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Water conveyance, return flows and technology choice

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  • Chieko Umetsu
  • Ujjayant Chakravorty

Abstract

This paper develops a spatial conjunctive use model of an irrigation project in which the regulatory agency determines investments in the centralized distribution system and farmers decide the level of on‐farm technology in the field. Irrigation return flows are assumed to recharge the groundwater aquifer. It is shown that there is specialization in production with upstream farmers using surface water and downstream farmers pumping from the aquifer. An empirical model suggests that the proportion of return flows has a significant effect on the level of investments in water distribution as well as in the field. For example, if return flows are relatively high, it may be optimal to allow for significant water losses from the canal and the fields. It suggests that the project pricing and technology adoption policies may need to be tempered by consideration of the basinwide impacts of water diversions.

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  • Chieko Umetsu & Ujjayant Chakravorty, 1998. "Water conveyance, return flows and technology choice," Agricultural Economics, International Association of Agricultural Economists, vol. 19(1-2), pages 181-191, September.
    • Handle: RePEc:bla:agecon:v:19:y:1998:i:1-2:p:181-191
    DOI: 10.1111/j.1574-0862.1998.tb00525.x
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    Cited by:

    1. R. Aaron Hrozencik & Nicholas A. Potter & Steven Wallander, 2022. "The Cost-Effectiveness of Irrigation Canal Lining and Piping in the Western United States," NBER Chapters, in: American Agriculture, Water Resources, and Climate Change, pages 107-134, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc.
    2. Umetsu, Chieko, 2002. "The Optimal Dynamic Model of Conjunctive Water Use," Japanese Journal of Agricultural Economics (formerly Japanese Journal of Rural Economics), Agricultural Economics Society of Japan (AESJ), vol. 4.
    3. Fang, Lan & Nuppenau, Ernst-August, 2006. "Application of a Spatial Water Model in a Chinese Watershed," 2006 Annual Meeting, August 12-18, 2006, Queensland, Australia 25437, International Association of Agricultural Economists.
    4. Chakravorty, Ujjayant & Umetsu, Chieko, 2003. "Basinwide water management: a spatial model," Journal of Environmental Economics and Management, Elsevier, vol. 45(1), pages 1-23, January.
    5. Chant, Lindsay & McDonald, Scott & Verschoor, Arjan, 2004. "The Role of the 1994-95 Coffee Boom in Uganda's Recovery," Conference papers 331235, Purdue University, Center for Global Trade Analysis, Global Trade Analysis Project.
    6. Brozovic, Nicholas & Sunding, David L. & Zilberman, David, 2004. "Measuring The Gains From Management Of Spatially Heterogeneous Resources: The Case Of Groundwater," 2004 Annual meeting, August 1-4, Denver, CO 20240, American Agricultural Economics Association (New Name 2008: Agricultural and Applied Economics Association).

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