top of page
Search

Groundwater Crisis Deepens in Vidarbha’s Cotton Belt Amid Decade of Over-Extraction

Groundwater Crisis Deepens in Vidarbha’s Cotton Belt Amid Decade of Over-Extraction
Groundwater Crisis Deepens in Vidarbha’s Cotton Belt Amid Decade of Over-Extraction

In the cotton fields of Vidarbha, what once offered financial security has become a persistent contributor to groundwater depletion.


Across this drought-prone region of Maharashtra, the rise of intensive cotton farming over the past decade has placed a heavy burden on underground water reserves. The shift toward water-intensive practices, unreliable rainfall, and limited irrigation infrastructure has resulted in increased reliance on deep borewells.


As farmers continue this trend to preserve their yields, the region’s aquifers have come under growing stress.



A Decade of Over-Extraction


Between 2013-14 and 2022-23, the rate of groundwater extraction in key cotton-producing districts of Vidarbha increased sharply.


Amravati saw a 19 percent rise, while Yavatmal’s extraction increased by 14 percent. These numbers reflect a broader pattern of stress, as cotton farmers respond to rainfall fluctuations by drawing more water from beneath the surface.



The dependence on groundwater has been driven not by expansion alone but by the intensification of cultivation on existing land.


In 2023, Amravati emerged as the district with the highest groundwater extraction rate in all of Maharashtra, drawing more than 90 percent of its available reserves.

This exceeded even other cotton-producing districts in the region. Such levels of extraction point to an ecological imbalance, where the water demand surpasses its natural replenishment. The increased use of borewells across the district indicates a deepening crisis, one that is not isolated but repeated across much of Vidarbha.


According to groundwater classification data from the Central Groundwater Board, one in every ten groundwater assessment units across Maharashtra’s top five cotton-producing districts had reached “critical” or “overexploited” levels by 2023.


This was twice the share compared to other regions. These classifications indicate extraction rates of over 90 percent and reveal the widening gap between demand and supply in underground aquifers.


Four out of the top five cotton-producing districts in the state extracted more groundwater in 2023 than they did in 2013, showing that over-extraction is not a temporary phase but a prolonged pattern.


Water Footprint and Cotton's Role

Close-up of a cotton field at Vidarbha, with white cotton bolls and green leaves. A cloudy sky in the background creates a peaceful mood.
Water Footprint and Cotton's Role

The volume of water required to grow cotton continues to play a central role in Vidarbha’s groundwater stress.


Producing one kilogram of cotton in Vidarbha requires approximately 1,534 litres of blue water.

This amount is enough to fulfil the daily needs of five to six rural households. Such consumption patterns become more concerning when placed within the context of Vidarbha, where farmers must often rely solely on groundwater due to unpredictable rainfall.


Across India, cotton farming consumed more than 40 trillion litres of water between 2011-12 and 2020-21.


Vidarbha contributed heavily to this total. The paradox is visible across the region: farmers depend on a crop that, by its nature, places their long-term water availability at risk.


As groundwater levels drop, farmers turn to deeper wells and more powerful pumps, increasing both the cost and the intensity of extraction. The result is a feedback loop where every season demands more water to produce the same, or even lower, yields.



The issue is compounded by the fact that irrigation infrastructure in Vidarbha remains underdeveloped.


Only 8 to 10 percent of the cotton-growing area has access to protective irrigation. Without access to canal or surface irrigation, farmers rely almost entirely on groundwater.

This has turned groundwater into an informal insurance mechanism. Even in years of adequate rainfall, the insecurity about future droughts drives continued extraction.

The economic outcomes do not match the water investment. Vidarbha’s cotton productivity is among the lowest in the country.


The region produces only 281 kg of cotton per hectare, compared to the Maharashtra average of 322 kg and the national average of 518 kg. Despite lower yields, the amount of groundwater used per unit of cotton remains high, highlighting the inefficiency and unsustainability of the current approach.


