Increasing production efficiency of irrigation systems through stakeholder participation
Irrigation projects have elicited ambiguous views, if not outright animosity, during the past four decades. Aside from environmental and relocation concerns, low productivity is a source of criticism. Irrigation management systems in developing countries seem to have historically underperformed due...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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IWA Publishing
2022-06-01
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| Series: | Water Policy |
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| Online Access: | http://wp.iwaponline.com/content/24/6/1061 |
| _version_ | 1811221557874262016 |
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| author | Anand N. Asthana |
| author_facet | Anand N. Asthana |
| author_sort | Anand N. Asthana |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Irrigation projects have elicited ambiguous views, if not outright animosity, during the past four decades. Aside from environmental and relocation concerns, low productivity is a source of criticism. Irrigation management systems in developing countries seem to have historically underperformed due to government control. Weak institutional arrangements have hindered effective and timely water distribution. There is widespread dissatisfaction with technocratic top-down programmes imposed with little community support. A rising recognition that more advanced engineering and information technologies are not the primary drivers of increased irrigation potential utilisation has resulted in an emphasis on farmer-led irrigation. Many developing countries have introduced reform instruments since the 1980s, with the most notable paradigm being a move from government control to participative management by stakeholders. This study looks into the situation in Cambodia where participation of farmers in managing irrigation schemes is being sought through the formation of Farmers Water Users Committees. The study quantifies the improvement in project performance with farmers’ participation through Farmers Water Users Committees and finds it significant. Furthermore, using difference-in-difference methodology, this research finds that the improvement is not a blip and is sustained over the medium term. HIGHLIGHTS
The study has evaluated and, for the first time, quantified the impact of stakeholder participation in the effectiveness of irrigation projects in Cambodia.;
This is the first longitudinal study using panel data and finds that participation improves project effectiveness over the medium term.; |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-12T08:01:21Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-b3909a25847a4c24a468e1cd7378d8db |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1366-7017 1996-9759 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-12T08:01:21Z |
| publishDate | 2022-06-01 |
| publisher | IWA Publishing |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Water Policy |
| spelling | doaj.art-b3909a25847a4c24a468e1cd7378d8db2022-12-22T03:41:18ZengIWA PublishingWater Policy1366-70171996-97592022-06-012461061107210.2166/wp.2022.043043Increasing production efficiency of irrigation systems through stakeholder participationAnand N. Asthana0 CENTRUM Católica Graduate Business School (CCGSB), Pontificia Universidad Católica del Perú (PUCP), Lima, Perú Irrigation projects have elicited ambiguous views, if not outright animosity, during the past four decades. Aside from environmental and relocation concerns, low productivity is a source of criticism. Irrigation management systems in developing countries seem to have historically underperformed due to government control. Weak institutional arrangements have hindered effective and timely water distribution. There is widespread dissatisfaction with technocratic top-down programmes imposed with little community support. A rising recognition that more advanced engineering and information technologies are not the primary drivers of increased irrigation potential utilisation has resulted in an emphasis on farmer-led irrigation. Many developing countries have introduced reform instruments since the 1980s, with the most notable paradigm being a move from government control to participative management by stakeholders. This study looks into the situation in Cambodia where participation of farmers in managing irrigation schemes is being sought through the formation of Farmers Water Users Committees. The study quantifies the improvement in project performance with farmers’ participation through Farmers Water Users Committees and finds it significant. Furthermore, using difference-in-difference methodology, this research finds that the improvement is not a blip and is sustained over the medium term. HIGHLIGHTS The study has evaluated and, for the first time, quantified the impact of stakeholder participation in the effectiveness of irrigation projects in Cambodia.; This is the first longitudinal study using panel data and finds that participation improves project effectiveness over the medium term.;http://wp.iwaponline.com/content/24/6/1061irrigationnatural experimentparticipationproduction efficiencywater managementwater resources |
| spellingShingle | Anand N. Asthana Increasing production efficiency of irrigation systems through stakeholder participation Water Policy irrigation natural experiment participation production efficiency water management water resources |
| title | Increasing production efficiency of irrigation systems through stakeholder participation |
| title_full | Increasing production efficiency of irrigation systems through stakeholder participation |
| title_fullStr | Increasing production efficiency of irrigation systems through stakeholder participation |
| title_full_unstemmed | Increasing production efficiency of irrigation systems through stakeholder participation |
| title_short | Increasing production efficiency of irrigation systems through stakeholder participation |
| title_sort | increasing production efficiency of irrigation systems through stakeholder participation |
| topic | irrigation natural experiment participation production efficiency water management water resources |
| url | http://wp.iwaponline.com/content/24/6/1061 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT anandnasthana increasingproductionefficiencyofirrigationsystemsthroughstakeholderparticipation |