Crop Intensification leading to Increased Use of Irrigation Water:
Policy Pressures and Policy Options

The policy pressures that contribute to the environmental problems arising from crop intensification and the increased used of irrigated water include

- Inappropriate water and irrigation policies
- Inappropriate input and output pricing policies including subsidies on feed
- Reduced controls leading to changes in cropping patterns and resource allocation, which has lead to increased production and trade in concentrate feed and the use of larger volumes of irrigated water
- Policies’ favouring the production of feed crops requiring comparatively higher input levels of irrigated water
- Inappropriate or non-existent regulatory policies and environmental policies that fail to respect local natural resource management and environmental needs

Policy options that can lessen the environmental risks from increased irrigation and resultant depletion of fresh water resources include

Environmental regulation:

- Improvements in the management of water resources leading to reduced water inputs per unit of output

Policies and incentives to encourage the recycling of purified water

Zoning policies to encourage relocation towards areas of water surplus

Adapting pricing, subsidy and taxation policies to ensure recovery of full cost of water utilisation and greater sustainable use of water resources

Investment incentives/transitional subsidies to encourage improvements in infrastructure to reduce water usage and encourage recycling

Encouragement of R & D to reduce water inputs needed to grow crops

[Livestock & Environment Toolbox Home]