Rooftop rainwater harvesting as a water conservation strategy for sustainable agriculture in the semi-arid region of North Gujarat: A case study at the Dry Farming Research Station

Abstract

Water scarcity and erratic rainfall are major challenges to sustainable crop production in the semi-arid region of North Gujarat. The present study evaluated the potential of rooftop rainwater harvesting as a water conservation strategy at the Dry Farming Research Station, Radhanpur. Rainwater from a 1000 m² reinforced cement concrete rooftop was collected through a pipe network and stored in a farm pond with a capacity of 15.60 lakh litres. Based on annual rainfall of 527.7 mm in 2024 and 736.8 mm in 2025, the estimated harvestable runoff was 474.93 m³ (4,74,930 L) and 663.12 m³ (6,63,120 L), respectively. The stored water was utilized through an automated drip irrigation system to provide supplemental irrigation during critical crop growth stages, thereby reducing moisture stress and improving water-use efficiency. The study demonstrated that rooftop rainwater harvesting is a simple, cost-effective and sustainable approach for enhancing water availability, reducing dependence on groundwater and improving agricultural resilience in semi-arid regions. Technology has significant potential for wider adoption in water-scarce areas of North Gujarat and similar agro-climatic regions.