Water for Agriculture

Between the years 2000 and 2025 the world?s population is expected to rise from six billion to about 8 billion. At the present time, irrigated agriculture provides one third of world food output. So the advance of the irrigated sector on a global scale is a vital part of the development of the human race's capacity to feed itself. This requires many skills, including an economic understanding of the role of water in the irrigation and drainage of farmland. The purpose of this book is to provide a text in securing such an understanding that will assist both students and professionals in the fields of agriculture, development studies, geography, hydrology and planning. As an introduction to the subject, no prior knowledge of economic theory is assumed. The scope of the book is wide both in its analysis and its geographical coverage. A general introduction to irrigation and to economics is followed by a treatment of farmer’s need for irrigation water and the costs they face in accessing it. Three chapters cover the supply-side: infrastructure, operation and maintenance. An introduction is next given to the economic evaluation of irrigation and drainage projects continuing with a consideration of water allocation between sectors at the regional level. The book ends with a summary of the analysis as well as sixteen proposals for policy development. The approach is to make it possible for readers from a variety of backgrounds to readily access the subject matter. Each chapter begins with general, analytic themes and is followed by one or two detailed case studies drawn from Australia, Brazil, England, India, the Mediterranean, Mexico, Pakistan, Palestine, the Philippines and the USA. The desire is to continually interrelate theory and fieldwork in an argument that is clearly expressed, well-structured and as easy to read as the subject permits. The book is the first of its kind published since 1981.