Benefits of Rainwater Harvesting in Agriculture

Across India, unpredictable rainfall, falling groundwater levels, and changing patterns are putting immense pressure on farming. 

In this instance, rainwater harvesting supports crops such as rice, vegetables, and horticultural crops. It reduces dependence on erratic rainfall, ensures plants receive sufficient water, boosts crop yields, and enables farmers to earn sustainable income.

In this blog, you will learn about the various types of rainwater harvesting systems, their processes, key agricultural benefits, and the challenges associated with them.

What is Rainwater Harvesting?

Rainwater harvesting is a vital water management practice.

It is the collection of rainwater from various areas. Generally, it can be collected from house or building rooftops, fields, or catchment areas for use in irrigation and other farm needs.

The collected rainwater is stored in underground tanks, farm ponds, or storage systems in homes and buildings. It is especially beneficial for Indian farmers in drought-prone and water-scarce regions.

As it becomes part of water management, the government has launched schemes to encourage people to adopt rainwater harvesting in every household. This ensures sustainable farming practices.

Types of Rainwater Harvesting Systems

In India, various types of rainwater harvesting systems collect and store rainwater. Understanding the various types enhances the broader view and allows the choice of the ideal type for specific circumstances, improving agricultural productivity.

Rooftop Rainwater Harvesting

Rooftop rainwater harvesting is an effective method for collecting rainwater. Rainwater falls on the roofs of houses, buildings, or storage sheds. Here, the roof collects water and transfers it to a separate storage area. This will help irrigate garden plants and support horticulture.

Surface Runoff Harvesting

In this method, a storage tank is fitted in the farm field to capture the flowing rainwater during rainfall. Instead of allowing rainwater to wash out in farm fields, farmers can adopt the surface runoff harvesting method to save it for future use. 

The storage tank appears to be a combination of a farm pond, a check dam, and a contour trench. This storage acts as a water reservoir, collecting all runoff water and allowing farmers to use it during dry or drought periods. 

Groundwater recharge systems

In this method, percolation pits are generally made in the land to allow rainwater into the soil. So that the groundwater level of the land will increase.

Farmers who have low groundwater level, overwater extraction and drought could adopt this method to ensure sustainable supply of water for irrigation of staple crops including wheat, mustard, and rice.

Did you know? The rainwater harvesting sector in India is projected to grow at a CAGR of 10.74% between 2024 and 2028, driven by government mandates and policy frameworks promoting sustainable water management in agriculture.

Rainwater Harvesting Process

Rainwater harvesting involves collecting, conveying, filtering, storing, and utilizing rainwater for various purposes. Let's understand all of them in detail.

Step 1: Collecting Rainwater

Collecting rainwater is the first step. One can collect rainwater from rooftops, open fields, or farmland that receives rainfall. When rain falls on those surfaces, they act as catchment areas.

Step 2: Conveyance

This is a transport system that efficiently directs water flow from the catchment area to the storage area, minimizing water waste.

Step 3: Filtration

Before water reaches the final storage area, it goes through many filters in the soil. It naturally filters the pure water from the debris, leaves, dust, and other contaminants. So that the stored water becomes more pure and suitable for irrigation.

Step 4: Storage

The filtered rainwater can be stored in underground or overhead tanks, ponds, and small reservoirs for later use. Moreover, farmers can store it in recharge wells or pits to replenish groundwater aquifers. This recharges the groundwater, making it available during dry or drought periods.

Step 5: Utilization

The stored rainwater helps farmers irrigate crops such as rice, wheat, pulses, groundnuts, cotton, chickpeas, vegetables, and others. Farmers can utilize stored rainwater to grow two or three crops per year, thereby increasing cropping intensity. It can also be utilized for other farm activities, including watering livestock, cleaning farms, and making farms more self-sufficient and resilient.

Benefits of Rainwater Harvesting

The advantages of collecting rainwater serve numerous benefits in Indian farming. Efficiently capturing and storing rainwater is crucial, particularly in a country where agriculture relies heavily on monsoon rainfall.

1) Enhanced Water Availability

Rainwater harvesting considerably increases the water availability for irrigation. Farmers can store water in the storage tank fitted on the farm. Through percolation, the ground water level can be recharged. This ensures consistent water availability even during hot and dry seasons.

2) Reduces Groundwater Depletion

It reduces the dependence on overexploited groundwater. This supports farmers in water-stressed regions such as Punjab and Haryana.

3) Improves Crop Yield

When crops get enough water, they grow healthier and yield higher in staple crops such as wheat, rice, pulses, and horticultural crops.

4) Soil Conservation

During surface runoff harvesting more water can be stored than in smaller kitchen gardens. This soil erosion enhances soil moisture. Surface runoff harvesting is ideal and effectively supplies water to crops such as paddy, maize, and pulses. During low rainfall, farmers can use this stored water to irrigate the crops.

5) Promotes Sustainable Farming

Rainwater harvesting reduces reliance on costly irrigation methods and fossil fuel-operated pumps. This ensures sustainable farming and fosters eco-friendly agriculture.

6) Encourage Small and Marginal Farmers

In India, among the farming population, small and marginal farmers hold a huge percentage. They have limited financial resources and are unable to invest more in irrigation. Rainwater harvesting offers accessible and affordable irrigation for crops, increasing productivity. 

7) Improves Groundwater Quality

Rainwater harvesting itself acts as a natural water filtering mechanism. When water flows into the land through percolation pits, recharge wells, or infiltration trenches, the soil layer filters harmful chemical runoff. Moreover, it removes sediments, pollutants, and impurities in the water. It restricts harmful chemicals from reaching crops and ensures their healthier growth.

8) Strengthens Rural Livelihoods

As most farmers live in rural areas, rainwater harvesting enables them to obtain sustainable irrigation. Through consistent water availability, they are capable of harvesting twice a year. This will result in an increase in production and income, thus increasing rural livelihoods overall.

Challenges in Rainwater Harvesting

Even though the advantages of collecting rainwater are sustainable for Indian farmers, it also comes with some hindrance that challenges the effectiveness of rainwater harvesting systems.

• Unpredictable or low rainfall leads to inconsistent water availability, making rainwater harvesting less suitable in arid regions.
• Constructing storage tanks, ponds, or check dams requires a high investment, making it challenging for rural or small-scale farmers.
• A lack of technical and maintenance awareness leads to ineffective designs, contamination, and mechanical failures.
• Due to roof materials, animal waste, or chemicals, the water could become stagnant, requiring robust filtration for safe use.
• Unpredictable climates, such as prolonged droughts or unpredictable monsoons, affect the rainwater harvesting potential.

Conclusion: 

In India, rainwater harvesting is one of the most practical and affordable methods to overcome water challenges in farming. The benefits of rainwater harvesting in agriculture is a practical and future-ready solution to water scarcity in Indian agriculture. It safeguards staple crops, such as wheat, rice, and vegetables, by enhancing their growth and resilience to droughts. For Indian farmers, the benefits of collecting rainwater extend beyond being an eco-friendly choice.

It acts as a lifeline for them to face rising water issues. Moreover, it strengthens farm resilience, boosts continuous crop production, and ensures long-term soil and groundwater health. Embracing rainwater harvesting as your regular farming practice, save every drop for the next dry season.