially in Shahada, where water scarcity poses a significant challenge.

Unlocking groundwater potential and targeted interventions for sustainability

The study mapped aquifers via Vertical Electrical Sounding (VES), remote sensing, Geographic Information Systems (GIS), and hydrological modeling. These tools offer detailed insights into the interplay of surface water and groundwater to create a sustainable resource management and ecosystem restoration roadmap.

According to the study, soil erosion significantly impacts agricultural productivity in both clusters, and both clusters face severe soil loss due to steep slopes, thin soil and vegetation cover, and high-intensity rainfall. The study recommends measures like farm bunding, mulching, and improving vegetative cover to stabilize slopes, reduce nutrient depletion, and enhance soil structure, leading to better water retention.

Aquifer mapping revealed substantial groundwater storage potential in both regions. However, over-reliance on groundwater for irrigation, particularly during the Rabi season, has led to significant resource depletion. The study highlights opportunities for enhancing groundwater recharge and retention strategies, ensuring sustainable water management even during periods of low rainfall. To combat water and soil challenges, the study proposes targeted interventions, including subsurface dykes and recharge shafts, Nala bunding and lined ponds as well as desiltation (silt removal) of existing water harvesting structures. These interventions are expected to collectively reduce surface runoff, enhance groundwater recharge, and stabilize agricultural productivity.

According to the study soil erosion significantly impacts agricultural productivity in both clusters, and both clusters face severe soil loss due to steep slopes, thin soil and vegetation cover and high-intensity rainfall. The study recommends measures like farm bunding, mulching, and improving vegetative cover to stabilize slopes, reduce nutrient depletion, and enhance soil structure, leading to better water retention.

Such interventions in Shahada are expected to raise the soil moisture content by 40%, thus extending moisture availability by up to 35 days. Whereas Akole could see a 45% increase in soil moisture, with availability extended by an additional 30 days. These improvements together are expected to boost crop yields and strengthen agricultural resilience, ensuring that farming remains a viable livelihood for local communities.

Way Forward: A Model for Sustainable Development

The proposed interventions promise far-reaching environmental and socioeconomic benefits. By enhancing groundwater recharge and soil moisture retention, water availability in Akole and Shahada could increase by up to 3 meters and 2 meters, respectively. This reliable water supply will support agriculture during dry spells, stabilizing food production and improving incomes for local farmers.

Improved soil and water management practices could make up to 400 hectares of land more resilient to productive farming. These efforts align with global sustainability goals by reducing the need for energy-intensive irrigation, cutting emissions, and advancing progress toward net-zero targets.

The success of these interventions in Akole and Shahada offers a replicable model for other vulnerable regions. It demonstrates how sustainable agriculture and ecological restoration can coexist, creating resilient systems that balance human needs with environmental health. By investing in nature-positive solutions, we pave the way for a future where communities thrive in harmony with restored ecosystems.

In conclusion, addressing water scarcity, soil degradation, and erratic hydrological cycles requires a holistic approach. Through innovative technologies and targeted interventions, the Nature-Positive Solutions initiative showcases the potential for sustainable development. These efforts highlight the importance of harmonizing agricultural practices with ecological restoration, ensuring a resilient and prosperous future for all. The future of this study aligns with the objectives of the Multifunctional Landscapes Science Program to exclude none and provide the means for implementation and/or the enabling environment call for making well-informed choices.

Authors:

• Abhijit Behera, Research Officer, Land and Water Management, International Water Management Institute (IWMI), India
• Mansi Tripathi, Researcher, Resource Recovery and Reuse, IWMI
• Shweta Yadav, Researcher, Water Quality and Waste Management, IWMI
• Viswadev V. S., Senior Project Officer, BAIF Development Research Foundation
• Rajashree Joshi, Program Director, BAIF Development Research Foundation
• Alok Sikka, Principal Researcher & NATURE+ Country Rep., IWMI, India
• Jai C. Rana (Alliance of Bioversity International and CIAT, NATURE+)