Challenges and interventions in water resource management for horticultural crop production in rural and tribal communities in India

This study aims to investigate the multidimensional challenges faced by farmers in Ransai village in managing water for agriculture and to identify practical interventions for sustainable agricultural water management. Employing a qualitative approach, the study used participant observations to obta...

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Main Authors: Muganyizi J. Bisheko, Rejikumar G
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Taylor & Francis Group 2025-12-01
Series:Cogent Food & Agriculture
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/23311932.2025.2452335
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author Muganyizi J. Bisheko
Rejikumar G
author_facet Muganyizi J. Bisheko
Rejikumar G
author_sort Muganyizi J. Bisheko
collection DOAJ
description This study aims to investigate the multidimensional challenges faced by farmers in Ransai village in managing water for agriculture and to identify practical interventions for sustainable agricultural water management. Employing a qualitative approach, the study used participant observations to obtain current information on farming practices and daily issues encountered by farmers, resource mapping and transect walks to understand the spatial challenges associated with water management and distribution of the village’s water sources, and focus group discussions (FGDs) to capture the collective perspectives of farmers. In addition, the Crop Water Assessment Tool (CropWat model) was utilized to determine the irrigation and crop water requirements for the main horticultural crops cultivated in the study area. The study identified various critical challenges, including water scarcity, lack of rainwater harvesting systems, outdated irrigation methods, lack of land ownership, limited agricultural extension services, land fragmentation, fragmented community efforts, limited access to credit, cultural practices and beliefs, and insufficient knowledge of water conservation practices. The intricate and intertwined nature of these challenges necessitates a multipronged approach to help farmers navigate them and achieve sustainable agricultural water management. The findings of this study provide policymakers and other relevant stakeholders with practical insights that can guide the development of targeted interventions for enhancing water management in tribal agricultural settings.
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spelling doaj-art-865844d897854c118b32cb4e002b8a332025-02-02T00:00:13ZengTaylor & Francis GroupCogent Food & Agriculture2331-19322025-12-0111110.1080/23311932.2025.2452335Challenges and interventions in water resource management for horticultural crop production in rural and tribal communities in IndiaMuganyizi J. Bisheko0Rejikumar G1Amrita School for Sustainable Futures, Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham, Kollam, IndiaDepartment of Management, Amrita School of Business, Kochi, IndiaThis study aims to investigate the multidimensional challenges faced by farmers in Ransai village in managing water for agriculture and to identify practical interventions for sustainable agricultural water management. Employing a qualitative approach, the study used participant observations to obtain current information on farming practices and daily issues encountered by farmers, resource mapping and transect walks to understand the spatial challenges associated with water management and distribution of the village’s water sources, and focus group discussions (FGDs) to capture the collective perspectives of farmers. In addition, the Crop Water Assessment Tool (CropWat model) was utilized to determine the irrigation and crop water requirements for the main horticultural crops cultivated in the study area. The study identified various critical challenges, including water scarcity, lack of rainwater harvesting systems, outdated irrigation methods, lack of land ownership, limited agricultural extension services, land fragmentation, fragmented community efforts, limited access to credit, cultural practices and beliefs, and insufficient knowledge of water conservation practices. The intricate and intertwined nature of these challenges necessitates a multipronged approach to help farmers navigate them and achieve sustainable agricultural water management. The findings of this study provide policymakers and other relevant stakeholders with practical insights that can guide the development of targeted interventions for enhancing water management in tribal agricultural settings.https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/23311932.2025.2452335AgriculturePRA toolsrainfallrural Indiawater scarcitySoil Sciences
spellingShingle Muganyizi J. Bisheko
Rejikumar G
Challenges and interventions in water resource management for horticultural crop production in rural and tribal communities in India
Cogent Food & Agriculture
Agriculture
PRA tools
rainfall
rural India
water scarcity
Soil Sciences
title Challenges and interventions in water resource management for horticultural crop production in rural and tribal communities in India
title_full Challenges and interventions in water resource management for horticultural crop production in rural and tribal communities in India
title_fullStr Challenges and interventions in water resource management for horticultural crop production in rural and tribal communities in India
title_full_unstemmed Challenges and interventions in water resource management for horticultural crop production in rural and tribal communities in India
title_short Challenges and interventions in water resource management for horticultural crop production in rural and tribal communities in India
title_sort challenges and interventions in water resource management for horticultural crop production in rural and tribal communities in india
topic Agriculture
PRA tools
rainfall
rural India
water scarcity
Soil Sciences
url https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/23311932.2025.2452335
work_keys_str_mv AT muganyizijbisheko challengesandinterventionsinwaterresourcemanagementforhorticulturalcropproductioninruralandtribalcommunitiesinindia
AT rejikumarg challengesandinterventionsinwaterresourcemanagementforhorticulturalcropproductioninruralandtribalcommunitiesinindia