Groundwater as a source of irrigation water
accounts for about 40% - 112 Mha out of
total 275 Mha - of the total irrigation in
the world. In South Asia it accounts for
more than 50% of the total irrigated area.
However, in many cases groundwater being
extracted annualy is not fully renewable resource and is depleting fast. Efforts need
to be made to monitor groundwater use and
changes in aquifers in order to sustainably
use the resource.