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Why Is Water Pricing Ineffective for Deficit Irrigation Schemes? A Case Study in Southern Spain

Author

Listed:
  • Alfonso Expósito

    (University of Seville)

  • Julio Berbel

    (University of Cordoba)

Abstract

This paper explores the impact on water demand of the adoption of deficit and precision irrigation as a farmer’s attempt to respond to water scarcity by maximising water productivity. The case study is characterised by the intensive use of deficit irrigation techniques in olive groves, which account for 50% of all irrigated land in southern Spain. These technologies have an important influence on the structure of the water demand. This study reveals that following the adoption of such technologies, water demand does not respond to moderate changes in water price, unless price increases become so great that they reach a threshold price representing a disproportionate and unaffordable social impact. This fact has significant consequences for water policy as water pricing becomes an ineffective instrument for managing water demand in a context characterised by resource scarcity and farmers’ adoption of deficit irrigation techniques.

Suggested Citation

  • Alfonso Expósito & Julio Berbel, 2017. "Why Is Water Pricing Ineffective for Deficit Irrigation Schemes? A Case Study in Southern Spain," Water Resources Management: An International Journal, Published for the European Water Resources Association (EWRA), Springer;European Water Resources Association (EWRA), vol. 31(3), pages 1047-1059, February.
    • Handle: RePEc:spr:waterr:v:31:y:2017:i:3:d:10.1007_s11269-016-1563-8
    DOI: 10.1007/s11269-016-1563-8
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

    1. Berbel, Julio & Gutierrez-Marín, Carlos & Expósito, Alfonso, 2018. "Microeconomic analysis of irrigation efficiency improvement in water use and water consumption," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 203(C), pages 423-429.
    2. Alfonso Expósito & Julio Berbel, 2017. "Sustainability Implications of Deficit Irrigation in a Mature Water Economy: A Case Study in Southern Spain," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 9(7), pages 1-13, June.
    3. Aldaya, Maite M. & Gutiérrez-Martín, Carlos & Espinosa-Tasón, Jaime & Ederra, Idoia & Sánchez, Mercedes, 2023. "The impact of the territorial gradient and the irrigation water price on agricultural production along the first phase of the Navarra Canal in Spain," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 281(C).

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