Investment in Farm Ponds for Public Good: Evidence and Policy Guidelines

Farm ponds are a lifeline for India’s rainfed areas. They are supported under many government and non-government
programs, which primarily define “farm ponds” as a physical structure with specific dimensions. In practice, however,
farm ponds vary widely depending on purpose, location, water source, and other factors. In the current era of
increasing climate variability, continued public investments in farm ponds are important to strengthen adaptive
capacity. However, a critical question is: are investments in a uni-conception of farm ponds productive, sustainable,
and equitable?  
Drawing on an extensive study of farm ponds promoted by multiple agencies across 15 states, this policy brief
highlights the need to structure public investments according to the different typologies of farm ponds. More
importantly, the study flags the perverse incentives of elevated storage in farm ponds, which are driving competitive
extraction from low-yielding borewells, resulting in aquifer depletion, high energy costs, and unsustainable and
inequitable water use. The brief argues that farm ponds should be seen and invested in as part of the ‘landscape
ecosystem’ rather than as isolated structures, and provides guiding principles for public investments in farm ponds.
The study is anchored by the School of Public Policy at IIT-Delhi and developed in collaboration with WASSAN, BRLF,
and 15 partner organisations across the country.