Wastewater irrigation in developing countries—limitations for farmers to adopt appropriate practices

Abstract

Farmers using wastewater in developing countries are often limited in adopting safeguards for human, animal and environmental health control and in improving beneficial use of water and nutrients. Case studies from Ghana, Bolivia, Pakistan, Tunisia and Mexico are used to illustrate the complex factors that influence the use of wastewater by farmers. Limitations are identified as: nutrient management, choice of crops, irrigation methods, health risk regulation and land and water rights. In some cases the most viable approach is to acknowledge irrigation as a land‐based treatment method, which requires sharing of costs and responsibilities between wastewater producers, government institutions and farmers. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.