The Experts below are selected from a list of 306 Experts worldwide ranked by ideXlab platform
Lei Zhang - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.
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Water Users Associations and irrigation Water productivity in northern china
Ecological Economics, 2013Co-Authors: Nico Heerink, Lei Zhang, Liesbeth DriesAbstract:Traditional irrigation Water management systems in China are increasingly replaced by user-based, participatory management through Water Users Associations (WUAs) with the purpose to promote, economically and ecologically beneficial, Water savings and increase farm incomes. Existing research shows that significant differences exist in the institutional setup of WUAs in China, and that WUAs have not been universally successful in saving Water and improving farm incomes. This paper aims to examine the underlying causes of differences in WUA performance by analyzing the impact of WUA characteristics on the productivity of irrigation Water. Explanatory variables in our analysis are derived from Agrawal's user-based resource governance framework. Applying a random intercept regression model to data collected among 21 WUAs and 315 households in Minle County in northern China, we find that group characteristics, particularly group size and number of Water Users groups, and the existing pressure on available Water resources are important factors in Water productivity. Resource characteristics, i.e. resource size and degree of overlap between the WUA boundaries and natural boundaries, do not significantly affect Water productivity in our research area.
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Water Users Associations and irrigation Water productivity in Northern China
Ecological Economics, 2013Co-Authors: Lei Zhang, Nico Heerink, Liesbeth Dries, Xiaoping ShiAbstract:Traditional irrigation Water management systems in China are increasingly replaced by user-based, participatory management through Water Users Associations (WUAs) with the purpose to promote, economically and ecologically beneficial, Water savings and increase farm incomes. Existing research shows that significant differences exist in the institutional setup of WUAs in China, and that WUAs have not been universally successful in saving Water and improving farm incomes. This paper aims to examine the underlying causes of differences in WUA performance by analyzing the impact of WUA characteristics on the productivity of irrigation Water. Explanatory variables in our analysis are derived from Agrawal's user-based resource governance framework. Applying a random intercept regression model to data collected among 21 WUAs and 315 households in Minle County in northern China, we find that group characteristics, particularly group size and number of Water Users groups, and the existing pressure on available Water resources are important factors in Water productivity. Resource characteristics, i.e. resource size and degree of overlap between the WUA boundaries and natural boundaries, do not significantly affect Water productivity in our research area. © 2013 Elsevier B.V.
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Water Users Associations and agricultural Water use efficiency in northern china
2012 Conference August 18-24 2012 Foz do Iguacu Brazil, 2012Co-Authors: Lei Zhang, Nico Heerink, Liesbeth Dries, Futian QuAbstract:Traditional irrigation Water management systems in China are increasingly replaced by user-based, participatory management through Water Users Associations (WUAs) with the purpose to promote more efficient Water use and higher farm incomes. Existing research shows that significant differences exist in the institutional setup of WUAs in China, and that WUAs have not been universally successful in saving Water and improving farm incomes. This paper aims to examine the underlying causes of differences in WUA performance by analysing the impact of WUA characteristics on the efficiency of agricultural Water use. Explanatory variables in our analysis are largely based on Agrawal’s user-based resource governance framework. Applying a random intercept regression model to data collected among 21 WUAs and 315 households in Minle county in northern China, we find that group characteristics, particularly group size and number of Water Users groups, and the existing pressure on available Water resources are important factors in Water use efficiency. We further find that WUA characteristics that positively affect Water savings in crop production tend to increase the costs of inputs used in crop production, and thereby reduce or even fully offset the potential positive impact of Water savings on farm incomes in our research area.
Nico Heerink - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.
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Water Users Associations and irrigation Water productivity in northern china
Ecological Economics, 2013Co-Authors: Nico Heerink, Lei Zhang, Liesbeth DriesAbstract:Traditional irrigation Water management systems in China are increasingly replaced by user-based, participatory management through Water Users Associations (WUAs) with the purpose to promote, economically and ecologically beneficial, Water savings and increase farm incomes. Existing research shows that significant differences exist in the institutional setup of WUAs in China, and that WUAs have not been universally successful in saving Water and improving farm incomes. This paper aims to examine the underlying causes of differences in WUA performance by analyzing the impact of WUA characteristics on the productivity of irrigation Water. Explanatory variables in our analysis are derived from Agrawal's user-based resource governance framework. Applying a random intercept regression model to data collected among 21 WUAs and 315 households in Minle County in northern China, we find that group characteristics, particularly group size and number of Water Users groups, and the existing pressure on available Water resources are important factors in Water productivity. Resource characteristics, i.e. resource size and degree of overlap between the WUA boundaries and natural boundaries, do not significantly affect Water productivity in our research area.
