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Wastewater Use in Cauliflower Production and Farmer’s Health: An Economic Analysis

Author

Listed:
  • Shahzad Kouser

    (University of Agriculture, Faisalabad.)

  • Abedullah

    (University of Agriculture, Faisalabad.)

  • Abdus Samie

    (University of Agriculture, Faisalabad.)

Abstract

The present study aims to estimate the economic values of negative externalities of wastewater use in cauliflower production. Cost-benefit analysis is employed to estimate the farmer’s health externalities in the production sector. The data are collected from 200 farmers (100 from each group, wastewater and freshwater) in the year 2006 from two peri-urban villages of Faisalabad city. Ignoring the value of negative externalities, wastewater use is profitable in vegetable production but when the economic value of negative externalities are factored in the analysis, the results strongly discourage its use. The cost of health externalities due to wastewater use in cauliflower production (only for a three-month crop) is Rs 3.2 million from the 741 acres planted. In Faisalabad, 5,283 acres of vegetables are cultivated using wastewater, and the value of total negative health externalities amounts to Rs 90.7 million in a year. A huge economic loss due to wastewater use may attract the attention of policy agents to intervene. Among different available options, installation of a water treatment plant appears to be most viable to minimise the external effect of wastewater use in peri-urban agriculture.

Suggested Citation

  • Shahzad Kouser & Abedullah & Abdus Samie, 2009. "Wastewater Use in Cauliflower Production and Farmer’s Health: An Economic Analysis," The Pakistan Development Review, Pakistan Institute of Development Economics, vol. 48(1), pages 47-66.
    • Handle: RePEc:pid:journl:v:48:y:2009:i:1:p:47-66
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    File URL: http://www.pide.org.pk/pdf/PDR/2009/Volume1/47-66.pdf
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    Citations

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    Cited by:

    1. Abedullah & Ali, Haseeb & Kouser, Shahzad, 2012. "Pesticide or Wastewater, Which One is Bigger Culprit for Acute Health Symptoms among Vegetable Growers in Pakistan’s Punjab," 2012 Conference, August 18-24, 2012, Foz do Iguacu, Brazil 126598, International Association of Agricultural Economists.

    More about this item

    Keywords

    Cauliflower; Wastewater; Freshwater; Externalities; Health Damages; Cost-benefit Analysis;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • Q25 - Agricultural and Natural Resource Economics; Environmental and Ecological Economics - - Renewable Resources and Conservation - - - Water
    • O13 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Economic Development - - - Agriculture; Natural Resources; Environment; Other Primary Products

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