WASTEWATER IRRIGATION IN SOUTH ASIA

Theme 3: Agriculture, Water and Cities

BACKGROUND

Use of raw, diluted or partially treated wastewater is ubiquitous in South Asia. ICAR estimates that in India alone, 16,660 MLD of wastewater is generated daily of which approximately 20% is treated (primary treatment only). This wastewater is utilized in and around urban centers for vegetable and fodder/dairy (including rice straw) production systems by a chain of economic beneficiaries. Further, IWMI research has indicated that in Pakistan, 26% of national vegetable production is dependent of wastewater irrigation. The use of wastewater provides food security and incomes to poor smallholders with few or no alternative sources of irrigation. There were two subprojects and each was funded by different donor.


The research questions


  • What are the implications for public health, livestock and environmental health in the context of the over-riding policy and institutional environment?
  • Is wastewater irrigation appropriate and sustainable?
  • Are current national and international guidelines for wastewater re-use appropriate and more importantly implementable?
  • How far can urban and peri-urban agriculture (UPA) contribute to the safely and sustainable re-utilization of urban solid waste and wastewater?
  • Is there are role for UPA in the current urbanization process?
  • What policy and institutional changes and risk mitigation options are required to support UPA as a means of effectively utilizing municipal solid waste (nutrient re-cycling) and wastewater?

OBJECTIVES
  • The objective of the IDRC/DGIS funded Cities Farming for the Future programme (RUAF-CFF) is to contribute to poverty reduction, food security (encompasses year round availability, accessibility and affordability of ‘safe’ and nutritious food, improved urban environmental management (safe reuse of urban organic waste and wastewater)
  • Empowerment of urban and peri-urban farmers and participatory city governance. This is to be achieved through capacity development of local stakeholders in urban and peri-urban agriculture and by facilitating participatory and multi-stakeholder policy formulation and action planning.
  • The RUAF-CFF Project complements the BMZ funded project which has the objective to develop a set of technically feasible, socio-economically and institutionally acceptable health risk mitigation options for wastewater irrigation based on validatable robust research. These risk mitigate on options are aimed at improving health and safeguarding wastewater-dependent livelihoods of resource-poor urban and peri-urban farmers and consumers in developing countries. Effectively, the BMZ Project is the research arm of the RUAF-CFF ensuring that the risk mitigation options presented to policy makers are supported by sound research.
  • FAO/IDRC funded project contributes to the institutional and food safety analysis by focussing on ways to strengthen ‘urban producer organizations’ in Hyderabad.

METHODS
  • Field sampling and quality assured laboratory analysis of water, soil and crop (vegetable and Fodder) samples.
  • Re-infection study (Base line stool survey: Determination of Prevalence of helminth infection – anthelmenthic treatment program - secondary stool survey (re-infection).
  • Implementation of a detailed health questionnaire
  • Anthropometric Study & Diarrhea Survey
  • Helminth egg viability studies (soil and water (seasonal variations)
  • Institutional Analysis & Development of a Framework of Actors
  • Livelihoods Analysis: Primary (PRA Tools) and Secondary Data Collection
  • Multi-stakeholder action planning
  • Policy awareness seminars
  • Cost Benefit Analysis (trade –off and benefits)
  • GIS Mapping of landuse and irrigation infrastructure and integration of health, socio-economic, soil/crop/water quality, helminth egg viability data and development of spatial and temporal linkages between project generated data.
  • Information and Training Needs Assessments
  • Development and implementation of training modules (for multi-stakeholders and specific stakeholders as appropriate)
  • Multi-stakeholder forums (Dissemination and Awareness)
  • Outcome Mapping

PROJECT LEADER

Simmons, Robert (R.Simmons@cgiar.org )

RESEARCHERS

Amerasinghe, Priyani; Clemett, Alexandra; Ensink, Jeroen; Joshi, Deepa; Murali, Krishna; Acharya, Sreedar.

COLLABORATORS

Ensuring Health and Food Safety from Rapidly Expanding Wastewater Irrigation in South Asia (BMZ); RUAF-Cities Farming for the Future programme (IDRC/DGIS); Urban Producer Organizations (FAO/IDRC)

MAJOR DONORS

Bundesministerium fur Wirtschaftliche Zusammenarbeit und Entwicklung (BMZ); Government of Netherlands; Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations; IWMI Unrestricted Funding.

PROJECT DURATION

01 January 2005 to 31 December 2008

LOCATION

IWMI - Regional Office for Southeast Asia