Economic Assessment and Socio-Economic Evaluation of Water Use Efficiency in Artichoke Cultivation

José García García, Fulgencio Contreras López, Domenico Usai, Caterina Visani

Instituto Murciano de Investigación y Desarrollo Agrario y Alimentario (IMIDA), Estación Sericícola, La Alberca, Spain.
Laore Sardegna, Cagliari, Italy.

DOI: 10.4236/ojacct.2013.22008                

Abstract

The aim of this work is to provide a methodology for analysing socioeconomic aspects of water resource management that will provide with an objective decision making tool. To validate the proposed analysis method here, we refer to three artichoke production options. The economic evaluations indicate that the drip irrigation systems are viable and profitable. The traditional method of flooding is not a viable option despite needing the lowest investment, but is close to the viability threshold. In reference to water use efficiency, option 1 is by far the most effective (3.60 kg·m^-3 compared with 2.25 and 2.18 kg·m^-3, respectively). In our analysis we find that the most productive systems generate the most employment per unit of surface area. Option 1 is the most competitive in relation with the water factor, since it could support prices up to 0.53 €·m^-3 and still be economically viable. System 2 will not be viable if the price exceeds 0.22 €·m^-3. Option 3 is viable up to 0.17 €·m^-3, which is more than is paid at the present time in Sardinia, although such an option would not be viable in south-eastern Spain.

Keywords

Cost-Benefit Analysis; WUE; Water Viability Threshold (WVT); Water Productivity

Conflicts of Interest

The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

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