Sustainability analysis for irrigation water management: concepts, methodology, and application to the Aral Sea region

Sustainable irrigation water management should simultaneously achieve two objectives: sustaining irrigated agriculture for food security and preserving the associated natural environment. A stable relationship should be maintained between these two objectives now and in the future, while potential c...

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Detalles Bibliográficos
Autores principales: Cai, Ximing, McKinney, Daene C., Rosegrant, Mark W.
Formato: Artículo preliminar
Lenguaje:Inglés
Publicado: International Food Policy Research Institute 2001
Materias:
Acceso en línea:https://hdl.handle.net/10568/156532
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author Cai, Ximing
McKinney, Daene C.
Rosegrant, Mark W.
author_browse Cai, Ximing
McKinney, Daene C.
Rosegrant, Mark W.
author_facet Cai, Ximing
McKinney, Daene C.
Rosegrant, Mark W.
author_sort Cai, Ximing
collection Repository of Agricultural Research Outputs (CGSpace)
description Sustainable irrigation water management should simultaneously achieve two objectives: sustaining irrigated agriculture for food security and preserving the associated natural environment. A stable relationship should be maintained between these two objectives now and in the future, while potential conflicts between these objectives should be mitigated through appropriate irrigation practices. Lessons learned from unsustainable water management practices around the world demonstrate the necessity—and growing urgency—of applying sustainability principles to water management in river basins where irrigation is a major factor. This paper presents the operational concepts and analytical framework for sustainability analysis of irrigation water management in irrigation-dominated river basins. These are applied to the Aral Sea region in Central Asia, a region famous for its conflict between sustaining irrigated agriculture and preserving the environment. Maintaining current irrigation practices will lead to worsening environmental and economic consequences. Infrastructure improvements and changes in crop patterns will be necessary to sustain the irrigated agriculture and the associated environment in the region. A penalty tax on salt discharge, as an economic incentive, may help address environmental problems while having only a small effect on irrigation profit.
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spelling CGSpace1565322025-11-06T07:26:47Z Sustainability analysis for irrigation water management: concepts, methodology, and application to the Aral Sea region Cai, Ximing McKinney, Daene C. Rosegrant, Mark W. irrigation environmental factors water quality economic aspects Sustainable irrigation water management should simultaneously achieve two objectives: sustaining irrigated agriculture for food security and preserving the associated natural environment. A stable relationship should be maintained between these two objectives now and in the future, while potential conflicts between these objectives should be mitigated through appropriate irrigation practices. Lessons learned from unsustainable water management practices around the world demonstrate the necessity—and growing urgency—of applying sustainability principles to water management in river basins where irrigation is a major factor. This paper presents the operational concepts and analytical framework for sustainability analysis of irrigation water management in irrigation-dominated river basins. These are applied to the Aral Sea region in Central Asia, a region famous for its conflict between sustaining irrigated agriculture and preserving the environment. Maintaining current irrigation practices will lead to worsening environmental and economic consequences. Infrastructure improvements and changes in crop patterns will be necessary to sustain the irrigated agriculture and the associated environment in the region. A penalty tax on salt discharge, as an economic incentive, may help address environmental problems while having only a small effect on irrigation profit. 2001 2024-10-24T12:44:30Z 2024-10-24T12:44:30Z Working Paper https://hdl.handle.net/10568/156532 en Open Access application/pdf International Food Policy Research Institute Cai, Ximing; McKinney, Daene C.; Rosegrant, Mark W. 2001. Sustainability analysis for irrigation water management: concepts, methodology, and application to the Aral Sea region. EPTD Discussion Paper 86. https://hdl.handle.net/10568/156532
spellingShingle irrigation
environmental factors
water quality
economic aspects
Cai, Ximing
McKinney, Daene C.
Rosegrant, Mark W.
Sustainability analysis for irrigation water management: concepts, methodology, and application to the Aral Sea region
title Sustainability analysis for irrigation water management: concepts, methodology, and application to the Aral Sea region
title_full Sustainability analysis for irrigation water management: concepts, methodology, and application to the Aral Sea region
title_fullStr Sustainability analysis for irrigation water management: concepts, methodology, and application to the Aral Sea region
title_full_unstemmed Sustainability analysis for irrigation water management: concepts, methodology, and application to the Aral Sea region
title_short Sustainability analysis for irrigation water management: concepts, methodology, and application to the Aral Sea region
title_sort sustainability analysis for irrigation water management concepts methodology and application to the aral sea region
topic irrigation
environmental factors
water quality
economic aspects
url https://hdl.handle.net/10568/156532
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AT mckinneydaenec sustainabilityanalysisforirrigationwatermanagementconceptsmethodologyandapplicationtothearalsearegion
AT rosegrantmarkw sustainabilityanalysisforirrigationwatermanagementconceptsmethodologyandapplicationtothearalsearegion