Between 2006 and 2016, research by Anna University found that India exportedan average of 26 billion litres of virtual water annually. More recent studiesby IFPRI and other institutions confirm that India remains a major virtual water exporter, with rice, cotton, and sugarcane — some of the world’s most water-intensive crops — driving this invisible drain. With Maharashtra’s water footprint, this translates to billions of litres of virtual water leaving water-scarce regions. India’s agricultural policies — designed to ensure food security —inadvertently incentivise virtual water exports from the most water-stressed regions. Haryana’s ‘Mera Pani Meri Virasat’ scheme, which pays farmers ₹7,000 per acre to shift from paddy to less water-intensive crops, deserves wider adoption.

Source: The Telegraph January 13, 2026 02:25 UTC