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Groundwater overuse and farm-level technical inefficiency: evidence from Sri Lanka

Surexploitation de l’eau souterraine et inefficacité technique à l’échelle de l’exploitation agricole : exemple du Sri Lanka

Uso excesivo de agua subterránea e ineficiencia técnica a nivel de finca: evidencia de Sri Lanka

地下水过度使用和农场等级技术的低效率: 来自斯里兰卡的证据

Uso exagerado da água subterrânea e ineficiência técnica a nível agrícola: evidências do Sri Lanka

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Abstract

Extraction of groundwater for onion and other cash crop production has been increasing rapidly during the last two decades in the dry zone areas of Sri Lanka. As a result of overuse, the quantity of available groundwater is gradually declining, while water quality is deteriorating. The deteriorating water quality has a negative impact on agricultural production, especially for crops (such as onions) that are sensitive to increases in salinity levels. This issue is examined with respect to onion production in Sri Lanka. A stochastic frontier production function (SFPF) is used, in which technical efficiency and the determinants of inefficiencies are estimated simultaneously. The results show that farmers are overusing groundwater in their onion cultivation, which has resulted in decreasing yields. Factors contributing to inefficiency in production are also identified. The results have important policy implications.

Résumé

L’exploitation d’eau souterraine pour la production de l’oignon et autre culture destinée à la vente a cru rapidement durant les deux dernières décennies dans des secteurs de la zone aride du Sri Lanka. Par suite de la surexploitation, la quantité d’eau souterraine disponible diminue progressivement tandis que la qualité de l’eau se détériore. Cette dégradation a un impact négatif sur la production agricole, particulièrement sur les cultures (telles les oignons) sensibles à l’augmentation de la salinité. Cette question est examinée à propos de la production de l’oignon au Sri Lanka. Un modèle de production à frontière stochastique (FPFS) est établi, dans lequel l’efficacité technique et les facteurs d’inefficacités sont estimés simultanément. Les résultats montrent que les cultivateurs surexploitent l’eau souterraine pour leurs cultures d’oignon, ce qui s’est traduit par des rendements décroissants. Les facteurs contribuant à l’inefficacité de la production sont également identifiés. Les résultats ont d’importantes implications politiques.

Resumen

La extracción del agua subterránea para la producción de cebolla y otros cultivos comerciales se ha incrementado rápidamente durante las últimas dos décadas en las áreas secas de Sri Lanka. Como un resultado del uso excesivo, la cantidad de agua subterránea disponible está declinando gradualmente, mientras que la calidad del agua se está deteriorando. El deterioro de la calidad de agua tiene un impacto negativo sobre la producción agrícola, especialmente para los cultivos (tales como la cebolla) que son sensibles al incremento en los niveles de salinidad. Este tema se examina con respecto a la producción de cebolla en Sri Lanka. Se utilizó una función estocástica de producción de frontera (SFPF) en las cuales la eficiencia técnica y los factores determinantes de las ineficiencias son estimadas simultáneamente. Los resultados muestran que los agricultores están haciendo un uso excesivo del agua subterránea en sus cultivos de cebolla lo que ha resultado en rendimientos decrecientes. También se han identificado los factores que contribuyen a la ineficiencia. Los resultados tienen importantes implicancias políticas.

摘要

在过去二十年里,斯里兰卡干旱地区灌溉洋葱及其它经济作物而引起地下水开采增长迅速。过度使用的结果就是,可用地下水的质量逐渐下降,同时水质也恶化了。水质恶化对农业生产具有消极影响,尤其是农作物(例如洋葱),其对含盐程度的提高是敏感的。这个问题在斯里兰卡针对洋葱生产进行了验证。采用随机边界生产函数(SFPF)方法同时估计了技术效率和低效率的决定因素。结果显示农民过度使用地下水灌溉洋葱导致了开采量的降低。生产的低效率因素也确定了。结果具有重要的政策涵义。

Resumo

A extração de água subterrânea para produção de cebola e outras culturas para venda tem vindo a aumentar durante as últimas duas décadas nas zonas áridas do Sri Lanka. Como resultado do uso exagerado, a quantidade de água subterrânea disponível diminui gradualmente, enquanto a qualidade da água se deteriora. A deterioração da qualidade da água tem um impacte negativo sobre a produção agrícola, especialmente para as culturas (como as cebolas) que são sensíveis a um incremento nos níveis de salinidade. O assunto é examinado com respeito à produção de cebola no Sri Lanka. É usada uma função estocástica de fronteira de produção (stochastic frontier production function, SFPF, em inglês), na qual a eficiência técnica, bem como os determinantes de ineficiências, são estimados simultaneamente. Os resultados mostram que os agricultores usam água em exagero na cultura da cebola, o que tem resultado no decréscimo da produtividade das captações. Os fatores que contribuem para a ineficiência da produção são também identificados. Os resultados têm uma implicação importante nas políticas.

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Acknowledgements

The authors gratefully acknowledge the comments and suggestions received from two reviewers and the editor of the special issue of Hydrogeology Journal, which have improved the paper.

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  1. School of Economics and Finance, Queensland University of Technology, 2 George Street, GPO Box 2434, Brisbane, QLD 4001, Australia

    Wasantha Athukorala & Clevo Wilson

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  1. Wasantha Athukorala
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Correspondence to Wasantha Athukorala.

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Athukorala, W., Wilson, C. Groundwater overuse and farm-level technical inefficiency: evidence from Sri Lanka. Hydrogeol J 20, 893–905 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10040-012-0833-7

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