Farmers' Willingness to Pay for Improved and Salinity Free Irrigation Water in Anowara Upazila, Chattogram, Bangladesh

Abstract

The economy of Bangladesh partially depends on the agricultural sector. Anowara Upazila (sub-district) primarily comprises the farming community. As a result, agriculture plays a vital part in the local economy. In this study, farmers' willingness to pay (WTP) is determined to evaluate the economic value of irrigation water for a hypothetical Wide Scale Irrigation Water Management System (WSIWMS). This project will reduce irrigation water waste by stopping illegal private irrigation schemes. A double-bounded closed-ended format was employed to elicit the WTP of the farmers. It was found through the study that the majority of farmers used a private irrigation system to irrigate their land. Most farmers in the area expressed willingness to join this network since farmers faced water salinity problems throughout the year, especially in the dry season. The surface water used for irrigation contains a high salinity level due to salinity intrusion. Additionally, lack of irrigation water is another issue farmers encounter during the dry season. Moreover, compared to the current irrigation costs, the predicted WTP per Kani/season (1 Kani is equivalent to 17280 square feet of land) was 1214 taka (US$ 14.28). The estimated WTP was lower than the present cost of irrigation in the study area. This cost was around 12% of farmers' families' average monthly household income. The study revealed that income, revenue sources, education level, farmland ownership, and irrigation management influenced farmers' WTP. Empirical findings will aid the authority in applying proper agricultural measures to improve production efficiency and promote water sustainability in the coastal areas of Bangladesh.