Water appropriation in the production of tobacco: governance, policies and sustainability

Abstract

This paper links land and water appropriation processes, the relatedvirtual water flows and a normative analysis of governance and sustainabilityissues. The intensive tobacco production in the Lerma Valley, province ofSalta, Northern Argentina, was used as a case study. A conceptual framework of 'governance for sustainability' was used to guide the analysis and integratequantitative and qualitative methodological tools. This conceptual frameworkincludes two phases: (a) a descriptive stage, in which social and culturalaspects are described based on a historical and place-based analysis and thehelp of a quantitative indicator (virtual water); and (b) a more prescriptivephase where a normative evaluation of water governance is carried out interms of some sustainability principles. Virtual water of tobacco production,expressed in population equivalents, was estimated to represent about half ofthe needs of the entire city of Salta (population 535,000). The paper also showsthat local water governance ignores some of the social perspectives held byrelevant stakeholders. We end by discussing a number of policy alternativesthat could help improve the governance and sustainability of the system.