Overview of World Bank Experiences with

Agricultural Non Point Source Pollution

Control Projects in ECA

Jitendra Srivastava, Meeta Sehgal & Gary BakerEnvironmentally & Socially Sustainable Devpt UnitWorld BankUSA.

Regional Workshop on “Agricultural Non-Point Source Pollution Control In Black Sea and Baltic Sea Riparian Countries”. Torun (Przysiek), Poland.September 17 – 20, 2002

   

 

During the past few decades Black Sea has suffered severe environmental degradation mainly due to:

• Eutrophication• Discharge of insufficiently treated sewage• Oil pollution• Toxic substances, e.g., pesticides• Radioactive substances• Introduction of exotic species

   

 

Most significant cause of Black Sea degradation is increased Eutrophication.

Eutrophication is caused primarily by increased nutrient loads (nitrogen and phosphorous) from agricultural, industrial and municipal sources along the coast and tributary rivers, especially the Danube.

58% of total nitrogen and 66% of total phosphorous flowing into Black Sea comes from the Danube River basin.

More than half of all nutrient loads into the Danube originate from agriculture.

   

Mineral N fertilisers consumption – E.U.15 Member States, from 1930 to 1999 Source

EFMA (Millions of tons of nitrogen per year).

Strategic Partnership Program on the Black Sea/Danube Basin

Aims to address root causes of Black Sea/Danube environmental degradation and to promote investments and capacity building to return the Black Sea/Danube Basin environment to its 1960s condition

Established with cooperation of the World Bank, UNDP, UNEP and other multilateral and bilateral financiers and basin countries

Six year Program funded by Global Environmental Facility (GEF)

                                                   

                                                      

                 

Partnership Program comprises two elements:

• The World Bank Investment Fund for Nutrient Reduction in the Black Sea/Danube Basin

• Two UNDP/UNEP Regional Projects designed to enhance capacity of individual riparian countries and their Commissions (Black Sea Commission and Danube Commission) and improve policy framework

Bank Projects underway in:

• Georgia• Romania• Bulgaria

Under preparation in:

• Turkey• Moldova• Ukraine• Russia

World Bank has been closely observing and drawing from experiences of the Chesapeake Bay Foundation and EU Countries to address agricultural non point source pollution control and nutrient management.

Some examples of positive actions

A close interaction between research, government and farmers is a promising way of successful implementation of measures that lead to reduced use of N in agriculture and in the losses of nitrogen through nitrate leaching, ammonia volatilisation or soil erosion.

Denmark : National Nitrogen Management Program

Initiated in 1987,Provided precise advice to farmers for accurate and moderate

fertilisation mandatory soil winter cover balancing of livestock with available manure storage and spreadable land.a strict State control system including annual N budget and surplus for each farm.regular controls of practices at field level

Results:Reduction of 28 % of nitrogen losses, and of 50% in the N surplus at farm level.In purely agricultural watersheds, a 20 % reduction of N load has been achieved Eutrophication of coastal waters is beginning to decrease.

Belgium-Wallonia Prop’eau-Sable

The project started in 1997.

The training and advisory input was intensified to reduce N fertilisation with respect of prevention of N losses to the waters.

On 10 pilot farms, specific measures taken were:

– reasonable fertilisation levels, including soil analysis;

– enhancement of catch crops;

– grassland maintenance;

– manure export from farms with surpluses;

– valorisation of organic manure;

– soil tillage at the end of the summer

– adapted crop rotation schemes.

Farms showed an average reduction of 41% of the N content in 0-150cm soil profile

Greece - Thessaly

Thessaly covers 14000km2Total cultivated area 36%Over 3 decades there have been increases in

Irrigation, Mechanization, HYV & increased nutrient use

Action plan includes:Increased N use efficiencyNew irrigation techniquesCultivation of suitable crops

ResultsChange in farmer attitude on crop fertilizationApplication of pre soiling N.Use of improved irrigation techniques

The Nitrates Directive Process

It consists of 5 steps:

1. Detection of polluted or threatened waters (N)Human Health Protection, Living resources and aquatic ecosystems protectionEutrophication prevention(1 year monitoring)

2. Designation of “vulnerable zones” (NVZs) Areas of agricultural land with significant contribution to N pollution at watershed level

3. Code(s) of Good Agricultural Practices

The Nitrates Directive Process Continued

4. Action Programs within NVZs

Code(s) of good agricultural practice becomes mandatoryOther measures (nutrient balance, manure storage, spreading < 170 kg N organic/hectare/year)

5. National Monitoring

Every 4 years on NO3 concentration Eutrophication

Assessment of Action Programs impactRevision of renewable zones and action programs

Nutrient Removal Efficiency of BMPs in Terms of Removal of Nitrogen

-20%

0%

20%

40%

60%

80%

100%

CST CNT + NM CST + NM CNT + NM + FP CST + NM + FP

75%ile

25% ile

Median

LEGENDCST = Conservation TillageCNT = Conventional TillageNM = Nutrient ManagementFP = Farm P lan which combines soil erosion control measures.

Nutrient Removal Efficiency of BMPs in Terms of Removal of Phosphorous

-20%

0%

20%

40%

60%

80%

100%

CST CNT + NM CST + NM CNT + NM + FP CST + NM + FP

75%ile

25% ileMedian

LEGENDCST = Conservation TillageCNT = Conventional TillageNM = Nutrient ManagementFP = Farm P lan which combines soil erosion control measures.

Cost Effectiveness of BMPs in Reducing Nutrients

0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80

Animal w aste mgt.

Grazing land protection

Stream protection

Sediment and w ater control

Critical area planning

Waterw ay

Diversion

Terrace

Vegetative cover

Strip-cropping

Cropland protection

Conservation tillage

Unit Cost in US$ per kg of N Reduction

Lessons Learned:

• Critical to mainstream environmental concerns in agriculture to promote sustainable agricultural production systems

• Increasing trend towards knowledge-intensive agriculture vis-à-vis input-intensive agriculture

• Possible to reduce cost of production and improve quality and profitability

• Incentives should be provided to farmers and agro-processors to adopt practices which will reduce nutrient loads to water bodies

World Bank Projects often comprise the following components:

• Promotion of Environmentally-friendly Agricultural Practices, including Manure Management

• Strengthening of National Policy and Regulatory Capacity for Non Point Source Pollution Control

• Promotion of Public Awareness Programs and Mechanisms for Replicability

OBJECTIVES AND OUTPUTS

To benefit and learn from the experiences of:

Poland Project

Projects in European countries and the United States

To help Black Sea and Baltic Sea riparian countries who are preparing/implementing Agricultural Pollution Control Projects.

Provide a forum for exchange of experiences and lessons learnt.

OUTCOMES

Development of a network within the region to learn from each other, to share experiences in order to mainstream environmentally friendly practices into agriculture.