**4.3 Agriculture**

Deterioration of soil due to extensive agriculture practices, unregulated irrigation and use of excessive fertilisers and pesticides have adverse effect on environment, particularly water bodies. Major changes in the water demand of irrigation due to climate change is expected. Practices such as clearing of forest for agriculture, cultivation on steep slopes, combined with overgrazing by cattle stock, unsustainable use of pastures and scrublands, have aggravated the conditions created by climate change. Soil degradation and erosion reduces the water absorbing capacity of soil and increases surface run-off. This will further increase the destructive effects of flash floods, siltation of downstream water reservoirs and also reduces groundwater recharge. Change in water quality and quantity as a result poses insecurity and the threat of food scarcity, hence increasing the vulnerability of poor farmers of arid and semi-arid regions.
