scholarly journals Smallholder willingness to pay and preferences in the way irrigation water should be managed: a choice experiment application in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa

Water SA ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 45 (3 July) ◽  
Author(s):  
U Chipfupa ◽  
E Wale
Keyword(s):  
Water Resources ◽  
Willingness To Pay ◽  
Irrigation Water ◽  
Choice Experiment ◽  
Smallholder Farmers ◽  
Water Pricing ◽  
Sustainable Utilization ◽  
Irrigation Intensity ◽  
Kwazulu Natal ◽  
The Way

Efficient and sustainable utilization of irrigation water is the key to realizing the objective of enhancing agricultural productivity and commercializing smallholder irrigation farming. Valuing and recognizing the scarcity of irrigation water is essential for its sustainable use. Using cross-sectional data from 328 smallholders in and around Makhathini and Ndumo-B irrigation schemes in KwaZulu-Natal Province, the study aimed to assess smallholder farmers’ preferences for the way irrigation water resources should be managed and their willingness to pay for irrigation water. This was done employing a choice experiment method. The results suggest the need for irrigation water pricing to reflect irrigation intensity. They also show that improving agricultural production and productivity, with market access can enhance farmers’ willingness and ability to pay for irrigation water. The need to consider multiple uses of irrigation water for sustainable utilization of water resources is evident, while supporting women smallholders will have a positive impact on their willingness to pay for irrigation water. The paper recommends a shift towards on-farm volumetric water pricing in the irrigation schemes. The schemes should also have clearly defined boundaries and enforceable rules on collective use of water. The design of irrigation infrastructure should integrate other uses of irrigation water such as domestic and livestock purposes. Consequently, there is a need for further research to ensure that irrigation water prices reflect the marginal value of irrigation water use. Policies should address factors that inherently result in gender differences in terms of access to productive resources which negatively affect sustainable water utilization.

Smallholder farmers’ willingness to pay for irrigation water: Insights from Eritrea

2019 ◽  
Vol 222 ◽  
pp. 30-37 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tesfai T. Kidane ◽  
Si Wei ◽  
Kibrom T. Sibhatu
Keyword(s):  
Willingness To Pay ◽  
Irrigation Water ◽  
Smallholder Farmers

Valuation of Access to Irrigation Water in Rural Ethiopia: Application of Choice Experiment and Contingent Valuation Methods

2019 ◽  
Vol 06 (01) ◽  
pp. 1950007
Author(s):  
Alemu Mekonnen ◽  
Zenebe Gebreegziabher ◽  
Abebe D. Beyene ◽  
Fitsum Hagos
Keyword(s):  
Contingent Valuation ◽  
Irrigation Water ◽  
Choice Experiment ◽  
Smallholder Farmers ◽  
Valuation Methods ◽  
Rural Ethiopia ◽  
Irrigation Water Use ◽  
Crop Type ◽  
Baseline Status ◽  
Contingent Valuation Methods

Smallholder farmers in Africa rely heavily on rainfed agriculture. Those who have access to irrigation often receive it at no charge, but quantity, frequency and reliability may be limited without adequate revenue for maintenance and operation. Moreover, the absence of fees means that there are no pricing signals to encourage conservation of this scarce resource. In a situation where farmers do not pay for irrigation water use, this study investigates demand-side issues by eliciting farmers’ willingness to pay (WTP) for access to irrigation water. This study employs choice experiment (CE) and contingent valuation methods (CVMs) to value access to irrigation water, taking Ethiopia as a case in point. Unlike previous studies, this study covers current users and non-users of irrigation water using the same baseline (status quo) conditions — no irrigation — and compares the preferences of these two groups. The four attributes identified in the CE are number of crop seasons, frequency of watering in a season, crop type, and payment level. Results show that marginal WTP was Birr 17.7 (US$ 0.98), 261.8 (US$ 14.54) and 87.6 (US$ 4.87) for number of crop seasons, watering frequency in a season and crop type, respectively. Our estimates of farmers’ WTP for operation and maintenance of irrigation schemes per hectare of irrigated land range from Birr 738 (US$ 41.00) (from the CE) to Birr 784 (US$ 43.56) (from the CVM). We also find that, compared to current users, non-users were willing to pay more in general, as well as for the number of crop seasons specifically.

scholarly journals Determinants of Smallholder Farmers’ Willingness to Pay for Irrigation Water in Kerio Valley Basin, Kenya

