Sustaining circular livelihoods: a qualitative analysis of the wastewater aquaculture value chain in India
Wetlands are highly productive ecosystems that deliver essential ecological and socio-economic services, including flood regulation, water purification, carbon sequestration, biodiversity conservation, and livelihood support. Despite their importance, wetlands worldwide have suffered extensive degra...
| Autores principales: | , , , , , |
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| Formato: | Informe técnico |
| Lenguaje: | Inglés |
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International Water Management Institute
2025
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| Acceso en línea: | https://hdl.handle.net/10568/179590 |
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| author | Rajkhowa, Pallavi Chakrabarti, A. Molla, S. Saha, D. Sathiskumar, Abinaya Taron, Avinandan |
| author_browse | Chakrabarti, A. Molla, S. Rajkhowa, Pallavi Saha, D. Sathiskumar, Abinaya Taron, Avinandan |
| author_facet | Rajkhowa, Pallavi Chakrabarti, A. Molla, S. Saha, D. Sathiskumar, Abinaya Taron, Avinandan |
| author_sort | Rajkhowa, Pallavi |
| collection | Repository of Agricultural Research Outputs (CGSpace) |
| description | Wetlands are highly productive ecosystems that deliver essential ecological and socio-economic services, including flood regulation, water purification, carbon sequestration, biodiversity conservation, and livelihood support. Despite their importance, wetlands worldwide have suffered extensive degradation due to land-use change and urbanization. The Ramsar Convention on Wetlands was established to promote the “wise use” and conservation of wetlands, with India emerging as a key participant, hosting 94 Ramsar sites as of 2025. Among these, the East Kolkata Wetlands (EKW) represent a globally unique socio-ecological system and the world’s largest functioning wastewater-fed aquaculture landscape. Spanning about 12,500 hectares, the EKW integrates natural wastewater treatment with aquaculture and agriculture, supporting around 150,000 residents and delivering significant economic and environmental benefits to Kolkata. The system efficiently recycles nutrients, regulates floods, reduces carbon emissions, and sustains diverse livelihoods. However, the EKW faces mounting pressures from urban expansion, land-use change, pollution, and contamination risks, resulting in a steady decline in wetland area. While existing research documents its ecological productivity, governance, and livelihood functions, it remains fragmented. This study addresses this gap through a qualitative aquaculture value chain analysis, examining how ecological, economic, and institutional dynamics interact among diverse stakeholders to sustain—or challenge—the long-term resilience of the EKW. |
| format | Informe técnico |
| id | CGSpace179590 |
| institution | CGIAR Consortium |
| language | Inglés |
| publishDate | 2025 |
| publishDateRange | 2025 |
| publishDateSort | 2025 |
| publisher | International Water Management Institute |
| publisherStr | International Water Management Institute |
| record_format | dspace |
| spelling | CGSpace1795902026-01-12T04:07:15Z Sustaining circular livelihoods: a qualitative analysis of the wastewater aquaculture value chain in India Rajkhowa, Pallavi Chakrabarti, A. Molla, S. Saha, D. Sathiskumar, Abinaya Taron, Avinandan wastewater aquaculture value chains livelihoods sustainability qualitative analysis Wetlands are highly productive ecosystems that deliver essential ecological and socio-economic services, including flood regulation, water purification, carbon sequestration, biodiversity conservation, and livelihood support. Despite their importance, wetlands worldwide have suffered extensive degradation due to land-use change and urbanization. The Ramsar Convention on Wetlands was established to promote the “wise use” and conservation of wetlands, with India emerging as a key participant, hosting 94 Ramsar sites as of 2025. Among these, the East Kolkata Wetlands (EKW) represent a globally unique socio-ecological system and the world’s largest functioning wastewater-fed aquaculture landscape. Spanning about 12,500 hectares, the EKW integrates natural wastewater treatment with aquaculture and agriculture, supporting around 150,000 residents and delivering significant economic and environmental benefits to Kolkata. The system efficiently recycles nutrients, regulates floods, reduces carbon emissions, and sustains diverse livelihoods. However, the EKW faces mounting pressures from urban expansion, land-use change, pollution, and contamination risks, resulting in a steady decline in wetland area. While existing research documents its ecological productivity, governance, and livelihood functions, it remains fragmented. This study addresses this gap through a qualitative aquaculture value chain analysis, examining how ecological, economic, and institutional dynamics interact among diverse stakeholders to sustain—or challenge—the long-term resilience of the EKW. 2025-12-22 2026-01-09T10:02:26Z 2026-01-09T10:02:26Z Report https://hdl.handle.net/10568/179590 en Open Access application/pdf International Water Management Institute CGIAR Sustainable Animal and Aquatic Foods Program Rajkhowa, P.; Chakrabarti, A.; Molla, S.; Saha, D.; Sathiskumar, A.; Taron, A. 2025. Sustaining circular livelihoods: a qualitative analysis of the wastewater aquaculture value chain in India. Colombo, Sri Lanka: International Water Management Institute (IWMI). CGIAR Sustainable Animal and Aquatic Foods Program. 44p. |
| spellingShingle | wastewater aquaculture value chains livelihoods sustainability qualitative analysis Rajkhowa, Pallavi Chakrabarti, A. Molla, S. Saha, D. Sathiskumar, Abinaya Taron, Avinandan Sustaining circular livelihoods: a qualitative analysis of the wastewater aquaculture value chain in India |
| title | Sustaining circular livelihoods: a qualitative analysis of the wastewater aquaculture value chain in India |
| title_full | Sustaining circular livelihoods: a qualitative analysis of the wastewater aquaculture value chain in India |
| title_fullStr | Sustaining circular livelihoods: a qualitative analysis of the wastewater aquaculture value chain in India |
| title_full_unstemmed | Sustaining circular livelihoods: a qualitative analysis of the wastewater aquaculture value chain in India |
| title_short | Sustaining circular livelihoods: a qualitative analysis of the wastewater aquaculture value chain in India |
| title_sort | sustaining circular livelihoods a qualitative analysis of the wastewater aquaculture value chain in india |
| topic | wastewater aquaculture value chains livelihoods sustainability qualitative analysis |
| url | https://hdl.handle.net/10568/179590 |
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