Assessing agriculture-water links at the basin scale: Hydrologic and economic models of the São Francisco River Basin, Brazil

Marco Maneta, Marcelo Torres, Stephen A. Vosti, Wesley W. Wallender, Summer Allen, Luís H. Bassoi, Lisa Bennett, Richard Howitt, Lineu Rodrigues, Julie Young

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

13 Scopus citations

Abstract

This article uses a basin-wide hydrologic model to assess the hydrologic and economic effects of expanding agriculture in the Sao Francisco River Basin, Brazil. It then uses a basin-wide economic model of agriculture to examine the effects of implementing water use regulations. Preliminary results suggest that substantially expanding agriculture would put pressure on some of the river's environmental flows. Agricultural output and rural employment would increase, though not in spatially uniform ways. The economic model demonstrates how cropping area, crop mix and production technology respond simultaneously to water shortages. While farmers can adjust, the costs of doing so may be beyond the reach of resource-poor farmers.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)88-103
Number of pages16
JournalWater International
Volume34
Issue number1
DOIs
StatePublished - Mar 2009

Keywords

  • Basin-wide water management
  • Brazil
  • Economic model of agriculture
  • Hydrologic modelling
  • Water policy

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