Hard Rock Geology and Limited Recharge


The natural characteristics of Vidarbha’s geology present further challenges. Around 81 percent of Maharashtra, including much of Vidarbha, sits on hard rock basalt formations.


These rock types limit groundwater storage and reduce the rate of aquifer recharge. Once water is extracted from these formations, the natural processes to replenish them operate slowly and often inadequately for the needs of modern farming.


The simultaneous operation of borewells across multiple farms during nighttime electricity hours adds pressure on aquifer systems. As several pumps run at the same time, water tables drop rapidly, with little opportunity for recovery.

In these areas, borewell depths have increased over time, and with them, the energy costs of drawing water.


Hydraulic connectivity in Vidarbha further complicates this situation. Groundwater extracted in one location affects availability in adjacent areas. The effects are not confined to a single field or village.



Multiple farmers using borewells within the same geological unit draw from shared aquifers. As a result, depletion spreads beyond isolated farms and becomes a regional issue.


Farmers report that even when rainfall temporarily recharges wells, the effect is short-lived.

When power is supplied for pumping during fixed hours, especially at night, widespread extraction empties water levels within hours. The problem is no longer about individual water management but about shared aquifer stress across entire districts.


Cotton Farming Practices and Power Supply Patterns

Cotton Farming Practices and Power Supply Patterns in Vidarbha
Cotton Farming Practices and Power Supply Patterns

The past decade has seen a shift in cultivation methods. Farmers who once left their land fallow during off-seasons now opt for back-to-back cropping cycles.


This approach aims to extract maximum income from limited acreage, but it increases year-round water demand. Continuous cultivation leaves no room for aquifer recharge, turning what was once seasonal stress into a permanent one.


Cotton varieties with short 180-day cycles are often extended beyond their natural growth period. Farmers irrigate these crops beyond their optimal duration, hoping to boost yields.

In practice, these efforts often lead to increased water usage without proportional gains in harvest volume. As the crop’s genetic yield potential flattens, the water required to sustain further growth remains high.


Electricity access plays a significant role in how groundwater is managed in the region. In Vidarbha, government electricity supply for agriculture is limited to nighttime hours, from 11 p.m. to 6 a.m., five days a week.


This system results in thousands of pumps being run at the same time, creating a concentrated drawdown on aquifers. Since farmers cannot actively monitor irrigation at night, overwatering and runoff become common.


Power constraints also prevent staggered irrigation schedules. With limited time and shared electricity supply, most farmers irrigate on the same schedule, which disrupts the aquifer's natural balance.

These night-time cycles also make it difficult to implement water-saving practices, as irrigation decisions are made based on power availability rather than crop needs.



Economic dependence on cotton remains high across Vidarbha. For many farming households, it is the only crop that offers a guaranteed market and regular income. In the absence of viable alternatives, farmers are left with few choices but to continue cultivating cotton, despite knowing the toll it takes on groundwater.


Efforts to shift toward efficient irrigation techniques, such as drip irrigation, are limited by high upfront costs. Government schemes like the Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana provide subsidies, but many applications are delayed or denied.


Without support, most farmers continue to use flood irrigation, which consumes far more water than necessary.

The memory of past droughts shapes present behaviour. Farmers who faced major losses during dry years, such as in 2017-18 when some lost up to 75 percent of their cotton yield, now take proactive steps to secure water.


These include drilling deeper borewells and investing in larger pumps. These measures, while aimed at risk reduction, actually lead to greater water usage during non-drought years.


The fear of future water shortages drives farmers to extract water whenever it is available, regardless of actual crop requirements.


This approach has become standard across many villages in Vidarbha, turning precautionary practices into habits that accelerate aquifer depletion.



References




Comments

Rated 0 out of 5 stars.
No ratings yet
Add a rating

About the Author

The NewsDirt is a trusted source for authentic, ground-level journalism, highlighting the daily struggles, public issues, history, and local stories from Vidarbha’s cities, towns, and villages. Committed to amplifying voices often ignored by mainstream media, we bring you reliable, factual, and impactful reporting from Vidarbha’s grassroots.

bottom of page