Mechanizing water lifting through pumps: a case study in Sri Lanka

Simple item page
cg.contributor.crpWater, Land and Ecosystemsen_US
cg.coverage.countrySri Lankaen_US
cg.coverage.iso3166-alpha2LKen_US
cg.coverage.regionSouthern Asiaen_US
cg.creator.identifierMohamed Aheeyar: 0000-0002-2117-0602en_US
cg.creator.identifierHerath Manthrithilake: 0000-0001-5939-0566en_US
cg.identifier.doihttps://doi.org/10.5337/2019.206en_US
cg.issn2012-5763en_US
cg.issn2478-1134en_US
cg.placeColombo, Sri Lankaen_US
dc.contributor.authorAheeyar, Mohamed M.M.en_US
dc.contributor.authorManthrithilake, Herathen_US
dc.contributor.authorRanasinghe, Chathurangaen_US
dc.contributor.authorRengaraj, Manoojen_US
dc.contributor.authorGamagedara, Yasasen_US
dc.contributor.authorBarron, Jennieen_US
dc.date.accessioned2019-04-01T08:48:10Zen_US
dc.date.available2019-04-01T08:48:10Zen_US
dc.identifier.urihttps://hdl.handle.net/10568/100656en_US
dc.titleMechanizing water lifting through pumps: a case study in Sri Lankaen_US
dcterms.abstractA reliable supply of water is critical for agricultural intensification and yield improvement. Technological devices that lift, transport and apply water contribute to increased yield from improved crop varieties and high input cultivation. The increasing use of motor pumps is a significant contribution to the development of small-scale irrigation. The objective of this study was to identify and analyze the trajectories of technological innovations and uptake for agricultural water management in farming systems in Sri Lanka, with a special focus on identifying impacts, emerging issues and potential responses to the rapid proliferation of motor pumps in the intensification of agriculture in the country. The Government of Sri Lanka promoted the rapid adoption of water pumps through interventions such as the development of groundwater wells for agriculture; provision of subsidies and credit facilities for purchasing micro-irrigation equipment; and government policies on tax, tariffs and extension support. At the same time, the high profit margin realized from cash crop cultivation motivated farmers to invest in water lifting and related technologies. Finally, water scarcity and restrictions on the use of surface water, i.e., canals, prompted a shift to using water-lifting technologies to pump groundwater. The use of water pumps in agriculture has expanded the area under cultivation; increased cropping intensity, especially during the dry seasons; changed the cropping pattern from low-return rice cultivation to high-return cash crop cultivation; and enhanced household incomes. Expanded and intensified cultivation has provided more opportunities for women to participate in agriculture, generating additional income, and enhancing their purchasing power and decision-making at the household level. Some farmers do not have groundwater wells and water pumps because they lack the necessary capital to make the initial investment. Smallholder farmers, in particular, are reluctant to risk their limited income on new technologies. This may lead to the further marginalization of poor farmers. Inclusive intensification will require helping farmers to access irrigation technology, for example, through carefully targeted subsidies and access to credit. Using water pumps can provide benefits to both users and non-users, but uncontrolled groundwater extraction may also create new problems by putting enormous pressure on common property resources. The government will need to take on a dual role to both promote the inclusive growth of small-scale irrigation, and to prevent and mitigate its negative environmental impacts. This second role may include establishing a regulatory system, setting standards for well construction, and monitoring and enforcing standards on extraction and water quality. There is an urgent need for institutional measures and governance arrangements to guide and regulate groundwater irrigation, especially in the context of intensive cultivation using shallow aquifers.en_US
dcterms.accessRightsOpen Accessen_US
dcterms.available2019en_US
dcterms.bibliographicCitationAheeyar, Mohamed; Manthrithilake, Herath; Ranasinghe, Chathuranga; Rengaraj, Manooj; Gamagedara, Yasas; Barron, Jennie. 2019. Mechanizing water lifting through pumps: a case study in Sri Lanka. Colombo, Sri Lanka: International Water Management Institute (IWMI).. 61p. (IWMI Working Paper 188) doi: 10.5337/2019.206en_US
dcterms.extent61p.en_US
dcterms.issued2019en_US
dcterms.languageenen_US
dcterms.licenseCopyrighted; Non-commercial use onlyen_US
dcterms.publisherInternational Water Management Instituteen_US
dcterms.subjectwater liftingen_US
dcterms.subjectwater supplyen_US
dcterms.subjectwater managementen_US
dcterms.subjectwater qualityen_US
dcterms.subjectwater scarcityen_US
dcterms.subjectpumpsen_US
dcterms.subjectagricultural crediten_US
dcterms.subjectsmall scale farmingen_US
dcterms.subjectmarket pricesen_US
dcterms.subjecthydrological factorsen_US
dcterms.subjectfarmersen_US
dcterms.subjectinvestmenten_US
dcterms.subjecttaxesen_US
dcterms.subjecttariffsen_US
dcterms.subjectwellsen_US
dcterms.subjectirrigation programsen_US
dcterms.subjectmicroirrigationen_US
dcterms.subjectstate interventionen_US
dcterms.subjectgroundwater extractionen_US
dcterms.subjectgroundwater irrigationen_US
dcterms.subjectcultivated landen_US
dcterms.subjectseasonal croppingen_US
dcterms.subjectintensificationen_US
dcterms.subjectwomen's participationen_US
dcterms.subjectcase studiesen_US
dcterms.typeWorking Paperen_US

Files

Original bundle

Now showing 1 - 1 of 1
Thumbnail Image
Name:
wor188.pdf
Size:
2.2 MB
Format:
Adobe Portable Document Format
Description:
Download full publication
Download

License bundle

Now showing 1 - 1 of 1
Thumbnail Image
Name:
license.txt
Size:
1.75 KB
Format:
Item-specific license agreed upon to submission
Description:
Download

Collections

IWMI Working or Discussion Papers
Land and Water Solutions
WLE Working Paper