Agro-virtual water trade in relation to water availability and attributes of crop import of Lungnyi Gewog, Bhutan

Abstract

Virtual Water Trade is the product of Specific Water Demand and quantity of a commodity traded in tons. The water availability, water utility patterns, attributes of agricultural products imports, and quantity of 4 selected crops traded were collected through a questionnaire survey with a systematic circular design. The Specific Water Demand of crops was collected from published FAO guidelines and data was analyzed using MS-Excel and Statistical Package for Social Science (SPSS). The Net Virtual Water Trade was calculated using MS Excel. The study showed positive NVWT with higher virtual water export than an import for the study area. The independent sample t-test showed a significant difference between NVWT of farmers that has and that do not have enough water for agriculture t¬ (88) =3.129, p=0.002. The Pearson Chi-Square test showed no significance in the relationship between attributes of import of agri-products and availability of water resources in the Gewog; X2 (4, N=90) = 63.68, p=0.000. The study revealed a strong correlation between household size and VWI of apple and rice and VWE of apple, potato, chilli, and rice at p <0.01. However, no significant correlation was observed between household size and VWI of potato and chilli.