Alok Sikka
Emeritus Scientist
Alok Sikka is an Emeritus Scientist at the International Water Management Institute (IWMI). At IWMI, Sikka worked as a senior fellow and a country representative for India and Bangladesh.
Previously, Sikka served as Deputy Director General (Natural Resource Management) at the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR), India, and Technical Expert (Watershed Development) (in the rank of Additional Secretary to the Government of India), National Rainfed Area Authority (NRAA), Planning Commission, Government of India, New Delhi, India. He also was the Director of the ICAR Research Complex for the Eastern Region, Patna, India and Basin Coordinator for the Indo-Gangetic Basin under the CGIAR Challenge Program on Water and Food (CPWF) from 2002 to 2007.
Current projects
Latest news for Alok Sikka
Counterintuition and why good science misfires in the real world
Human decisions shape water successes and failures ...
How Bharat-VISTAAR turns digital infrastructure into real-world decisions for Indian agriculture
Alok Sikka and Giriraj Amarnath reflect on how, through partnerships with institutions like IWMI, Bharat-VISTAAR can evolve from a data platform into a decision-ready public good ...
What the evidence says about solar irrigation and groundwater sustainability in Bangladesh
An IWMI study shows that solar irrigation expansion under fee-for-service model can happen without risk to groundwater sustainability ...
A One Health approach to fight waterborne antimicrobial resistance in India
With projections of up to 1.4 million deaths related to antimicrobial resistance a year by 2030, India needs to take immediate and intensified action ...
Public-private partnerships scale solar-powered agriculture in Bangladesh
The second phase of SoLAR kicks off in Bangladesh, advancing the transition toward sustainable, carbon-neutral irrigation ...
Inclusive financial models empower women in India’s agriculture sector to expand income opportunities
This International Day of Rural Women, IWMI’s innovative finance models are empowering women farmers in India with greater involvement, access to resources and opportunities in agriculture ...
How Bangladesh can gain from managing floodwater
Floodwater management offers a promising opportunity for Bangladesh's agriculture to tackle water scarcity, mitigate flooding and promote sustainable development ...
India to get its first AI-based chatbot to tackle drought
SukhaRakshak AI, the drought protector, is to transform the realities of millions of farmers and their communities ...
IWMI and partners are catalyzing climate resilience in India
The recent launch of the CGIAR Climate Action Program in the Indian states of Odisha and Tamil Nadu marks a major step toward integrating science-based climate solutions into state-level planning ...
November-December 2024 Research Journal Roundup
Roundup of research, journal and other academic articles from November and December 2024 ...
September-October 2024 Research Journal Roundup
Roundup of research, journal and other academic articles from September and October 2024 ...
Odisha’s integrated approach to food, land and water
The new report by IWMI and the Council on Energy, Environment and Water highlights the strengthening of policy coherence ...
Latest publications by Alok Sikka
Journal Article
Scope and Feasibility of Enhancing the Irrigation Potential of the Kukadi Canal Command of Maharashtra, India
Wiley | March 19th, 2026
Report
A DPSIR (Drivers, Pressures, State, Impact, and Responses) Framework for Nature-Positive Atlas
International Water Management Institute | March 12th, 2026
Report
Evidence of the multifunctional performance of the Akole Landscape in Maharashtra, India
International Water Management Institute | March 4th, 2026
