Constraints to smallholder livelihoods Constraints to smallholder livelihoods in irrigated agriculture in in irrigated agriculture in groundwatergroundwater--dependent parts of Asiadependent parts of Asiagroundwatergroundwater dependent parts of Asiadependent parts of Asia

Karen G. VillholthKaren G. VillholthSenior ResearcherSenior Researcher

GEUS, Geological Survey of GEUS, Geological Survey of Denmark and GreenlandDenmark and GreenlandCopenhagen, DenmarkCopenhagen, Denmark

Towards Sustainable Groundwater in Agriculture Towards Sustainable Groundwater in Agriculture ––An International Conference Linking Science and PolicyAn International Conference Linking Science and PolicySan Francisco, California, USA, Jun. 15, 2010San Francisco, California, USA, Jun. 15, 2010

CPWF Project on Groundwater Governance in Asia (GGA)CPWF Project on Groundwater Governance in Asia (GGA)::

C it B ildi th h A ti R h iC it B ildi th h A ti R h iCapacity Building through Action Research in Capacity Building through Action Research in the Indothe Indo--Gangetic and Yellow River BasinsGangetic and Yellow River Basins

IndoIndo--Ganges RiversGanges Rivers Yellow River/Yellow River/North China PlainsNorth China Plains

IndiaPakistanN l

China

NepalBangladesh

2,251,500 km2

795,125 km2

g13

Slide 2

g13 Two overall objectives:

- Build capacity for groundwaer management in these five countries, and- Understand the realities and constaints for contemporary GW use and mgt. in the regiongeus, 6/15/2010

Groundwater zones of IGB & YRBGroundwater zones of IGB & YRBGroundwater zones of IGB & YRBGroundwater zones of IGB & YRB

The groundwaterThe groundwater--livelihood settinglivelihood settingThe groundwaterThe groundwater livelihood settinglivelihood setting

India China Pakistan Bangladesh Nepal Totalg pPopulation, Population, millionmillion

1.1821.182 1.3381.338 170170 162162 2929 2.8812.881

Percentage of Percentage of 70%70% 59%59% 60%60% 85%85% 86%86% 65%65%population population whose livelihood whose livelihood depends on depends on agricultureagriculture

Percentage of Percentage of population population dependent ondependent on

58%58% 23%23% 63%63% 64%64% 9%9% 42% 42%

dependent on dependent on GW for irrigationGW for irrigation

No. of people No. of people d dd d

686686 308308 107107 104104 33 1.207 1.207 dependent on dependent on GW for GW for irrigation, millionirrigation, million

No. of wells(million)

25

Groundwater use in Asia Groundwater use in Asia is characterized by a large is characterized by a large

b f ll lb f ll l0

5

10

15

20

number of small scale number of small scale usersusers

0India China Pakistan Mexico USA

Extraction per well(1000 cubic m/year)(1000 cubic m/year)

200

400

600

800

1000

Number of farmers dependent on groundwater,0

India China Pakistan Mexico USA

as a fraction of total population

3040506070

0102030

India China Pakistan Mexico USA

Farmers dependent on Farmers dependent on groundwater constitute a groundwater constitute a large fraction of the large fraction of the Ref: Shah 2003a ge act o o t ea ge act o o t epopulation in Asiapopulation in Asia

Ref: Shah, 2003

Farmers are smallholders, including Farmers are smallholders, including f f lf f lwomen. Majority of farmers live on very women. Majority of farmers live on very

small landholdings (< 1 ha)small landholdings (< 1 ha)gg

Groundwater irrigated areaGroundwater irrigated areaGroundwater irrigated areaGroundwater irrigated areaIn 1000 ha

Ref:

FAO A t tFAO Aquastat 2003 and other sources

Groundwater development in selected countriesp

250year India

200

250

cubi

c km

/y USAChinaBangladeshPakistan

150

ithdr

awal

, PakistanMexicoW.EuropeTunisia

50

100

ndw

ater

wi

South AfricaSri LankaVietnam

01940 1960 1980 2000

Gro

un SpainGhana

Ref: Shah, 2004

Different contexts need different Different contexts need different mgt. solutionsmgt. solutions

Common challenge:Common challenge: How to facilitate approaches thatHow to facilitate approaches that

India USA

Common challenge:Common challenge: How to facilitate approaches that How to facilitate approaches that target the way farmers act/react?target the way farmers act/react?(agricultural policies, subsidies, prices, incentives/disincentives)(agricultural policies, subsidies, prices, incentives/disincentives)

Research questionsResearch questionsResearch questionsResearch questions

•• What is the link between GW use and availability?What is the link between GW use and availability?

h b f f G ?h b f f G ?•• Who is benefitting from GW irrigation?Who is benefitting from GW irrigation?

Wh t th t i t f GW b fit ?Wh t th t i t f GW b fit ?•• What are the constraints for GW benefits?What are the constraints for GW benefits?

•• How do farmers adopt?How do farmers adopt?•• How do farmers adopt?How do farmers adopt?

