The drying Ken River has forced farmers in Uttar Pradesh’s Banda district to cultivate crops on its exposed riverbed, highlighting the worsening water crisis across the drought-prone Bundelkhand region.
Banda district in Uttar Pradesh which recently made headlines for recording some of the highest temperatures during the summer, is now facing another serious challenge as its main water source, the Ken River, continues to shrink. Large stretches of the river have dried up exposing fertile riverbeds where farmers have begun growing vegetables and seasonal crops to cope with the ongoing water shortage.
The retreating river has left behind nutrient rich alluvial soil, offering farmers a temporary opportunity to cultivate crops close to the remaining water channels. While this practice helps generate income and maintain food production, it also reflects the growing pressure on water resources in one of India’s most drought affected regions.
Farmers Turn to Riverbed Farming for Survival
Photographs from the area show farmers cultivating vegetables directly on the exposed riverbed and using portable pumps to draw water from the remaining sections of the Ken River for irrigation. Riverbed farming has become a survival strategy for many families struggling with poor rainfall and declining groundwater levels.
However, experts warn that such farming is only a short term solution and underscores the urgent need for better water conservation and sustainable water management across the region.
Bundelkhand’s Water Crisis Deepens
The situation in Banda highlights the larger environmental challenges facing the Bundelkhand region, which has long battled recurring droughts, erratic monsoon rainfall and groundwater depletion. These conditions have repeatedly affected agriculture, leaving farmers vulnerable to crop failures and financial hardship.
Communities across Bundelkhand have increasingly adopted alternative farming methods and water conservation practices to cope with the changing climate. Despite these efforts, water scarcity remains one of the biggest threats to agriculture, livelihoods and long term development in the region. The drying of the Ken River serves as another reminder of the growing impact of climate change and the urgent need to strengthen water security measures across central India.