Open AccessThe Value of Irrigation Water Used For Land Reclamation: A Comment (Notes & Comments)
Author(s) -
C. Finney
Publication year - 1968
Publication title -
pakistan development review
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.154
H-Index - 26
ISSN - 0030-9729
DOI - 10.30541/v8i4pp.626-631
Subject(s) - land reclamation , economic shortage , irrigation , cropping , agriculture , economics , agricultural economics , water resource management , water scarcity , natural resource economics , value (mathematics) , environmental science , geography , mathematics , agronomy , linguistics , philosophy , statistics , archaeology , government (linguistics) , biology
In their article on the economics of water use on saline andalkali lands, published in the Spring 1968 issue of the PakistanDevelopment Review, Ch. Muhammed Rafiq, M. Alim Mian, and R. Brinkmanemphasize the very low economic returns from water used to reclaimsaline and alkaline land. It is conclusively shown that where water isscarce it is far better utilized for raising the intensity of croppingon the existing cultivated area. The authors also contend that thereclamation of poor saline-alkali land for agriculture is un¬economic ormarginal for the private person, even at concessional water rates. Thisis undoubtedly correct under the conditions of permanent water shortage,but where surplus water is available or additional supplies can beprovided at a reasonable cost reclamation may well be justifiable fromboth the farmer's and the nation's points of view.