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Water Users Associations and irrigation Water productivity in Northern China
Ecological Economics, 2013Co-Authors: Lei Zhang, Nico Heerink, Liesbeth Dries, Xiaoping ShiAbstract:Traditional irrigation Water management systems in China are increasingly replaced by user-based, participatory management through Water Users Associations (WUAs) with the purpose to promote, economically and ecologically beneficial, Water savings and increase farm incomes. Existing research shows that significant differences exist in the institutional setup of WUAs in China, and that WUAs have not been universally successful in saving Water and improving farm incomes. This paper aims to examine the underlying causes of differences in WUA performance by analyzing the impact of WUA characteristics on the productivity of irrigation Water. Explanatory variables in our analysis are derived from Agrawal's user-based resource governance framework. Applying a random intercept regression model to data collected among 21 WUAs and 315 households in Minle County in northern China, we find that group characteristics, particularly group size and number of Water Users groups, and the existing pressure on available Water resources are important factors in Water productivity. Resource characteristics, i.e. resource size and degree of overlap between the WUA boundaries and natural boundaries, do not significantly affect Water productivity in our research area. © 2013 Elsevier B.V.
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Water Users Associations and agricultural Water use efficiency in northern china
2012 Conference August 18-24 2012 Foz do Iguacu Brazil, 2012Co-Authors: Lei Zhang, Nico Heerink, Liesbeth Dries, Futian QuAbstract:Traditional irrigation Water management systems in China are increasingly replaced by user-based, participatory management through Water Users Associations (WUAs) with the purpose to promote more efficient Water use and higher farm incomes. Existing research shows that significant differences exist in the institutional setup of WUAs in China, and that WUAs have not been universally successful in saving Water and improving farm incomes. This paper aims to examine the underlying causes of differences in WUA performance by analysing the impact of WUA characteristics on the efficiency of agricultural Water use. Explanatory variables in our analysis are largely based on Agrawal’s user-based resource governance framework. Applying a random intercept regression model to data collected among 21 WUAs and 315 households in Minle county in northern China, we find that group characteristics, particularly group size and number of Water Users groups, and the existing pressure on available Water resources are important factors in Water use efficiency. We further find that WUA characteristics that positively affect Water savings in crop production tend to increase the costs of inputs used in crop production, and thereby reduce or even fully offset the potential positive impact of Water savings on farm incomes in our research area.
Liesbeth Dries - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.
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Water Users Associations and irrigation Water productivity in northern china
Ecological Economics, 2013Co-Authors: Nico Heerink, Lei Zhang, Liesbeth DriesAbstract:Traditional irrigation Water management systems in China are increasingly replaced by user-based, participatory management through Water Users Associations (WUAs) with the purpose to promote, economically and ecologically beneficial, Water savings and increase farm incomes. Existing research shows that significant differences exist in the institutional setup of WUAs in China, and that WUAs have not been universally successful in saving Water and improving farm incomes. This paper aims to examine the underlying causes of differences in WUA performance by analyzing the impact of WUA characteristics on the productivity of irrigation Water. Explanatory variables in our analysis are derived from Agrawal's user-based resource governance framework. Applying a random intercept regression model to data collected among 21 WUAs and 315 households in Minle County in northern China, we find that group characteristics, particularly group size and number of Water Users groups, and the existing pressure on available Water resources are important factors in Water productivity. Resource characteristics, i.e. resource size and degree of overlap between the WUA boundaries and natural boundaries, do not significantly affect Water productivity in our research area.
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Water Users Associations and irrigation Water productivity in Northern China
Ecological Economics, 2013Co-Authors: Lei Zhang, Nico Heerink, Liesbeth Dries, Xiaoping ShiAbstract:Traditional irrigation Water management systems in China are increasingly replaced by user-based, participatory management through Water Users Associations (WUAs) with the purpose to promote, economically and ecologically beneficial, Water savings and increase farm incomes. Existing research shows that significant differences exist in the institutional setup of WUAs in China, and that WUAs have not been universally successful in saving Water and improving farm incomes. This paper aims to examine the underlying causes of differences in WUA performance by analyzing the impact of WUA characteristics on the productivity of irrigation Water. Explanatory variables in our analysis are derived from Agrawal's user-based resource governance framework. Applying a random intercept regression model to data collected among 21 WUAs and 315 households in Minle County in northern China, we find that group characteristics, particularly group size and number of Water Users groups, and the existing pressure on available Water resources are important factors in Water productivity. Resource characteristics, i.e. resource size and degree of overlap between the WUA boundaries and natural boundaries, do not significantly affect Water productivity in our research area. © 2013 Elsevier B.V.
