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Is There an Alternative for Irrigation Reform?

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  • Suhardiman, Diana
  • Giordano, Mark

Abstract

Poor performance of government-managed irrigation systems persists in developing countries despite numerous policy interventions over the last four decades. We argue that many of these interventions have failed, because they did not recognize irrigation bureaucracies as prime actors in policy change. This paper examines the varied actors and agendas within irrigation bureaucracies, highlighting the dichotomy between “hydraulic missions” on the one hand and direct service provision to farmers on the other. To increase the significance of future reform, bureaucracies must be considered as explicit actors, and reform efforts should derive from better understanding of the farmer–agency interface.

Suggested Citation

  • Suhardiman, Diana & Giordano, Mark, 2014. "Is There an Alternative for Irrigation Reform?," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 57(C), pages 91-100.
  • Handle: RePEc:eee:wdevel:v:57:y:2014:i:c:p:91-100
    DOI: 10.1016/j.worlddev.2013.11.016
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    2. Smith, Steven M., 2018. "From decentralized to centralized irrigation management," Journal of Economic Behavior & Organization, Elsevier, vol. 151(C), pages 62-87.
    3. Berhe, Gebremeskel Teklay & Baartman, Jantiene E.M. & Veldwisch, Gert Jan & Grum, Berhane & Ritsema, Coen J., 2022. "Irrigation development and management practices in Ethiopia: A systematic review on existing problems, sustainability issues and future directions," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 274(C).
    4. Lankford, B. & Makin, Ian & Matthews, N. & McCornick, Peter G. & Noble, A. & Shah, Tushaar, "undated". "A compact to revitalise large-scale irrigation systems using a leadership-partnership-ownership 'Theory of Change'," Papers published in Journals (Open Access) H047459, International Water Management Institute.
    5. Wegerich, Kai & Van Rooijen, Daniel & Soliev, Ilkhom & Mukhamedova, Nozilakhon, 2015. "Water Security in the Syr Darya Basin," EconStor Open Access Articles and Book Chapters, ZBW - Leibniz Information Centre for Economics, vol. 7(9), pages 4657-4684.
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    7. Shin, Hoon C. & Vallury, Sechindra & Abbott, Joshua K. & Anderies, John M. & Yu, David J., 2022. "Understanding the effects of institutional diversity on irrigation systems dynamics," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 191(C).
    8. Pieter Waalewijn & Remi Trier & Jonathan Denison & Yasmin Siddiqi & Jeroen Vos & Eeman Amjad & Mik Schulte, 2019. "Governance in Irrigation and Drainage [Gouvernance de l’Irrigation et du Drainage]," World Bank Publications - Reports 32339, The World Bank Group.
    9. Leroy, David, 2023. "An empirical assessment of the institutional performance of community-based water management in a large-scale irrigation system in southern Mexico," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 276(C).
    10. Ma’Mun, Sitti Rahma & Loch, Adam & Young, Michael D., 2021. "Sustainable irrigation in Indonesia: A case study of Southeast Sulawesi Province," Land Use Policy, Elsevier, vol. 111(C).
    11. Ali, Sameen A. Mohsin, 2020. "Driving participatory reforms into the ground: The bureaucratic politics of irrigation management transfer in Pakistan," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 135(C).
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    13. Harrison, Elizabeth, 2018. "Engineering change? The idea of ‘the scheme’ in African irrigation," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 111(C), pages 246-255.
    14. Danqiu Cao & Yahua Wang & Liangzhen Zang, 2023. "The Effects of Land Reallocation on Irrigation Collective Action: Moderating Effects of Informal Organizations and Leadership," Land, MDPI, vol. 12(7), pages 1-15, July.
    15. Ricks, Jacob I., 2016. "Building Participatory Organizations for Common Pool Resource Management: Water User Group Promotion in Indonesia," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 77(C), pages 34-47.
    16. Alaerts, G.J., 2020. "Adaptive policy implementation: Process and impact of Indonesia’s national irrigation reform 1999–2018," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 129(C).
    17. Balasubramanya, Soumya, 2019. "Effects of training duration and the role of gender on farm participation in water user associations in Southern Tajikistan: Implications for irrigation management," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 216(C), pages 1-11.
    18. Lan T. Pham & Ilona M. Otto & Dimitrios Zikos, 2019. "Self-Governance and the Effects of Rules in Irrigation Systems: Evidence from Laboratory and Framed Field Experiments in China, India and Vietnam," Water Economics and Policy (WEP), World Scientific Publishing Co. Pte. Ltd., vol. 5(01), pages 1-28, January.
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