2017 ◽  
Vol 10 (2) ◽  
pp. 135 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jonah Kiprop ◽  
Kelvin Mulungu ◽  
Noah Kibet ◽  
Antony Macharia
Keyword(s):  
Willingness To Pay ◽  
Irrigation Water ◽  
Smallholder Farmers ◽  
Irrigation System ◽  
Poor Performance ◽  
Water Source ◽  
Farmer Participation ◽  
Irrigation Scheme ◽  
Water Users ◽  
Sustainable Water Resources Management

Food security is the major outcome of irrigation development activities. However, this cannot be achieved without sustainable water resources management. With the increasing budgetary constraints in many developing countries, governments have recognized the need to delegate irrigation scheme management to Irrigation Water Users’ Associations (IWUA’s) as much as possible. Despite the majority of these associations being operational, the major challenge has been poor performance due to inadequate farmer participation. This study examines the factors which influence farmers’ willingness to pay for irrigation water in a smallholder irrigation scheme in Kerio Valley Basin, Kenya. Using a multi-stage sampling method, a representative sample of 216 smallholder farmers from the Basin were interviewed. Results show that education level, access to training on irrigation, participation in construction of the irrigation system, crop income from irrigation and membership in IWUA significantly and positively influence farmers’ decisions to pay for irrigation water. Distance to the water source reduces the willingness to pay for irrigation water. Differential pricing based on income levels of farmers, rather than uniform pricing is recommended. We further recommend formulation of policies to train farmers in water management and to support farmer participation in IWUA’s.

scholarly journals Irrigation water pricing policies and water resources management

Water Policy ◽  
2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Fakeha Parween ◽  
Pratibha Kumari ◽  
Ajai Singh
Keyword(s):  
Water Resources ◽  
Water Resources Management ◽  
Irrigation Water ◽  
Rural Areas ◽  
Water Conservation ◽  
Water Pricing ◽  
Resources Management ◽  
Revenue Collection ◽  
Sustainable Water Resources Management ◽  
Irrigation Water Pricing

Abstract As water is a state subject in India, an enormous variation of irrigation water pricing across the states is noticed. Revenue collection under irrigation water charges of the states is not encouraging. The present paper reviews the structures of water pricing mechanism in different states of India and suggests a way to achieve sustainable water resources management in India. Various reports, water policy documents, and major recommendations of the irrigation commission were reviewed and analyzed. It was observed that low revenue collection is mainly due to the low rate of water taxes, no periodic revision, and flaws in the current revenue collection mechanism across the states. The water regulatory authority should be made a statutory body to manage various water uses and their fair pricing. A volumetric pricing system can be implemented in wells and tube-well-irrigated areas and for surface irrigation, and this requires considerable investment in irrigation water supply infrastructure and development of operational plans. Until a well-developed volumetric system comes into practice, the current system of revenue assessment and collection must be rationalized and simplified. An appropriate power tariff policy for rural areas and inclusion of the irrigation sector in a ground water conservation fee is required.

Exploring the scope for transboundary collaboration in the Blue Nile river basin: downstream willingness to pay for upstream land use changes to improve irrigation water supply

2015 ◽  
Vol 21 (2) ◽  
pp. 180-204 ◽  
Author(s):  
Abonesh Tesfaye ◽  
Roy Brouwer
Keyword(s):  
Willingness To Pay ◽  
Water Supply ◽  
Irrigation Water ◽  
Soil Conservation ◽  
Choice Experiment ◽  
Land Use Changes ◽  
Use Efficiency ◽  
Blue Nile River Basin ◽  
High Degree ◽  
Soil Conservation Measures

AbstractIn this study we model the preferences and willingness to pay (WTP) of downstream farmers in one of the largest irrigation schemes worldwide in Sudan for improved irrigation water supply through transboundary collaboration with farmers upstream in Ethiopia. In a choice experiment, Sudanese farmers are asked to pay an increase in existing irrigation fees to secure future irrigation water availability by either enhancing the removal of sediments in their local irrigation channels or compensating farmers in the Ethiopian highlands for taking soil conservation measures to prevent land degradation and soil erosion. Although Sudanese farmers downstream do not feel very connected to farmers upstream in Ethiopia, we find a high degree of trust in international cooperation and a positive WTP for improved irrigation water supply and water use efficiency through transboundary collaboration.

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