Impact of salinity management research in Nortwest India
Datta, K.K.
Impact of salinity management research in Nortwest India - Mexico, DF (Mexico) CIMMYT : 2003 - p. 96 - Printed
Soil salinity is one of the complex abiotic phenomena adversely affecting agricultural production worldwide. Globally, salinity constrains agricultural production on 45 million ha of irrigated land, and this equates to annual loses of approximately US$ 11.4 billion. India is no exception. Diverse statistics indicate that the problem is threatening agricultural production on between 5.5 and 13 million ha, some 1 million of which are seriously affected and where agriculture has been abandoned.To manage the problem in highly fertile irrigated areas, the Indian Council of Agricultural Research invested in systematic research efforts at the Central Soil Salinity Research Institute to rehabilitate and manage soil salinity for agricultural production. This concerted and multi-disciplinary effort led to the recommended provision of sub-surface drainage for salinity control. After small-scale operational studies, large-scale pilot projects were launched to install sub- surface drainage in problem areas. One such attempt was initiated in northwest India. This paper assesses the impact of investments in sub-surface drainage for salinity control. Specific objectives of the paper are: (1) to assess impact of sub-surface drainage on efficiency, equity, and sustainability, and (2) to examine factors affecting the sustainability of the technology.||The internal rate of return was computed to assess the efficiency indicator of sub-surface drainage for salinity management. Gini concentration ratios were computed with and without installing sub-surface drainage to measure changes in equity issues. The Radar Approach was used to quantify sustainability in terms of optimizing economic gains and conserving or improving the quality of soil and water resources.||The results showed several farm-level benefits as a result of installing sub-surface drainage. These included (i) a substantial increase in farm income, (ii) crop intensification and diversification towards high value crops, and (iii) the generation of employment opportunities. High internal rates of return justified investment in sub-surface drainage. The program also indicated reduced income inequalities across farm producers. The Radar Approach demonstrated improved sustainability in terms of economic gains and resource conservation.||Despite economic, social, and environmental benefits, the sustainability of the sub-surface drainage technology is always questioned. The specific reasons discussed in the paper are: (1) the indivisible nature of the technology, (2) lukewarm collective action by the beneficiaries, (3) conflicting objectives among beneficiaries, and (4) a growing number of free riders. These were due to the absence of appropriate institutional arrangements. To a large extent, these were addressed in the study area by forming village committees.||The analysis noted that technology without institutional arrangements might not yield the desired results. A technology with high potential benefits may not make a difference and could be abandoned in the absence of essential institutional arrangements.
English
970-648-104-4
Crops
Irrigated land
Production economics
Quality labels
Soil chemistry
Soil management
Soil salinity
Technology
Water resources
Soil fertility
CIMMYT
338.91 / WAT
Impact of salinity management research in Nortwest India - Mexico, DF (Mexico) CIMMYT : 2003 - p. 96 - Printed
Soil salinity is one of the complex abiotic phenomena adversely affecting agricultural production worldwide. Globally, salinity constrains agricultural production on 45 million ha of irrigated land, and this equates to annual loses of approximately US$ 11.4 billion. India is no exception. Diverse statistics indicate that the problem is threatening agricultural production on between 5.5 and 13 million ha, some 1 million of which are seriously affected and where agriculture has been abandoned.To manage the problem in highly fertile irrigated areas, the Indian Council of Agricultural Research invested in systematic research efforts at the Central Soil Salinity Research Institute to rehabilitate and manage soil salinity for agricultural production. This concerted and multi-disciplinary effort led to the recommended provision of sub-surface drainage for salinity control. After small-scale operational studies, large-scale pilot projects were launched to install sub- surface drainage in problem areas. One such attempt was initiated in northwest India. This paper assesses the impact of investments in sub-surface drainage for salinity control. Specific objectives of the paper are: (1) to assess impact of sub-surface drainage on efficiency, equity, and sustainability, and (2) to examine factors affecting the sustainability of the technology.||The internal rate of return was computed to assess the efficiency indicator of sub-surface drainage for salinity management. Gini concentration ratios were computed with and without installing sub-surface drainage to measure changes in equity issues. The Radar Approach was used to quantify sustainability in terms of optimizing economic gains and conserving or improving the quality of soil and water resources.||The results showed several farm-level benefits as a result of installing sub-surface drainage. These included (i) a substantial increase in farm income, (ii) crop intensification and diversification towards high value crops, and (iii) the generation of employment opportunities. High internal rates of return justified investment in sub-surface drainage. The program also indicated reduced income inequalities across farm producers. The Radar Approach demonstrated improved sustainability in terms of economic gains and resource conservation.||Despite economic, social, and environmental benefits, the sustainability of the sub-surface drainage technology is always questioned. The specific reasons discussed in the paper are: (1) the indivisible nature of the technology, (2) lukewarm collective action by the beneficiaries, (3) conflicting objectives among beneficiaries, and (4) a growing number of free riders. These were due to the absence of appropriate institutional arrangements. To a large extent, these were addressed in the study area by forming village committees.||The analysis noted that technology without institutional arrangements might not yield the desired results. A technology with high potential benefits may not make a difference and could be abandoned in the absence of essential institutional arrangements.
English
970-648-104-4
Crops
Irrigated land
Production economics
Quality labels
Soil chemistry
Soil management
Soil salinity
Technology
Water resources
Soil fertility
CIMMYT
338.91 / WAT