URBAN WASTEWATER IRRIGATED AGRICULTURE AROUND HUBLI-DHARWAD, KARNATAKA, INDIA

V.S. RADHIKA¹*, G.N. KULKARNI², A.B. GAMANAGATTI^3
1Department of Agricultural Economics, College of Agriculture, University of Agricultural Sciences, Dharwad, 580 005, Karnataka, India
²Department of Agricultural Economics, College of Agriculture, University of Agricultural Sciences, Dharwad, 580 005, Karnataka, India
³Department of Agricultural Economics, College of Agriculture, University of Agricultural Sciences, Dharwad, 580 005, Karnataka, India
* Corresponding Author : raduvs467@gmail.com

Received : 17-03-2017     Accepted : 04-04-2017     Published : 24-04-2017
Volume : 9     Issue : 19       Pages : 4188 - 4192
Int J Agr Sci 9.19 (2017):4188-4192

Keywords : Sewage water, Cropping pattern, Gender implication, Irrigation method
Academic Editor : Jashanjot Kaur, Shehnaz Sharma
Conflict of Interest : None declared
Acknowledgements/Funding : Department of Agricultural Economics, College of Agriculture, University of Agricultural Sciences, Dharwad-580 005, Karnataka, India
Author Contribution : Radhika V S: Data collection, Review, Analysis and Draft preparation

India will become a water stressed nation by 2020 as the average availability of water is reducing rapidly with the increasing population. Within the twin city of Hubli-Dharwad approximately 110 million l of wastewater is generated every day. The present study was done to decipher the Urban Wastewater Irrigated Agriculture around Hubli-Dharwad, Karnataka, India using the primary data obtained by semi-structured interviews, participatory rural appraisal (PRA) technique and on-farm transect walks. Along the main Hubli wastewater nallas three distinct cropping systems are apparent: vegetable production; field crops with vegetables; and agroforestry. The perceptions of the farmers that they get more yields under sewage water irrigation compared to fresh water. Unregulated and continuous irrigation with wastewater also leads to soil clogging (sewage sickness), salinization and phytotoxicity. The treatment of sewage water to remove hazardous elements dissolved in it locally through socially acceptable, economically viable and cost-effective methods to sustain agricultural production, livelihoods systems and quality environment in the peri-urban areas is needed.

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