IF SOMEONE CAN DO IT, WHY NOT WE?????
Let's appreciate something that a small country like Israel has done!!!
Israel is a
very small country, which has very low water storage, a very large desert strip
and very low rainfall. Yet through simple techniques, Israeli farmers have been
able to achieve progress in farming and agriculture. Whatever rainfall is available; the
water storage management is efficient and suffices for 60 % of the population.
Israeli water table pulls water from
two sources; under water streams
near the sea coast, called as aquifers and those from the mountains. Northern Golan hills and hundreds of
western small streams near the Kinret Lake provide water to the water table. 25 crore cubic meter water from streams
close to the sea coast and 35 cubic meters from the hills is taken for the country. If too much of water is taken up from
the sea coast streams, the level of desalinated water goes down. Salt Water is mixed with aquifers,
which no longer remains fit for consumption. In
order to maintain a balance, excess water stored in Kinret Lake, during rains,
is sent to the streams, through pipes.
Israel
is the only country in the world which maintains the level of water, which has
been excessively taken away during famines, through rain water during rainy
reason. In addition to these two water sites; Israel has 2800
wells and 150 tube wells which provide water. Some of these have been specially
maintained for recharge of water during winter, to refill water used during
famines. It rains in Israel
during winter, that is November, December and January. Small lakes and bore
wells have been especially constructed to prevent water being wasted and run
off during winter.
Kinret Lake or sea of Galeli formed in Israel,
on Jordan River naturally, through a rife in a valley. It is the only sweet
water lake and the largest water store in Israel. It has been naturally formed by
depression in land and hence is 740 feet below the sea level and water is
stored here without any artificial dams or bunds. The total capacity of this
lake is 400 crore cubic meters, of which, every year, fifty crores, that is 25%
of the total requirement, is used up. The total water requirement of Israel is
200 crores cubic meter per year. If the total water is to be consumed by Israel;
the water in the lake will suffice for two complete years. Yet, with a lot of forethought about water
lost due to evaporation and in case of no rains, only 25% of the total water is
used up annually. What is very important is that, annually 50 crore cubic
meters of water is used up and 350 crores of cubic meter is replaced. The water
level is maintained and not allowed to deplete. Kinret Lake is significant
water storage of Israel and an excellent example of how a limited water supply
can be appropriately used. Kinret Lake is 21 kms long and 8 kms wide. Recycled
water from domestic and industrial use is treated and 70% of it can be reused
for agriculture.
Thus 15% of the total water requirement of the country is met with. Of
the water supplied to Israel, 60% of water is used for agriculture, 10% of
water is used for industries and 30% for domestic use. Water supplying industry
spends Rs. 10/- per 1000 liters of water to be supplied to agricultural sector.
He farmers are given 50% concession for the water required for
agriculture. An Israeli farmer earns Rs
70/- from 1000 liters of water, which was only Rs 18/- earlier. Because of new
and advanced technology, this has increased by four times. This plan and
strategy can be learnt by all farmers and governments.
Agricultural water is supplied to the farmers, keeping in mind the type
and amount of plants and plant produce. It is mandatory that the farmers use
the prescribed quota for prescribed crop. If more water is required, official
application is needed for extra water supply. The
government then confirms the water requirement and provides it at double the
rate. Because of these extreme limitations in water use and consumption, every
farmer, based on the type of crop and produce, uses 100% of the water,
employing sprinklers and drip irrigation methods. Every farmer has a computer
installed on the farm, which decides the water requirement and it helps in
giving only the required amount at required time and is not wasted at all.This
is not the observation in our country, which affects the crop produce.
Filter technology is
very important in drip irrigation. It is necessary to know the quality and
grade of water before drip irrigation apparatus is installed. Filtration
technology is very much developed and advanced in Israel. They have prepared
standard, long lasting and efficient filters, which take up even very much
polluted water, at very high speed. Very thick discs are rotating at high
speed, clarifying water and sending it down, while all debris and pollutants
float on the top, in the form of foam. Filters are cleaned by forcing clean
water from opposite direction forcibly.
