IMPACT OF IRRIGATION ON HUMAN ENVIRONMENT

The main impact of irrigation is in terms of the increased agricultural yield which,in turn, affects social,cultural,economic,political and other aspects of human environment.(table 1)
Table 1. Impact of irrigation on human environment.

Impact

Positive

Negative Danger of waterlogging and salination of soils,rise in ground water table. Changing properties of water in reservoirs. Deforestration of area which is to be irrigated and with it a change of the water regime in the area.Reservoir bank abrasion.

Engineering Improvement of water regime of irrigated soils. Improvement of the micro climate possibility provided for waste water use and disposal. Retention of water and possible multipurpose use therefore. Health Securing increased agriculture production and thus improving the nutrition of the population. Recreation facilities in irrigation canals and reservoirs.

Possible spread of disease ensuring from certain types of surface irrigation. Danger of the pollution of water resources by return runoff from irrigation. Possible injection by waste water irrigation,new diseases caused by retention of water in large reservoir. Colonisation of the irrigated area. Displacement of population from return area. Necessity of protecting cultural monuments in inundated areas. Projects architecture may not blend with the area

Social and Cultural

Culturing the area. Increasing the social and cultural levels of the population. Tourist interest in the area of the newly-built reservoir.

Aesthetic Political

New man-made lake in the area.

Increased self-sufficiency in food, thus lesser dependence on other countries.

IMPACT OF IRRIGATION ON HUMAN ENVIRONMENT

The main impact of irrigation is in terms of the increased agricultural yield which,in turn, affects social,cultural,economic,political and other aspects of human environment.(table 1)
Table 1. Impact of irrigation on human environment.