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Water Users Associations and agricultural Water use efficiency in northern china
2012 Conference August 18-24 2012 Foz do Iguacu Brazil, 2012Co-Authors: Lei Zhang, Nico Heerink, Liesbeth Dries, Futian QuAbstract:Traditional irrigation Water management systems in China are increasingly replaced by user-based, participatory management through Water Users Associations (WUAs) with the purpose to promote more efficient Water use and higher farm incomes. Existing research shows that significant differences exist in the institutional setup of WUAs in China, and that WUAs have not been universally successful in saving Water and improving farm incomes. This paper aims to examine the underlying causes of differences in WUA performance by analysing the impact of WUA characteristics on the efficiency of agricultural Water use. Explanatory variables in our analysis are largely based on Agrawal’s user-based resource governance framework. Applying a random intercept regression model to data collected among 21 WUAs and 315 households in Minle county in northern China, we find that group characteristics, particularly group size and number of Water Users groups, and the existing pressure on available Water resources are important factors in Water use efficiency. We further find that WUA characteristics that positively affect Water savings in crop production tend to increase the costs of inputs used in crop production, and thereby reduce or even fully offset the potential positive impact of Water savings on farm incomes in our research area.
Lanlan Li - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.
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integrated Water resources management and Water Users Associations in the arid region of northwest china a case study of farmers perceptions
Journal of Environmental Management, 2014Co-Authors: Xiaojun Hu, Youcai Xiong, Yongjin Li, Jianxin Wang, Fengmin Li, Haiyang Wang, Lanlan LiAbstract:Abstract Water scarcity is a critical policy issue in the arid regions of northwest China. The local government has widely adopted integrated Water resources management (IWRM), but lacks support from farmers and farm communities. We undertook a case study in the Minqin oasis of northwest China to examine farmers' responses to IWRM and understand why farmer Water Users' Associations (WUAs) are not functioning effectively at the community level. Results of quantitative and qualitative surveys of 392 farmers in 27 administrative villages showed that over 70% of farmers disapprove of the IWRM market-based reforms. In particular, the failure of farmer WUAs can be attributed to overlapping organizational structures between the WUAs and the villagers' committees; mismatches between the organizational scale of the WUAs and practical irrigation management by the farmers themselves; marginalization of rural women in Water decision-making processes; and the inflexibility of IWRM implementation. An important policy implication from this study is that rebuilding farmer WUAs is key to overcoming the difficulties of IWRM. The current Water governance structure, which is dominated by administrative systems, must be thoroughly reviewed to break the vicious cycle of tension and distrust between farmers and the government.
Kahramon Jumaboev - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.
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Water user groups in central asia emerging form of collective action in irrigation Water management
Water Resources Management, 2010Co-Authors: Iskandar Abdullaev, Jusipbek S Kazbekov, Herath Manthritilake, Kahramon JumaboevAbstract:This paper examines the recent emerging informal Water Users Groups (WUGs) on the Ferghana Valley for managing of the Water at the former collective farm level and potential for strengthening of the weak Water Users Associations (WUAs) through replication of WUGs formation. Due to the collapse of the Soviet Union, Central Asian states have introduced reforms in different sectors including the Water resources sectors. As a part of the Water resources management reforms, Water Users Associations (WUAs) formation has implemented to manage Water resources infrastructure and Water distribution. WUGs have been emerging because WUAs have not been very efficient and effective due to their top-down implementation approach. In future, WUGs are very effective institutional mechanism of Water resources management, and a useful support instrument to WUAs.
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improved Water management through effective Water Users Associations in central asia case of kyrgyzstan
IWMI Research Reports, 2007Co-Authors: Jusipbek S Kazbekov, Iskandar Abdullaev, Oyture Anarbekov, Kahramon JumaboevAbstract:Continuous institutional changes in the rural sector in Central Asia have negatively affected the reforms and the development of other related sectors, e.g. the irrigation sector. Therefore, reforms in the irrigation sector have been carried out in an ever changing and uncertain environment. Institutional changes have so far been aimed the farm level that was formerly managed by collective and state farms. Replacement of relatively few collective farms by thousands of individual farming units has resulted in chaos and anarchy in Water management at on farm level. Water Users Associations (WUAs) were introduced in Kyrgyzstan to better organize farm level Water management. The key questions concerning WUAs in Kyrgyzstan at present are: Do they provide better service for farmers in delivering Water? Do irrigation services result in good crop yields? Are they financially viable? In order to answer these questions, the irrigation performance of four WUAs located within one main canal area in Osh province of Kyrgyzstan were assessed for the period 2003-2005. The analysis indicates that in spite of intense international support, WUAs in the study area were performing relatively poorly on irrigation service provision. However, there are signs of improvement, such as increasing Water productivity, reduced Water use and improved financial sustainability. The Kyrgyz experience on transformation of on-farm level Water management from collective farms to WUAs can provide good examples for neighboring countries, e.g. Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, where agricultural restructuring has only started recently.
