Simulated water resource impacts and livelihood implications of stakeholder-developed scenarios in the Jaldhaka Basin, India

de Bruin, Annemarieke; de Condappa, Devaraj; Mikhail, Monique; Tomer, Sat Kumar; Sekhar, Muddu; Barron, Jennie

doi:10.1080/02508060.2012.708976

Research article2012Peer reviewed

Simulated water resource impacts and livelihood implications of stakeholder-developed scenarios in the Jaldhaka Basin, India

de Bruin, Annemarieke; de Condappa, Devaraj; Mikhail, Monique; Tomer, Sat Kumar; Sekhar, Muddu; Barron, Jennie

Abstract

This paper shows how multidisciplinary research can help policy makers develop policies for sustainable agricultural water management interventions by supporting a dialogue between government departments that are in charge of different aspects of agricultural development. In the Jaldhaka Basin in West Bengal, India, a stakeholder dialogue helped identify potential water resource impacts and livelihood implications of an agricultural water management rural electrification scenario. Hydrologic modelling demonstrated that the expansion of irrigation is possible with only a localized effect on groundwater levels, but cascading effects such as declining soil fertility and negative impacts from agrochemicals will need to be addressed.

Keywords

agricultural water management; smallholder livelihoods; scenario; groundwater; SWAT; Brahmaputra

Published in

Water International
2012, Volume: 37, number: 4, pages: 492-508
Publisher: Informa {UK} Limited

UKÄ Subject classification

Agricultural Science
Oceanography, Hydrology, Water Resources

Publication identifier

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/02508060.2012.708976

Permanent link to this page (URI)

https://res.slu.se/id/publ/102544