Shahbaz Mushtaq

Greenhouse gas emissions from rice farming inputs: a cross-country assessment.

Regardless of the irrigation system deployed, rice production requires a variety of farm energy inputs. The present study estimated and compared greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from rice farming practices, resulting from various farm inputs and irrigation systems in Pakistan, the Philippines, China, Indonesia, Myanmar, Nepal, Australia and the USA. Results indicate that, on aggregate, emissions related to farm machinery, fuels, agrochemicals and animal labour accounted for 0.018, 0.307, 0.666 and 0.008, respectively. Emissions from tubewell irrigation systems were the highest, followed by canal and rainfed irrigation systems. Average emissions from all selected countries with tubewell irrigation systems were 1.64 times greater than canal irrigation systems and 2.64 times greater than rainfed irrigation systems. When considering GHG emission efficiencies (emissions/kg of rice yield), developing countries were found to be less efficient than developed countries in both canal and tubewell irrigation systems. The relationship between GHG emissions and rice yield was statistically significant (P<0.01), with results indicating that a yield increase of 100 kg would increase GHG emissions by 16.51 kg CO2e (kg carbon dioxide equivalent).

Climate change, water security and the need for integrated policy development: the case of on-farm infrastructure investment in the Australian irrigation sector

The Australian Government is currently addressing the challenge of increasing water scarcity through significant on-farm infrastructure investment to facilitate the adoption of new water-efficient pressurized irrigation systems. However, it is highly likely that conversion to these systems will increase on-farm energy consumption and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, suggesting potential conflicts in terms of mitigation and adaptation policies. This study explored the trade-offs associated with the adoption of more water efficient but energy-intensive irrigation technologies by developing an integrated assessment framework. Integrated analysis of five case studies revealed trade-offs between water security and environmental security when conversion to pressurized irrigation systems was evaluated in terms of fuel and energy-related emissions, except in cases where older hand-shift sprinkler irrigation systems were replaced. These results suggest that priority should be given, in implementing on-farm infrastructure investment policy, to replacing inefficient and energy-intensive sprinkler irrigation systems such as hand-shift and roll-line. The results indicated that associated changes in the use of agricultural machinery and agrochemicals may also be important. The findings of this study support the use of an integrated approach to avoid possible conflicts in designing national climate change mitigation and adaptation policies, both of which are being developed in Australia.

Trade-off Analysis for Restoring Environmental Flows Through Irrigation Demand Management

Abstract The aim of this paper is to evaluate economic trade-offs of introducing irrigation demand management measures to modify river flows in order to mimic natural flow variations in the rivers. A number of irrigation demand management options were identified through rigorous discussions with the key stakeholder groups in the Murrumbidgee Catchment. The impacts of alternative demand management options are presented in terms of a matrix of economic costs and associated water savings. The modelling results revealed that 10–15% of peak water use during summer can be reduced from the average total annual water use of 1400 GL. This may result in reduced economic return or require private and public investments in the form of on-farm water saving technologies, canal lining or construction of en-route storage. However, if we value the saved water at current market prices, then benefits are expected to be higher than the costs involved. Among all other options, spreading water use over summer and winter season through new crop mixes promises to be the most cost-effective irrigation demand management option for improving seasonality of flow in the rivers. The study also found that increasing on-farm water use efficiency to reduce peak water use is in the farmer’s economic self-interest through reduced water inputs per unit of production; it will also help increase streamflows if suitable mechanisms for securing environmental flows can be implemented.

Integrated analysis for a carbon- and water-constrained future: An assessment of drip irrigation in a lettuce production system in eastern Australia

The Australian Government is meeting the challenge of water scarcity and climate change through significant on-farm infrastructure investment to increase water use efficiency and productivity, and secure longer term water supplies. However, it is likely that on-farm infrastructure investment will alter energy consumption and therefore generate considerable greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, suggesting potential conflicts in terms of mitigation and adaptation policies. In particular, the introduction of a price on carbon may influence the extent to which new irrigation technologies are adopted. This study evaluated trade-offs between water savings, GHG emissions and economic gain associated with the conversion of a sprinkler (hand shift) irrigation system to a drip (trickle) irrigation system for a lettuce production system in the Lockyer Valley, one of the major vegetable producing regions in Australia. Surprisingly, instead of trade-offs, this study found positive synergies - a win-win situation. The conversion of the old hand-shift sprinkler irrigation system to a drip irrigation system resulted in significant water savings of almost 2 ML/ha, as well as an overall reduction in GHG emissions. Economic modelling, at a carbon price of

Nonlinear Optimisation Using Production Functions to Estimate Economic Benefit of Conjunctive Water Use for Multicrop Production

30/t CO(2)e, indicated that there was a net benefit of adoption of the drip irrigation system of about

Developing the capacity of farmers to understand and apply seasonal climate forecasts through collaborative learning processes

4620/ML/year. We suggest priority should be given, in the implementation of on-farm infrastructure investment policy, to replacing older inefficient and energy-intensive sprinkler irrigation systems such as hand shift and roll-line. The findings of the study support the use of an integrated approach to avoid possible conflicts in designing national climate change mitigation and adaptation policies, both of which are being developed in Australia.

