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Irrigation, poverty and inequality in rural China

Author

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  • Qiuqiong Huang
  • David Dawe
  • Scott Rozelle
  • Jikun Huang
  • Jinxia Wang

Abstract

This paper examines the impact of irrigation on rural incomes, poverty and the income distribution in rural China. The relationship between irrigation and income is examined using descriptive statistics and multivariate analysis. A simulation approach is used to explore the impact of irrigation on poverty incidence. To uncover the effect of irrigation on the income distribution, inequality is decomposed by source of income, by group according to access to irrigation and by estimated income flows as a result of specific household characteristics. The results show that irrigation increases income and reduces poverty and inequality.

Suggested Citation

  • Qiuqiong Huang & David Dawe & Scott Rozelle & Jikun Huang & Jinxia Wang, 2005. "Irrigation, poverty and inequality in rural China," Australian Journal of Agricultural and Resource Economics, Australian Agricultural and Resource Economics Society, vol. 49(2), pages 159-175, June.
  • Handle: RePEc:bla:ajarec:v:49:y:2005:i:2:p:159-175
    DOI: 10.1111/j.1467-8489.2005.00281.x
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    Cited by:

    1. Jin, Songqing & Yu, Winston & Jansen, Hans G.P. & Muraoka, Rie, 2012. "The impact of Irrigation on Agricultural Productivity: Evidence from India," 2012 Conference, August 18-24, 2012, Foz do Iguacu, Brazil 126868, International Association of Agricultural Economists.
    2. Zewdie, Markose Chekol & Van Passel, Steven & Cools, Jan & Tenessa, Daregot Berihun & Ayele, Zemen Ayalew & Tsegaye, Enyew Adgo & Minale, Amare Sewnet & Nyssen, Jan, 2019. "Direct and indirect effect of irrigation water availability on crop revenue in northwest Ethiopia: A structural equation model," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 220(C), pages 27-35.
    3. Huang, Qiuqiong & Rozelle, Scott & Lohmar, Bryan & Huang, Jikun & Wang, Jinxia, 2006. "Irrigation, agricultural performance and poverty reduction in China," Food Policy, Elsevier, vol. 31(1), pages 30-52, February.
    4. Dimaranan, Betina V. & McDougall, Robert A., 2000. "GTAP 5: A Large-Scale Data Base Construction Project," Conference papers 330894, Purdue University, Center for Global Trade Analysis, Global Trade Analysis Project.
    5. Dillon, Andrew, 2008. "Access to irrigation and the escape from poverty: Evidence from Northern Mali," IFPRI discussion papers 782, International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI).
    6. Gebregziabher, G. & Namara, Regassa E., 2008. "Investment in irrigation as a poverty reduction strategy: analysis of small-scale irrigation impact on poverty in Tigray, Ethiopia," IWMI Conference Proceedings 246401, International Water Management Institute.
    7. Gebregziabher, G. & Namara, Regassa E., 2008. "Investment in irrigation as a poverty reduction strategy: analysis of small-scale irrigation impact on poverty in Tigray, Ethiopia," Conference Papers h044074, International Water Management Institute.
    8. Gebregziabher, Gebrehaweria & Namara, Regassa E. & Holden, Stein, 2009. "Poverty reduction with irrigation investment: An empirical case study from Tigray, Ethiopia," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 96(12), pages 1837-1843, December.
    9. Namara, Regassa E. & Hanjra, Munir A. & Castillo, Gina E. & Ravnborg, Helle Munk & Smith, Lawrence & Van Koppen, Barbara, 2010. "Agricultural water management and poverty linkages," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 97(4), pages 520-527, April.
    10. XING, Li & FAN, Shenggen & LUO, Xiaopeng & ZHang, Xiaobo, 2009. "Community poverty and inequality in western China: A tale of three villages in Guizhou Province," China Economic Review, Elsevier, vol. 20(2), pages 338-349, June.
    11. Omilola, Babatunde, 2009. "Rural non-farm income and inequality in Nigeria:," IFPRI discussion papers 899, International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI).
    12. Barmon, Basanta Kumar & Tarafder, Sushanta Kumar, 2014. "Impacts of Granular Urea and Efficiency of Resource Use in MV Paddy Production: A Case Study of Jessore District," Bangladesh Development Studies, Bangladesh Institute of Development Studies (BIDS), vol. 37(3), pages 79-108, September.
    13. Lohmar, B. & Huang, Q. & Lei, B. & Gao, Z., 2007. "Water pricing policies and recent reforms in China: the conflict between conservation and other policy goals," IWMI Books, Reports H040610, International Water Management Institute.
    14. Dilip Ambarkhane & Ardhendu Shekhar Singh & Bhama Venkataramani, 2020. "Measuring efficiency of Indian states for reducing poverty using data envelopment analysis," Poverty & Public Policy, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 12(4), pages 357-385, December.
    15. Namara, Regassa E. & Hope, Lesley & Sarpong, Eric Owusu & De Fraiture, Charlotte & Owusu, Diana, 2014. "Adoption patterns and constraints pertaining to small-scale water lifting technologies in Ghana," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 131(C), pages 194-203.
    16. Zhou, Yuan & Zhang, Yili & Abbaspour, Karim C. & Mosler, Hans-Joachim & Yang, Hong, 2009. "Economic impacts on farm households due to water reallocation in China's Chaobai watershed," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 96(5), pages 883-891, May.
    17. Budy P. Resosudarmo & Kimlong Chheng, 2021. "Irrigation inequality, rice farming productivity and food insecurity in rural Cambodia," Departmental Working Papers 2021-19, The Australian National University, Arndt-Corden Department of Economics.

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