Natural Resource Sustainability versus Livelihood Resilience: Model of Groundwater Exploitation Strategies in Developing Regions
Publication: Journal of Water Resources Planning and Management
Volume 138, Issue 5
Abstract
This paper designs a stylized model representing farming in water-scarce regions of South India to address the problem of managing depleting groundwater assets facing the threat of irreversible loss. Circumstances under which it may be optimal to forgo sustainable water use are evaluated in the context of farmers’ wealth and land endowments, crop choices, and risk of groundwater loss. Several policy and management implications are derived. Additionally, it is argued here that attaining livelihood resilience will entail a transformation process involving tradeoffs between different capital assets where it may be optimal for a farmer to forego the objective of maintaining groundwater sustainability. However, mere forgoing of sustainability may not ensure resilience for all. Initial wealth and risk endowments come into play, especially in heterogeneous communities.
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Acknowledgments
The author would like to acknowledge funding from ACIAR grant LWR/2006/072.
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Information & Authors
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Published In
Journal of Water Resources Planning and Management
Volume 138 • Issue 5 • September 2012
Pages: 512 - 522
Copyright
© 2012 American Society of Civil Engineers.
History
Received: May 28, 2011
Accepted: Oct 6, 2011
Published online: Aug 15, 2012
Published in print: Sep 1, 2012
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