KOHIMA, 8 July 2025: A new study by Nagaland University has underscored the critical role of local farmer participation in the success of Aquifer Storage and Recovery (ASR) projects across rural India. The research reveals that water management initiatives must go beyond technical solutions to embrace social, institutional, and policy-driven approaches.
Published in the journal Societal Impacts, the study evaluated a pilot ASR project in South Bihar, where farmer-led maintenance of recharge pits resulted in improved water availability, enhanced crop diversity, and measurable socio-economic benefits.
“In villages like Meyar, where farmers took ownership of recharge structures, benefits were clear and sustained,” said Prof. Prabhakar Sharma, who led the study. “But in places like Nekpur, lack of trust and poor engagement led to failure.”
The study was supported by the Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research (ACIAR) and involved a multidisciplinary team from India, Japan, and Spain — including contributors from TERI, Kyoto University, and the University of Vigo.
With ASR pits costing around USD 400 to install, affordability remains a concern for smallholders. However, the report suggests that public funding, community governance models, and peer-led adoption could catalyse wider implementation.
Dr. Aviram Sharma, co-author and researcher at the University of Vigo, emphasized that adaptive strategies must be embedded in ASR rollouts. “Tailor-made approaches, farmer financial incentives, and long-term monitoring are essential,” he said.
The study recommends engaging medium and large-scale farmers as early adopters, who can drive community-level trust and replicate successful models. It also calls for water policies that are inclusive, responsive to local socio-economic realities, and focused on climate resilience.
The findings carry significant implications for North-Eastern states like Nagaland, where erratic rainfall and declining groundwater levels have raised alarms. Experts suggest that ASR could be scaled up as a rural water security solution, especially in climate-stressed regions.
As India grapples with rising climate variability, the study concludes that community-led water conservation offers a sustainable, bottom-up pathway for building resilience in agriculture and ensuring long-term groundwater sustainability.
Image credit: groundwaterexchange.org
