How An Israeli Technology May Resolve The Water Crisis In Tamil Nadu And Karnataka

Israeli experts have come up with a magical solution to the woes of farmers in Tamil Nadu and Karnataka – states that are engaged in a row over sharing Cauvery water.

During an “Open a door to Israel” event in Bengaluru, Israel’s consulate general showcased latest technological advancement in micro drip irrigation, which the experts say, cuts the use of water for irrigation by 50 percent.

Karnataka claims it does not have water to drink, leave alone for its crops.

Karnataka farmers grow sugarcane and Tamil Nadu farmers grow paddy, both of which require a lot of water for irrigation. Experts have criticised the practice of growing water intensive crops in areas that have seen alarmingly deficit rainfall year after year.

However, as the Cauvery issue simmers, the Israeli experts claimed that by this technique and proper fertilisation, the yield of sugarcane can be increased by about 133 percent.

Israel Deputy Chief of Mission Ziv Shalvi said if you are flooding your field you waste a lot of water.

“But if you are dripping it, the right amount required for the crop and with fertilisation it works for the crops. It is healthy and it is working all over the world,” he said.

Israel, once an arid terrain, now claims to be a water surplus country. This has been achieved largely due to its rapid strides in technologies like drip irrigation, waste water recycling and desalination.

Israel has already proposed to help the Indian government with water conservation projects.