While addressing the issues of using groundwater in agriculture for irrigation in the developing world, this book discusses the problems associated with the degradation and overexploitation of using it. It explores the practiced and potential methods for its management in the context of agricultural development.

1: The Agricultural Groundwater Revolution: Setting the stage Part 1: The Situation: Overview of Regional and Topical Issues 2: The Groundwater Economy of South Asia: An assessment of size, significance and socio-ecological impacts 3: The Development, Challenges and Management of Groundwater in Rural China 4: Rural economic transitions: groundwater use in the Middle East and its environmental consequences 5: Sub-Saharan Africa: Opportunistic Exploitation 6: Groundwater in Central America: Its Importance, Development and Use, with Particular Reference to its Role in Irrigated Agriculture Part 2: Current Management Paradigms 7: Community Management of Groundwater 8: Instruments and Institutions for Groundwater Management 9: When the Well Runs Dry but Livelihoods Continue: Adaptive Responses to Groundwater Depletion and Strategies for Mitigating the Associated Impacts Part 3: Case Studies and Innovative Experience 10: The Groundwater Recharge Movement in India 11: Energy-Irrigation Nexus in South Asia: Improving Groundwater Conservation and Power Sector Viability 12: To Adapt or Not to Adapt: The Dilemma between Long Term Resource Management and Short Term Livelihoods 13: Lessons from Intensive Groundwater Use in Spain: Economic and Social Benefits and Conflicts 14: Groundwater Management in the High Plains Aquifer in the US: Legal Problems and Innovations 15: Institutional Directions in Groundwater Management in Australia 16: Sharing Groundwater Information, Knowledge and Experience on a Worldwide Scale 17: Groundwater Use in a Global Perspective – Can it be Managed?