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Understanding clients, providers and the institutional dimensions of irrigation services in developing countries: A study of water markets in Bangladesh

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  • Mottaleb, Khondoker A.
  • Krupnik, Timothy J.
  • Keil, Alwin
  • Erenstein, Olaf

Abstract

Bangladesh is one of the most densely populated nations that nonetheless has largely achieved staple self-sufficiency. This development has been enabled in part by the rapid proliferation of small-scale irrigation pumps that enabled double rice cropping, as well as by a competitive market system in which farmers purchase water at affordable fee-for-service prices from private irrigation pump owners. Excess groundwater abstraction in areas of high shallow tube-well density and increased fuel costs for pumping have however called into question the sustainability of Bangladesh’s groundwater irrigation economy. Cost-saving agronomic methods are called for, alongside aligned policies, markets, and farmers’ incentives. The study assesses different institutions and water-pricing methods for irrigation services that have emerged in Bangladesh, each of which varies in their incentive structure for water conservation, and the level of economic risk involved for farmers and service providers. Using primary data collected from 139 irrigation service providers and 556 client-farmers, we empirically examine the structure of irrigation service types and associated market and institutional dimensions. Our findings demonstrate that competition among pump owners, social capital and personal relationships, and economic and agronomic risk perceptions of both pump owners and farmers significantly influence the structure of irrigation services and water pricing methods. Greater competition among pump owners increases the likelihood of pay-per-hour services and reduces the likelihood of crop harvest sharing arrangements. Based on these findings, we explore policy implications for enhancing irrigation services and irrigation sustainability in Bangladesh.

Suggested Citation

  • Mottaleb, Khondoker A. & Krupnik, Timothy J. & Keil, Alwin & Erenstein, Olaf, 2019. "Understanding clients, providers and the institutional dimensions of irrigation services in developing countries: A study of water markets in Bangladesh," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 222(C), pages 242-253.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:agiwat:v:222:y:2019:i:c:p:242-253
    DOI: 10.1016/j.agwat.2019.05.038
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    Cited by:

    1. Bajaj, Akshi & Singh, S.P. & Nayak, Diptimayee, 2022. "Impact of water markets on equity and efficiency in irrigation water use: A systematic review and meta-analysis," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 259(C).
    2. Shahidul Islam & Subhadip Ghosh & Mohua Podder, 2022. "Fifty years of agricultural development in Bangladesh: a comparison with India and Pakistan," SN Business & Economics, Springer, vol. 2(7), pages 1-41, July.
    3. Francisco Haces-Garcia & Craig L. Glennie & Hanadi S. Rifai, 2022. "Sustainability of Network Infrastructure in a Geospatial Resilience Context," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(18), pages 1-16, September.
    4. Foster, Timothy & Adhikari, Roshan & Adhikari, Subash & Justice, Scott & Tiwari, Baburam & Urfels, Anton & Krupnik, Timothy J., 2021. "Improving pumpset selection to support intensification of groundwater irrigation in the Eastern Indo-Gangetic Plains," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 256(C).
    5. Md Rokonuzzaman & Zhihong Ye & Chuan Wu & Wai-Chin Li, 2023. "Arsenic Elevated Groundwater Irrigation: Farmers’ Perception of Rice and Vegetable Contamination in a Naturally Arsenic Endemic Area," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(6), pages 1-19, March.
    6. Mondol, Md Anarul Haque & Zhu, Xuan & Dunkerley, David & Henley, Benjamin J., 2022. "Changing occurrence of crop water surplus or deficit and the impact of irrigation: An analysis highlighting consequences for rice production in Bangladesh," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 269(C).

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