A delegate at the workshop at the Birsa Agriculture University. Picture by Ashok Karan

Ranchi, April 20: The Jharkhand government should tap the groundwater potential for irrigation, which will, in turn, help the state tackle the persisting water crisis, especially during summer, said Mehboob Hussain, head of the social science division of the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI), Philippines.

Hussain, who was speaking at a workshop on ?scaling up of technologies to improve rural livelihood?, said the proper utilisation of groundwater will also give a boost to the production of rice in Jharkhand.

Organised by the Birsa Agriculture University (BAU), in collaboration with the IRRI and the state?s agriculture department, the experts at the workshop discussed the modern technologies utilised in the rice-farming sector.

Hussain said the farmers of the state primarily depend on rains, as they are unaware of the immense potential of groundwater.

Hussain, who is also the head of International Fund for Agriculture Development (IFAD) project, which deals with rice technology dissemination to the farmers, told The Telegraph: ?Jharkhand is mainly dependent on rains for irrigation purposes. Even Philippines has similar problems. The farmers depend on rains or canals that often dry up during summer. Therefore, groundwater becomes important. One can take out the groundwater and use it for irrigation. Even if the water dries up, the rain, which comes for a short period, can replenish the groundwater stock for further use.? Currently, the organisation is providing rice technology to the farmers at 11 places in India, including Jharkhand.

The expert also advocated for a particular variety of rice that matures within a short period of time. ?Rainfall in this belt lasts for a short period and therefore, such varieties are useful, as they mature in 80-90 days,? he said.

Although Hussain advocated for new and improved technologies among the farmers, he said he was not in favour of pushing the technology to the farmers.

?Just giving them a technology would not help. The farmers should understand their needs first and then use the technology for better results,? he added.

About the significance of the workshop, the BAU officials said it was aimed at making farmers self-dependent.

?They should learn the latest technologies and improve the quality of their lives. The workshop would also train farmers in seed management practices, in which they would be given tips on seed preservation and information about the produce,? they added.