Improving water use efficiency by integrating fish culture and irrigation in coconut based farming system: A case study in Kasaragod District of Kerala (India)

• Published in: International journal of agricultural and biological engineering Vol. 7; no. 2; p. 36
• Main Authors: Samuel, Manoj P, Mathew, A C
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Beijing International Journal of Agricultural and Biological Engineering (IJABE) 01-04-2014
• Subjects: Agriculture; Aquaculture; Cost benefit analysis; Crops; Drought; Efficiency; Farmers; Farming systems; Farms; Field study; Fish farms; Fish production; Harvest; Irrigation; Irrigation systems; Livestock; Productivity; Rain; Runoff; Topography; Water harvesting; Water resources; Water shortages; Water supply; Water use; Water use efficiency; Wind; India; India, Kerala; India, Kerala, Kasaragod
• ISSN: 1934-6344; 1934-6352
• DOI: 10.3965/j.ijabe.20140702.005

A field study was conducted in Western Ghat region in Kerala State, India, to develop a suitable rainwater harvesting system adoptable to hilly terrains and to test its efficacy for improving the use efficiency of the harvested water by its multiple uses. The cost-benefit analysis of the water harvesting system was also carried out to find out its affordability to farmers. The water harvesting system has been developed by integrating three components: 1. improving the productivity of coconut and component crops in the cropping units, 2. developing multiple water use systems, and 3. conjunctively using the harvested water along with other surface and groundwater resources. Based on the estimated annual costs and returns, the Benefit-Cost ratio was found to be 1.69 and all other financial viability criteria were also found favourable for investment on a lined water harvesting tank integrated with a micro-irrigation system and fish farming.