Should shrimp farmers pay paddy farmers? : the challenges of examining salinisation externalities in South India

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129485.pdf (1.05 MB)

Date

2009

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SANDEE, Kathmandu, NP

Abstract

This study calculates the externality costs of salinization of land by comparing rice paddy yields in two similar villages in southern India. Shrimp farming causes two kinds of externality costs due to salinization: (i) An externality borne by the current generation due to decline in crop yields; (ii) An inter-generational externality borne by future generations because of environmental damage to land and groundwater resources. Findings show that if soil salinity is reduced to safe levels crop gains are estimated in the range of Rs 1,000 to Rs 5,000 per hectare. A regulatory framework for taxing externalities is recommended.

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Keywords

ENVIRONMENTAL ECONOMICS, SHRIMP FARMING, SALT WATER, SOIL DEGRADATION, SOIL FERTILITY, AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTIVITY, INDIA, SALINIZATION, SOUTH ASIA, SHRIMPS, RICE, CROP LOSSES

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http://hdl.handle.net/10625/41846

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Collections

IDRC Research Results / Résultats de recherches du CRDI
2000-2009 / Années 2000-2009
Working Papers / Documents de travail