At a time when the state is reeling under severe drought, water expert Giriraj Amarnath, recommends effective water management techniques, integrated farming and use of clean energy in farming to overcome hurdles posed by water scarcity. Also a research group leader in water risks and disasters, at the International Water Management Institute in Sri Lanka, Amarnath in an interview with TOI says India can build better resilience systems for farmers through improved knowledge and advance warning
What are the problems caused by unscientific agricultural practices?
It affects sustainability. Sustainable farming operations preserve and protect watersheds and improve soil health and water quality through climate smart agriculture (CSA) which can tackle three main objectives — sustainably increasing agricultural productivity and income; adapting and building resilience to climate change; and reducing and/or removing greenhouse gas emissions, where possible.
Population pressure and increasing water competition in a changing climate require us to take stock of the availability and use of water across scales. Water availability not only influences farmers’ commercial prospects but also irrigation-related enterprises and agri-businesses. Greater water scarcity could jeopardize irrigation and agricultural markets while excessive water use can lead to declining ecosystems, water quality and soil health. IWMI advises development partners and the public and private sectors on all aspects of water resource availability and use through a variety of advanced modeling and remote-sensing products and tools, including 
The ability of farmers to engage in or expand irrigation depends on the prevailing socioeconomic, ecological and political contexts, which are often complex, non-linear and changeable. Overcoming systemic barriers to farmer-led irrigation development while taking advantage of existing opportunities 
A lack of affordable credit, particularly for women and resource-poor farmers, is one of the main barriers to expanding farmer-led irrigation in low- and middle-income countries. But 
Scaling farmer-led irrigation requires strengthening human capacity and knowledge exchange among all actors and stakeholders involved. IWMI takes an action research approach, working with national and international research institutions, governments, extension agents and public and private organizations to co-develop the scaling ecosystem and strengthen capacity to drive scaling networks and collective action. We support the