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The impact of irrigation development on regional groundwater resources in Bangladesh

Author

Listed:
  • Kirby, J.M.
  • Ahmad, M.D.
  • Mainuddin, M.
  • Palash, W.
  • Quadir, M.E.
  • Shah-Newaz, S.M.
  • Hossain, M.M.

Abstract

There is increasing concern over falling groundwater levels in some areas of Bangladesh, and there is undoubted overuse of groundwater in the Barind Tract in northwest Bangladesh and around Dhaka. However, the volumes of water availability and use, and hence the sustainability of use, are not well known. We developed monthly water balances for the main regions of Bangladesh to investigate historic trends in water use and availability and possible future trends under changed management to lessen groundwater use by using more surface water for irrigation. Our results show that for many areas the fall in pre-monsoon groundwater levels (at the regional average level) over the last few decades may be largely explained by the continual withdrawal of ever greater volumes of water with the three-fold increase in the area of irrigation. Thus, for many areas, if there were no further increase in the area irrigated by groundwater, the rate of decline in groundwater levels would likely reduce and levels could even attain a new equilibrium at a lower level, implying that current pumping rates could be maintained (subject to the lower groundwater levels being acceptable on environmental, economic and social grounds). Post-monsoon groundwater levels are largely influenced by yearly rainfall variability. Thus, groundwater use in some areas may not be as unsustainable as feared, and policies to reduce groundwater use in such areas may not be as necessary or urgent as thought. However, our analysis is approximate and detailed local studies are required to assess the sustainability of use.

Suggested Citation

  • Kirby, J.M. & Ahmad, M.D. & Mainuddin, M. & Palash, W. & Quadir, M.E. & Shah-Newaz, S.M. & Hossain, M.M., 2015. "The impact of irrigation development on regional groundwater resources in Bangladesh," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 159(C), pages 264-276.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:agiwat:v:159:y:2015:i:c:p:264-276
    DOI: 10.1016/j.agwat.2015.05.026
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Shah, Tushaar & Burke, J. & Villholth, K. & Angelica, M. & Custodio, E. & Daibes, F. & Hoogesteger, J. & Giordano, Mark & Girman, J. & van der Gun, J. & Kendy, E. & Kijne, J. & Llamas, R. & Masiyandim, 2007. "Groundwater: a global assessment of scale and significance," IWMI Books, Reports H040203, International Water Management Institute.
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    4. Mobin-ud Ahmad & Mac Kirby & Mohammad Islam & Md. Hossain & Md. Islam, 2014. "Groundwater Use for Irrigation and its Productivity: Status and Opportunities for Crop Intensification for Food Security in Bangladesh," Water Resources Management: An International Journal, Published for the European Water Resources Association (EWRA), Springer;European Water Resources Association (EWRA), vol. 28(5), pages 1415-1429, March.
    5. Alam, Khorshed, 2015. "Farmers’ adaptation to water scarcity in drought-prone environments: A case study of Rajshahi District, Bangladesh," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 148(C), pages 196-206.
    6. Shamsuddin Shahid & Manzul Hazarika, 2010. "Groundwater Drought in the Northwestern Districts of Bangladesh," Water Resources Management: An International Journal, Published for the European Water Resources Association (EWRA), Springer;European Water Resources Association (EWRA), vol. 24(10), pages 1989-2006, August.
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    2. Mojid, Mohammad A. & Mainuddin, Mohammed & Murad, Khandakar Faisal Ibn & Kirby, John Mac, 2021. "Water usage trends under intensive groundwater-irrigated agricultural development in a changing climate – Evidence from Bangladesh," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 251(C).
    3. Liaqat, Umar Waqas & Awan, Usman Khalid & McCabe, Matthew Francis & Choi, Minha, 2016. "A geo-informatics approach for estimating water resources management components and their interrelationships," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 178(C), pages 89-105.
    4. Islam, A.R.M.Towfiqul & Shen, Shuang-He & Yang, Shen-Bin, 2018. "Predicting design water requirement of winter paddy under climate change condition using frequency analysis in Bangladesh," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 195(C), pages 58-70.
    5. Mainuddin, Mohammed & Maniruzzaman, Md. & Alam, Md. Mahbubul & Mojid, Mohammad A. & Schmidt, Erik J. & Islam, Md. Towfiqul & Scobie, Michael, 2020. "Water usage and productivity of Boro rice at the field level and their impacts on the sustainable groundwater irrigation in the North-West Bangladesh," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 240(C).
    6. Rowshon, M.K. & Dlamini, N.S. & Mojid, M.A. & Adib, M.N.M. & Amin, M.S.M. & Lai, S.H., 2019. "Modeling climate-smart decision support system (CSDSS) for analyzing water demand of a large-scale rice irrigation scheme," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 216(C), pages 138-152.
    7. Acharjee, Tapos Kumar & Ludwig, Fulco & van Halsema, Gerardo & Hellegers, Petra & Supit, Iwan, 2017. "Future changes in water requirements of Boro rice in the face of climate change in North-West Bangladesh," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 194(C), pages 172-183.

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