Empirical Analysis and Countermeasures of the Irrigation Efficiency Paradox in the Shenwu Irrigation Area, China
Water-saving in agriculture is critical for building a water-conserving society. However, the application of high-efficiency water-saving technology in agriculture may create a paradox of irrigation efficiency. Efficiency improvement in agricultural water utilization may not lead to the expected agr...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2020-11-01
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| Series: | Water |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4441/12/11/3142 |
| _version_ | 1797548309235105792 |
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| author | Linna Zhang Huimin Wang Zhisong Chen Zhou Fang Dongying Sun Gang Liu |
| author_facet | Linna Zhang Huimin Wang Zhisong Chen Zhou Fang Dongying Sun Gang Liu |
| author_sort | Linna Zhang |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Water-saving in agriculture is critical for building a water-conserving society. However, the application of high-efficiency water-saving technology in agriculture may create a paradox of irrigation efficiency. Efficiency improvement in agricultural water utilization may not lead to the expected agricultural water-saving. In this paper, a rebound intensity model of the irrigation efficiency paradox is established and combined with remote sensing measurement to verify the irrigation efficiency paradox caused by expanding the irrigation area in the Shenwu Irrigation Area, China. Based on ideas in the principal–agent theory and stakeholder theory, it is concluded that the essence of the irrigation efficiency paradox is the conflict of interests among stakeholders with asymmetric information due to inadequate regulatory capacity. A dual principal–agent model is formulated to optimize the conflict among heterogeneous stakeholders in the paradox. The results show that the paradox should be restrained by a suitable distribution mechanism of water-saving gains, improved irrigation water metering, and enhanced water-use monitoring. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-10T14:57:31Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-0daa8530fa8d4fdab295abe29fb7dc4d |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2073-4441 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-10T14:57:31Z |
| publishDate | 2020-11-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Water |
| spelling | doaj.art-0daa8530fa8d4fdab295abe29fb7dc4d2023-11-20T20:23:44ZengMDPI AGWater2073-44412020-11-011211314210.3390/w12113142Empirical Analysis and Countermeasures of the Irrigation Efficiency Paradox in the Shenwu Irrigation Area, ChinaLinna Zhang0Huimin Wang1Zhisong Chen2Zhou Fang3Dongying Sun4Gang Liu5Institute of Management Science, Hohai University, Nanjing 210098, ChinaInstitute of Management Science, Hohai University, Nanjing 210098, ChinaBusiness School, Nanjing Normal University, Qixia District, Nanjing 210023, ChinaInstitute of Management Science, Hohai University, Nanjing 210098, ChinaSchool of Management, Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang 212013, ChinaCollege of Management and Economics, Tianjin University, Tianjin 300072, ChinaWater-saving in agriculture is critical for building a water-conserving society. However, the application of high-efficiency water-saving technology in agriculture may create a paradox of irrigation efficiency. Efficiency improvement in agricultural water utilization may not lead to the expected agricultural water-saving. In this paper, a rebound intensity model of the irrigation efficiency paradox is established and combined with remote sensing measurement to verify the irrigation efficiency paradox caused by expanding the irrigation area in the Shenwu Irrigation Area, China. Based on ideas in the principal–agent theory and stakeholder theory, it is concluded that the essence of the irrigation efficiency paradox is the conflict of interests among stakeholders with asymmetric information due to inadequate regulatory capacity. A dual principal–agent model is formulated to optimize the conflict among heterogeneous stakeholders in the paradox. The results show that the paradox should be restrained by a suitable distribution mechanism of water-saving gains, improved irrigation water metering, and enhanced water-use monitoring.https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4441/12/11/3142paradox of irrigation efficiencyrebound intensity modeldual principal–agent modelShenwu irrigation area |
| spellingShingle | Linna Zhang Huimin Wang Zhisong Chen Zhou Fang Dongying Sun Gang Liu Empirical Analysis and Countermeasures of the Irrigation Efficiency Paradox in the Shenwu Irrigation Area, China Water paradox of irrigation efficiency rebound intensity model dual principal–agent model Shenwu irrigation area |
| title | Empirical Analysis and Countermeasures of the Irrigation Efficiency Paradox in the Shenwu Irrigation Area, China |
| title_full | Empirical Analysis and Countermeasures of the Irrigation Efficiency Paradox in the Shenwu Irrigation Area, China |
| title_fullStr | Empirical Analysis and Countermeasures of the Irrigation Efficiency Paradox in the Shenwu Irrigation Area, China |
| title_full_unstemmed | Empirical Analysis and Countermeasures of the Irrigation Efficiency Paradox in the Shenwu Irrigation Area, China |
| title_short | Empirical Analysis and Countermeasures of the Irrigation Efficiency Paradox in the Shenwu Irrigation Area, China |
| title_sort | empirical analysis and countermeasures of the irrigation efficiency paradox in the shenwu irrigation area china |
| topic | paradox of irrigation efficiency rebound intensity model dual principal–agent model Shenwu irrigation area |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4441/12/11/3142 |
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