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Chapter 4: Major impacts of irrigation and drainage projects

Published by:
Online Location
http://www.fao.org/3/v8350e/v8350e09.htm
Publication date
21/06/1995
Language:
English
Type of Publication:
Books
Focus Region:
Global
Focus Topic:
Land / Water / Resource Management
Type of Risk:
Biological & environmental
Type of Risk Managment Option:
Risk reduction/mitigation
Commodity:
Crops
Author
The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO)

In the detailed sections below, many of the impacts described are most extreme in the case of new irrigated areas. However, rehabilitation and changes resulting from alterations to the operating infrastructure, for example, will also have environmental impacts that may not at first be anticipated. The intensification of agriculture can lead to groundwater pollution related to the increased use of pesticides and fertilizers. Improved efficiency may significantly reduce return flows which are often utilized downstream by other irrigation schemes or wildlife habitats. Similarly, upstream developments are likely to impact on an irrigation scheme either in the form of reduced water availability (surface or groundwater) or reduced water quality.

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