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State-level Consultation Workshop on Policy Coherence in the Food, Land, and Water Systems
Case Study of Rajasthan, India
Garima Taneja, Tejaswi Joshi, Gursimer Gulati, Suparana Katyaini, Kangkanika Neog, Don Mani Paul and Nitin Bassi
December 2024 | Sustainable Water
Suggested Citation: Taneja, G.; Joshi, T.; Gulati, G.; Katyaini, S.; Neog, K.; Paul, D. M.; Bassi, N. 2024. State-level multi-stakeholder consultation workshop on policy coherence in the food, land, and water systems: case study of Rajasthan, India. Proceedings of the State-level Multi-stakeholder Consultation Workshop on Policy Coherence in the Food, Land, and Water Systems: Case Study of Rajasthan, India, Rajasthan, India, 21 August 2024. Colombo, Sri Lanka: International Water Management Institute (IWMI). CGIAR Initiative on National Policies and Strategies. 10p.
Overview
As part of the collaborative efforts between the Council on Energy, Environment and Water (CEEW) and the International Water Management Institute (IWMI) under the CGIAR Initiative on National Policies and Strategies (NPS), a focused exploration of policy coherence was conducted in Rajasthan, India. Building on national-level research, and the state-level research on policy coherence in food, land and water (FLW) systems in the state of Odisha, a state-level multi-stakeholder consultation workshop was held on August 21, 2024, in Jaipur, Rajasthan, with the guidance and support of the Department of Agriculture, Government of Rajasthan. This event brought together policymakers, implementing agencies, academics, and civil society organisations to discuss findings from a Rajasthan case study and identify context-specific opportunities to strengthen policy coherence across the FLW systems. The consultation aimed to foster dialogue, share insights, and develop actionable recommendations to address the complex challenges of Rajasthan’s FLW sectors, a water- scarce region that accounts for 10% of India’s landmass but only 1% of its water resources.
Key Highlights
- Discussion on nine key national and state-level policies governing Rajasthan’s food, land, and water systems, including the Indira Gandhi Nahar Project (IGNP), Atal Bhujal Yojana (ABY), and Mukhyamantri Jal Swavlambhan Abhiyan (MJSA). Rajasthan’s unique challenges such as small landholdings, water scarcity, and distinct agroecological zones, position it as a critical case for studying policy coherence.
- The analysis adopted a consultative approach, engaging stakeholders to uncover best practices and key learnings for enhancing policy synergy.
- The consultation highlighted innovative efforts like the construction of 85,000 farm ponds, diggi, the adoption of micro-irrigation on 20 lakh hectares, and the promotion of water- efficient horticulture as steps toward sustainable resource management.
Key Recommendations
- Developing collaborative mechanisms between departments could help address challenges like waterlogging and soil salinity, particularly for policies such as the Indira Gandhi Nahar Project (IGNP) and Rajasthan Water Sector Livelihood Improvement Project (RWSLIP). This approach would foster alignment across agencies for more coherent implementation.
- Recognising impact evaluations as a critical component of the policy cycle and expanding it to assess cross-sectoral impacts, focusing on outcomes in addition to outputs. This will foster valuable cross-learning opportunities across different policies and departments. For example, evaluating the impact of MJSA-based water conservation efforts on agricultural productivity (relevant to RKVY-PDMC) or groundwater levels (relevant to ABY) – in addition to the number constructed monitoring wells – could provide vital information for more integrated policy planning and implementation.
- Creating comprehensive rural development frameworks that connect watershed management with existing programs like MGNREGS would strengthen convergence efforts for optimising resource use.
- Shifting toward measuring cross-sectoral outcomes by going beyond only outputs would provide valuable insights. This evidence-based approach could inform policy refinements and better capture the impacts of water management initiatives on agricultural productivity and sustainable livelihoods.
“To address Rajasthan's water scarcity and agricultural challenges, we must move beyond siloed policies. This consultation has underscored the urgent need for collaborative mechanisms that foster synergy across our food, land, and water systems.”