Beyond the Carbon Economy: The Energy Law in Transition

Uncertainty and shortages of surface water supplies, as a result of global climate change, necessitate development of groundwater in many canal commands. Groundwater can be expensive to pump, but provides a reliable supply if managed sustainably. Groundwater can be used optimally in conjunction with surface water supplies. The use of such conjunctive systems can significantly decrease the risk associated with a stochastic availability of surface water supply. However, increasing pumping cost due to groundwater drawdown and energy prices are key concerns. We propose an innovative nonlinear programing model for the optimisation of profitability and productivity in an irrigation command area, with conjunctive water use options. The model, rather than using exogenous yields and gross margins, uses crop water production and profit functions to endogenously determine yields and water uses, and associated gross margins, respectively, for various conjunctive water use options. The model allows the estimation of the potential economic benefits of conjunctive water use and derives an optimal use of regional level land and water resources by maximising the net benefits and water productivity under various physical and economic constraints, including escalating energy prices. The proposed model is applied to the Coleambally Irrigation Area (CIA) in southeastern Australia to explore potential of conjunctive water use and evaluate economic implication of increasing energy prices. The results show that optimal conjunctive water use can offer significant economic benefit especially at low levels of surface water allocation and pumping cost. The results show that conjunctive water use potentially generates additional AUD 57.3 million if groundwater price is the same as surface water price. The benefit decreases significantly with increasing pumping cost.

The effectiveness and need for flash flood warning systems in a regional inland city in Australia

ABSTRACT Purpose: This paper documents and evaluates collaborative learning processes aimed at developing farmer’s knowledge, skills and aspirations to use seasonal climate forecasting (SCF). Methodology: Thirteen workshops conducted in 2012 engaged over 200 stakeholders across Australian sugar production regions. Workshop design promoted participant interaction, stimulated discussion, collected farmer experience of regional climate variability, improved understanding of climate drivers and increased participant skill in interpreting SCF linked to management decisions. Post-workshop surveys collected quantitative and qualitative data for statistical analysis and manual thematic coding. Findings: Over 68% of participants identified improved decision-making and risk reduction as the main benefits of using SCF products. High median self-evaluation ratings for gains in skills, knowledge and understanding of climate forecasts and perceived benefits in using climate forecasts in on-farm decision-making were found across stakeholder groups. No significant differences in self-evaluation rating gains were found between farmers, extension officers and millers, suggesting extension officers are less than optimally informed and skilled to support farmers in understanding and applying SCF. Practical Implications: Developing the capacity of extension officers to understand and interpret SCF may increase adoption of improved climate risk management in farmer networks. Theoretical implications: Collaborative learning activities in the agriculture sector, designed using experiential learning principles and evaluated using a logical framework, provide a robust model for improving the capacity of farmers to manage climate risk. Originality/Value: This paper contributes an example of evaluation of collaborative learning in facilitated agriculture climate risk workshops and discusses the value of learning through small group discussion.

Reconfiguring agriculture through the relocation of production systems for water, environment and food security under climate change

Review of: Beyond the Carbon Economy: The Energy Law in Transition, edited by Donald N. Zillman, Catherine Redgwell, Yinka O. Omorogbe and Lila K. Barrera-Hernandaz, Oxford University Press, Oxford, xv, 562 pp. ISBN 13: 9780199532698.

The Development of Virtual World Tools to Enhance Learning and Real World Decision Making in the Australian Sugar Farming Industry

The paper explores, from a householder’s point of view, the effectiveness and need for an improved flood warning system in an inland regional city, Toowoomba, which experienced a severe flash flood in January 2011. A survey was conducted across 75 households in four different areas in Toowoomba. It investigated how many people received a warning about the flash flood, how they were warned, and their opinion of flood warning systems post-flood. The results show that no flash flood warning was issued and the local community was completely overwhelmed by the January 2011 flash flood event. Overall awareness of the risk of flash floods appeared to be quite high, especially following the January 2011 event, and the common opinion was that a flash flood warning system in Toowoomba would be extremely useful. However, a level of uncertainty exists, particularly with regard to who should be responsible for providing flood warning systems. Education and home location in the risk areas are identified as important variables influencing opinion and awareness of flash flooding. Improved and coordinated information together with clear lines of responsibility for providing flood information, better lead time, and more reliable flood warning will greatly assist in future flood risk mitigation.