Conjunctive water use refers tosimultaneous use of surface water and groundwater to meetcrop demand. This Note concludes that to optimizeconjunctive use of water, the best way forward is toconcentrate on capacity building of irrigation systemmanagers to improve system management and reshape hydraulicinfrastructure of large and small-surface systems. Tosustain groundwater use in tube well-irrigated areas,enhancing recharge from precipitation and surface waterimports is necessary. None of these improvements can be madewithout the proper institutional and organizationaldevelopment, including investment in the capacities of localgovernments to lead on participatory groundwater managementand integrated water resources management.