Eline Boelee and Ruth Meinzen-Dick (IFPRI) and Mary Renwick (Winrock International) Multiple Use of Irrigation Water

Outline Use of irrigation water for other purposes = productive+ (as opposed to domestic+) Productive purposes –Agricultural –Other productive –Example Sri Lanka Other uses of water –Example Morocco Consumptive vs non-consumptive –Example Pakistan Issues for planning, design and management Prodwat meeting Jun06

Productive purposes Agriculture –Field crops (e.g. cereals, sugar cane, cotton) –Gardens –Permanent vegetation –Livestock incl. chicken and water fowl –Fisheries –Aquatic plants Other –Home-based activities (brick making, potteries, weaving, dyeing etc.) –Small-scale industries (tile making, ice factory) –(eco) tourism Prodwat meeting Jun06

Uda Walawe Irrigation system –rice & banana –home gardens –fisheries Valuing multiple uses of irrigation water: Sri Lanka Prodwat meeting Jun06

Total value of yields Irrigated crops USD 25M/year –Paddy USD 8.1 M –Other field cropsUSD 3.5 M –BananasUSD 13.5 M Home Gardens USD 8M/year –Home consumptionUSD 2 M –MarketedUSD 6 M FisheriesUSD 0.74 M/year –Home consumptionUSD 64 k –MarketedUSD 679 k –Fishers USD 390 k & sellers USD 289 k Prodwat meeting Jun06

Banana OFCs Rice Value in Alternative Uses Type of Use Value (USD M) healthnutritiongender Irrigated crops 24.9 ? Home gardens 8.0 Drinking 0.1 Fisheries 0.7 ? Total33.8

Other ‘essential’ uses of water Domestic water –On site: laundry, bathing –Water collection Drinking House cleaning Environment –Wildlife –Downstream wetlands –Groundwater recharge Recreation Religion Prodwat meeting Jun06

Example Morocco Large-scale modern (lined) canal irrigation systems –Rural water supply not always adequate –Groundwater often too deep or saline Official allocations at scheme level –Intake for municipal water treatment plants (hence: main canal always conveys water → maintenance challenge) –Official allocations for urban water supply and community water storage tanks (livestock) Informal ‘additional water releases’ –To refresh all standing water in hydraulic structures –Cannot be called ‘domestic’ because water quality standards not met –By stating it is for livestock, it is still part of agricultural mandate irrigation agencies Prodwat meeting Jun06

Irrigation water for domestic purposes in Tessaout Amont (Central Morocco) Communal water storage in metfia filled with irrigation water from formal allocation (Central Morocco) Inequity in water collection: more dangerous and time consuming for children (may miss school), while adult men can make a living as water seller Prodwat meeting Jun06

Intake municipal water treatment in Basse Moulouya Water distribution in Basse Moulouya irrigation system (Northeast Morocco)

Consumptive use of water? Consumptive uses of water –Irrigation –Water collection –Water quality demands Non-consumptive –Fisheries –Laundry –Impact on water quality Prodwat meeting Jun06

Water quality issues in Punjab, Pakistan Large-scale irrigation system Use of canal water for domestic (laundry) and other productive (fisheries) purposes Groundwater saline Irrigation system only source of water for all purposes Prodwat meeting Jun06

Direct and indirect use of canal water

Bacteria in water samples

Main findings Punjab study Seepage water better than surface water Most important risk factors for diarrhea: –absence of water connection and storage –lack of toilet –low standard of hygiene –low socio-economic status Water availability (quantity) was key determinant Prodwat meeting Jun06

Again: Uda Walawe irrigation scheme, Sri Lanka

Water quality analysis Bacterial water quality low, except tube wells EC and fluoride high in tube wells Surface waterShallow wellsTube wells Fluoride (mg/l) Prodwat meeting Jun06

Best water quality: shallow wells Sourcebacteria fluoride Deep tube wells-++ Shallow dug wells+- Canals+++- Reservoirs+++- Prodwat meeting Jun06

Shallow wells drying through canal lining Rehabilitation: lining canals to save water at scheme level Reduced groundwater table: wells falling dry Prodwat meeting Jun06

Implications for planning, design and management All uses, users to be included in planning stage, multiple uses can be included in design: stakeholder analysis –Identify multiple users of water, interest groups –By occupation, gender, generation –Inside and outside the irrigation system –Look for marginalized groups In existing irrigation systems, variations in operation possible, sometimes even adaptations in infrastructure Prodwat meeting Jun06

Economic values and decision making Water DomesticIrrigationLivestockFisheriesEnterprises Home Gardens Drinking $ Prodwat meeting Jun06

Issues to consider - 1 Risks –Health hazard of using canal water for drinking –Water source insufficient –Damage to canals and pipes by livestock –Contamination of sources –Access and equity Health benefits through more water for hygiene Management issues –Improving ‘efficiency’ may cut off some uses and possibly reduce overall value of output Prodwat meeting Jun06

Issues to consider - 2 Institutional issues –Can government agencies or user groups accommodate all water needs and uses? –Formal and informal water rights Defined by time, space, quantity, quality –Water transfers! Economic issues –Capturing value of all uses In project feasibility studies, funding, evaluations In prospective water transfers Prodwat meeting Jun06

Conclusions Irrigation water produces more than just grain or fiber ‘Water for rural development’ Identify all uses, users → provide access to “marginal” users, for livelihood security Information on value of all uses leads to better policies Implications for water rights, especially in transfers Opportunities, but also trade-offs in optimizing joint product of all uses, users Economic valuation of alternative uses can serve as a decision making tool Prodwat meeting Jun06

Thank you Multiple use of irrigation water