Land and Water (Ab)use Versus Agricultural Sustainability: A Survey

Jai Singh and Jai Pal Singh

No 136536, 1997 Conference (41st), January 22-24, 1997, Gold Coast, Australia from Australian Agricultural and Resource Economics Society

Abstract: High Yielding Varieties (HYVs) particularly of wheat and rice have brought about a tremendous increase in food production. As these HYVs are highly responsive to chemical fertilizers, pesticides, and irrigation, the cropping pattern/rotations have changed to maximize farm income. Such system of crop production has simultaneously increased the abuse of land and water and thus induced problem of agro-ecological imbalance and soil degradation. The excessive use of canal irrigation has led to problem of widespread soil salinity and waterlogging and on the other hand excessive pumping of ground water has lowered the water table in some areas. The former problem has decreased the crop yields and cause the displacement of farm labour whereas the later has increased the cost of irrigation. Thus both these situations are a serious threat to the sustainability of agricultural system.

Keywords: Environmental; Economics; and; Policy (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Pages: 35
Date: 1997
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:ags:aare97:136536

DOI: 10.22004/ag.econ.136536

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