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Summary
The purpose of this paper is to promote recognition of the crucial contribution
that land drainage can make towards sustainable agriculture by reducing the
negative effects of human activities on the environment and improving rural
health conditions, and to emphasize the need for higher investment in land-drainage
projects.
It aims to provide a logical argument for ensuring that drainage is considered
in plans for new agricultural development projects or rehabilitation of existing
projects. The long-term sustainability of many agricultural projects is threatened
by neglect of land degradation that may occur after some years of cultivation
and that could be wholly or partly compensated for by drainage. With regard to
the environment, drainage must be seen as contributing to equilibrium between
productive agriculture and nature conservation. Drainage plays an important
role in improving the health and well-being of the rural population by reducing
the incidence of water-borne diseases.
The role of drainage in agriculture is considered in three major climate types:
arid and semi-arid areas, humid and subhumid tropics and temperate zones.
Table of content and index of download files
Cover page (pdf, 0.665 MB)
Executive Summary and Contents (pdf, 0.101 MB)
Agriculture
Environment
Health
Agriculture (pdf, 0.183 MB)
Drainage for global agricultural sustainability
Arid and semi-arid areas
Humid and subhumid tropics
Temperate zone
Environment (pdf, 0.087 MB)
Drainage is natural
Drainage and water quality
Options for treatment and safe disposal of drainage water
Advances in treating drainage water
Wetlands
Learning from experience
Health (pdf, 0.093 MB)
The role of drainage in improving human health
Interaction between drainage and water-borne diseases
Drainage and control of malaria and schistosomiasis
O&M of drainage impacts health
Challenges for design of drainage systems and for water managers
Strategies for achieving sustainability through drainage (pdf, 0.068 MB)
Agriculture
Environment
Health
Integrated water management
Capacity building for drainage
References (pdf, 0.099 MB)
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