•• Where to focus research and policy advice?Where to focus research and policy advice?•• Where to focus research and policy advice?Where to focus research and policy advice?

Study sites within the IndoStudy sites within the Indo--Gangetic and Yellow River BasinsGangetic and Yellow River Basins

g1

Slide 13

g1 No. of villages: 2-20No. of farmers per site: 73geus, 3/8/2009 Groundwater zones of IGB & YRBGroundwater zones of IGB & YRBGroundwater zones of IGB & YRBGroundwater zones of IGB & YRB

wI & Ch

Pak

eIGB

Resource perspectiveResource perspectiveResource perspectiveResource perspective

WesternWestern Eastern IndiaEastern India PakistanPakistanWestern Western IndiaIndia

& China& China

Eastern IndiaEastern IndiaBangladeshBangladesh

& Nepal& Nepal

PakistanPakistan

& Nepal& NepalFraction of Fraction of irrigation irrigation

68 68 --100 100 %% 72 72 -- 100 100 %% 74 74 -- 79 79 %%

from GWfrom GWRainfallRainfall 550550--768 768

mm/yrmm/yr12321232--2000 2000

mm/yrmm/yr375375--650 650

mm/yrmm/yrmm/yrmm/yr mm/yrmm/yr mm/yrmm/yr

GWLGWLmbglmbgl

2323--300 300 mm < 10 < 10 mm 44--15 15 mmgg

GWL GWL declinedecline

0.9 0.9 -- 2.0 2.0 m/yrm/yr

~0 ~0 m/yrm/yr 0.1 0.1 m/yrm/yr

TheTheThe The hidden hidden droughtdrought

300 m300 m300 m300 m

Farmer and agronomic perspectiveFarmer and agronomic perspectiveWW E I diE I di P kiP kiWestern Western

IndiaIndia& China& China

Eastern IndiaEastern IndiaBangladeshBangladesh

& Nepal& Nepal

PakistanPakistan

& China& China & Nepal& Nepal

Farms < 2 Farms < 2 haha

8080--100 100 %% 97 97 %% 62 62 %%hahaMajor Major cropscrops

Wheat, maize, Wheat, maize, ricerice

Rice, wheat, Rice, wheat, mustard, jute, mustard, jute,

Rice, wheat, Rice, wheat, sugarcane, sugarcane, cropscrops

banana, maize, banana, maize, vegetablesvegetables

cottoncotton

CroppingCropping 156156 179179 146146 250250 160160CroppingCroppingintensityintensity

156156--179179 146146--250250 160160

CropCrop yieldsyields Wheat: 6484Wheat: 6484 Wheat: 2028Wheat: 2028 Wheat: 2600Wheat: 2600

Attainable wheat yield: 3600 kg/ha (FAO, 2002)

CropCrop yieldsyieldskg/hakg/ha

Wheat: 6484Wheat: 6484Maize: 6427Maize: 6427

Wheat: 2028Wheat: 2028Rice: 3071Rice: 3071

Wheat: 2600Wheat: 2600Rice: 2750Rice: 2750

Economic energy and equity perspectiveEconomic energy and equity perspectiveEconomic, energy and equity perspectiveEconomic, energy and equity perspective

WesternWestern Eastern IndiaEastern India PakistanPakistanWestern Western IndiaIndia

& China& China

Eastern IndiaEastern IndiaBangladeshBangladesh

& Nepal& Nepal

PakistanPakistan

pp

Share of Share of irrigation irrigation

12 12 %% 77--32 32 %% 2222--33 33 %%

cost in cost in total costtotal costCapital cost Capital cost of well,of well, USDUSD

24602460--5700 5700 USDUSD

15 15 -- 570 570 USDUSD 4040--100 100 USDUSD

EnergyEnergy ElectricityElectricity DieselDiesel notnot Diesel &Diesel & elecelecEnergy Energy sourcesource

ElectricityElectricity, , subsidizedsubsidized

Diesel, Diesel, notnotsubsidizedsubsidized

Diesel & Diesel & elecelec., ., notnot subsidizedsubsidized

Coping strategiesCoping strategiesWestern IndiaWestern India

& China& ChinaEastern IndiaEastern IndiaBangladeshBangladesh

PakistanPakistan

p g gp g g

& China& China BangladeshBangladesh& Nepal& Nepal

•• Crop diversificationCrop diversification ••RainRain--fed farmingfed farming ••Conjunctive use Conjunctive use pp•• Install deeper Install deeper wellswells

ffff

••Leasing out land to richer Leasing out land to richer farmersfarmers••Use of kerosene toUse of kerosene to

jjof GW and surface of GW and surface waterwater••Farmers cropFarmers crop•• Efficient pumpsEfficient pumps

•• Simple water Simple water saving techniquessaving techniques

Use of kerosene to Use of kerosene to replace dieselreplace diesel••Rental market for pumpsRental market for pumps••Use of fuelUse of fuel efficientefficient