Drip apparatus are
manufactured in such a way that they are simple, easily available and requiring
minimum after sale service. If drippers are outside the pipe, it is a
possibility that they will break during use, as all these things are machine
driven. For this, in-line drippers have been invented. Through these specific
drippers, as soon as water stops being given, water also stops coming out of
the dripper. This ensures that water is not wasted in the pipe or extra water
is not given to the crops. This technology helps in saving significant amount
of water, as different crops are sown in different media in green houses. Water
is supplied many times during the day, for getting maximum produce. Some
companies have manufactured sprinklers, which can provide water up to 18 by 18
meter areas. Israel has made eye catching progress in agriculture due to drip
irrigation. We can see thousands of acres of farms producing fruits, flowers
and straw berries, blooming and waving in the breeze. Drip irrigation is used
even for road side trees or trees in pots at airports or common places like bus
or taxi stands.
Water management is
done with the help of spray techniques. Various types of sprays like continuous
spray, revolving spray, gun spray, low pressure spray, small spray, uni-directional
spray are used. A special spray is the one which can spray water up to 160
acres by revolving in a circular manner, at one time. Taps are provided in the
main pipe, which spray water in all directions on the surrounding crops. The
spray set is permanently installed in the farm and can be moved backward,
forward, sideways, as required, with the help of motors or tractors. It is
stationary at one end and moving at the other end.
We can use many of
these techniques in our country. Especially our Konkan areas, hilly areas, some
places in the mountains are similar in environment and water fall to Israel
Golan hills and northern region. Israel gets only 700 mm rains in the east
while India gets around 3000 to 4000 mm rainfall. And yet there is drinking
water shortage in these regions. Our drought affected regions get annually
around 500 to 600 mm rainfall while Israel gets around 600 to 700 mm rainfall
in the regions, known to have heavy rainfall. Only effective campaigns of preventing
water drain-off and increasing water absorption have helped them in supplying
water throughout the country, all through the year.
A lot of study has
been done in the areas of irrigation and computer controlled drip and spray
irrigation methods have been designed. Every plant has been studied, with
reference to its type, type of soil required, its age and age related
requirements, climate and its water requirements, with reference to time and
amount have been decided. All this information is fed to the computer, to which
the drip irrigation program is attached. Proper water, at proper time is then
supplied to the plants drop size is also thought of, during this procedure.
Amount of water required in a span of time, decides the water drop size and
hence drip hole sizes. Right amount of
liquid fertilizers mixed with water at right time are supplied at the roots of
the plants, which prevents the wastage of fertilizers. Many institutes doing
water management have been arising in Israel, because computers with remote
controls are performing water management with great accuracy and efficiency,
much better than human beings.
Computers have
helped in providing controlled amount of water at right time, in right amount
for required periods, which has helped in saving water and increasing produce.
Computers can open or close water valves, as and when required, depending on
the type of crop, soil characteristics, type of climate on a particular day,
water leakage, speed of water flow, electricity etc.
Computers can help
in giving right amount of liquid fertilizers at right time, so that they reach
the roots and are fully utilized.
If water comes at
a greater force because of a fault developed in technology, if water forces out
from leaks, valves at those points are immediately closed by the computer,
saving wastage.
“Save water
campaign” should be implemented throughout the year, as it is stupidity to
shout about water scarcity in summers. It may not be an exaggeration to state
that the next war will be due to OIL and WATER. A time may come when people
will be killed for a bucket full of water, or eyes may not drop water for
crying.
Water management
should be a subject included at very primary levels in school. It is necessary
that every child knows the importance of water.
In a country like
Israel, where 10% of our rainfall exists, agriculture has been beautifully
developed and then why not in our country, which has been bestowed which such
bountiful natural wealth? It’s time to think!
The water which
comes out of the tap is recycled and reused almost seven times, before it drops
on the ground.
If rainfall is
delayed by four days, emergency has to be declared in terms of
water availability! Why has this situation been created? Are we not responsible
for this? After 70 years of freedom, we still have leaking pipe lines, allowing
lakhs of liters of water going down the drain. We have to save water and
electricity, which are the nation’s property. We have to save it and prevent
its wastage. Today we are sending rockets and using satellites to see if there
is water and thus civilization on Mars, hopefully the time will never arise
when we would have to search for water on Earth, with the help of advanced
technology! Hopefully that day will never arise! We have to awake before that!
Dr Mrs Jaya Vikas Kurhekar
Green Blogger
