It is estimated that irrigation uses 65 per cent of the Cauvery water in Karnataka.
As a shortfall in rain exacerbates a decades-long dispute between Karnataka and Tamil Nadu over the water of the river Cauvery, experts from Israel have pitched a solution.
At an event called "Open a door to Israel," held in Karnataka capital Bengaluru recently, that country's consulate general showcased its technological advancement in micro drip irrigation, a practice which Israeli experts say reduces the use of water for irrigation by 50 per cent.
They claim that by using this technique and ensuring proper fertilization, the yield of sugarcane can be increased by 133 per cent.
Farmers in Karnataka grow sugarcane, while downstream in Tamil Nadu, farmers grow paddy. Both crops require lots of water and both states depend largely on the Cauvery.
In Karnataka, irrigation uses about 65 per cent of the states share of the Cauvery's water and people have been protesting, many violently, against the Supreme Court order to release water to Tamil Nadu.
At "Open a door to Israel", the consulate general of Israel displayed the country's technological advancement in micro drip irrigation.
A deficit southwest monsoon this year has meant despair for both states. Tamil Nadu wants its share of water released for the Samba crop, a type of paddy, which depends solely on Cauvery water to ensure the crop grows to substantial level before the Northeast monsoon sets in, or else its risks being damaged during the rains.
Karnataka says it does not have water to drink, leave alone for its crops. Experts have criticised the practice of growing water intensive crops in an area that has seen alarmingly deficit rainfall year after year.
Israel, once known for its arid terrain, now claims to be a water surplus country. This has been achieved largely due to its rapid strides in technologies like drip irrigation, waste water recycling and desalination. The same techniques have also been adopted by drought-hit countries like Paraguay and parts of United States like California.
The Israeli government says it has already proposed helping the Indian Government with water conservation projects.
Ziv Shalvi, Deputy Chief of Mission, Consulate General of Israel, told NDTV, "If you are flooding your field you waste a lot of water. But if you are dripping it, the right amount required for the crop and with fertilisation it works for the crops. It is healthy and it is working all over the world."