••Farmers crop Farmers crop intensively and intensively and grow more watergrow more water--

saving techniquessaving techniques•• Income Income diversificationdiversification

••Use of fuelUse of fuel--efficient efficient Honda pumpsHonda pumps••Use of plastic pipelines Use of plastic pipelines ff

saving crops or saving crops or cash cropscash crops

•• MigrationMigrationfor conveyancefor conveyance••Diversify livelihoods and Diversify livelihoods and work for larger farmerswork for larger farmers

Groundwater marketsGroundwater marketsGroundwater marketsGroundwater markets

•• Informal, local, private, and unregulated Informal, local, private, and unregulated markets where richer farmers with better markets where richer farmers with better access to groundwater sell groundwater access to groundwater sell groundwater services to less wealthy farmersservices to less wealthy farmers

•• A mechanism for water sharing A mechanism for water sharing -- helping to helping to improve access of the poorer farmersimprove access of the poorer farmersp o e access o e poo e a e sp o e access o e poo e a e s

•• Widespread across the Asian countries Widespread across the Asian countries investigated but less so in Chinainvestigated but less so in Chinainvestigated, but less so in Chinainvestigated, but less so in China

Local/social Local/social //regulationregulation

ConclusionsConclusionsConclusionsConclusions

•• GW irrigation economies shaped by and constrained by GW irrigation economies shaped by and constrained by poverty, GW availability, and energy accesspoverty, GW availability, and energy access

•• Farmers wisely develop a range of coping and adaptation Farmers wisely develop a range of coping and adaptation strategies to optimize GW use under given circumstancesstrategies to optimize GW use under given circumstances

•• Research and policy advice need to take into account Research and policy advice need to take into account heterogeneity in physical and socioheterogeneity in physical and socio--economic realitieseconomic realities

•• Focus should be on energy, other supporting inputs, Focus should be on energy, other supporting inputs, alternative livelihoodsalternative livelihoodsalternative livelihoodsalternative livelihoods

g12

Slide 28

g12 Four different institutions in north India, - Department of Water Resources Development and Management (DWRDM) (IIT), Roorkee, Uttaranchal- The Central Soil andWater Conservation Research and Training Institute (CSWCRTI), Dehradun- Indian Institute of Remote Sensing (IIRS), Dehradun- Punjab Agricultural University (PAU), Ludhiana- Punjabi University, Patialageus, 3/8/2009

Th k !Th k !Thank you!Thank you!

kgv@geus.dk

Outline of GGA projectOutline of GGA projectp jp j

11stst cyclecycle 22ndnd cyclecycleyyTraining Program 2006 Training Program 2006 -- 20072007 Training Program 2007 Training Program 2007 -- 20082008

com

pone

nt

Training School Training School

Fellow ResearchTrai

ning

c

Fellow Research Fellow Research

pone

ntT

Pilot studies, synthesis research

earc

hco

mp

Rese

http://www.waterandfood.org/gga/http://www.waterandfood.org/gga/

How to convert knowledge gained from How to convert knowledge gained from research into GW managementresearch into GW management??research into GW managementresearch into GW management??

?

?

Course outlineCourse outline

Tier I: Young Practitioner Fellows Modules and Resource Agricultural Social Policies Scientific Holiday Tier II: Senior

Course outlineCourse outline

Modules and sessions:

Resource characterization and mobilization, Environment

Agricultural water use

Social sciences, Economics, Institutions

Policies, Governance

Scientific methods, Research preparation, Field tours

Holiday Tier II: Senior Practitioner Fellows

Day Week 1 Week 2 Week 3 Week 4 Week 5

Monday Public holiday GW saving/augmentation Farming systems Farmer decision making

GW/Irrigation institutions GW markets

Paradigms for GW governance Adoptive GW mgt.

Tuesday Arrival of fellows Intro. to agronomy Game: Naranpur Express -

Global experience on GW institutions

Water rights Community mgt. of

Simulation of a South Asian Village

GW

Wednesday Introduction Basic hydrology Intro to CPWF basins

Data collection and use GW modeling

Political Anthropology State and community GW policies Political economy of North China

Thursday Intro. to social sciences Social and cultural Public holiday, Diwali Case studies from the GW-energy nexus anthropology region

Awareness raising State and communitymgt. of GW irrigation in North India

Friday Hydro-geology GW flow processes

Soil-water-plant relationships Crop water requirements

GW policies in north and south India GW mgt. in Australia

GW irrigation field trip Intro. to socio-economic survey in Punjab

Water productivity Irrigation systems

Saturday GW quality, health, and environmental impacts

Physical landscape field trip

Mgt. of arsenic GW contamination Evaluation and closing

g9Slide 32

g9 - Up to 5 weeks of course training program- Up to 14 weeks of field-based research workgeus, 3/8/2009

ContentContentContentContentFraction of irrigation from GWFraction of irrigation from GW 68 68 --100 100 %%

72 72 -- 100 100 %% 74 74 -- 79 79 %%