Impacts of irrigation management transfer : a review of the evidence

This report synthesizes the most significant evidence from 29 studies about the impacts of such management transfer on the financial viability of irrigation systems, the quality of irrigation operations and maintenance, the physical sustainability of irrigation infrastructure, agricultural and economic productivity, and the environment. More evidence is available on operational and financial performance, less on effects of management transfer on maintenance and economic performance of irrigated agriculture. On balance, most sources report positive results, especially in operations and finance, although farmers" irrigation costs often rise while government irrigation expenditures decrease. Agricultural and economic performance tend not to change much with transfer. No clear analytical paradigm to inform policymaking has emerged. Many writers show a bias in favor of transfer programs, apparently on philosophical grounds. More systematic research methods need to be applied with enough commonality to permit conclusions about impacts and to specify conditions under which transfer programs could be expected to succeed or not. The International Irrigation Management Institute and other organizations are engaged in this task. The report recommends 12 principles that should guide future research on the impacts of this important reform and concludes by identifying the essential conditions that should prevail for management transfer programs to succeed: (1) a clearly recognized and sustainable water right and water service; (2) infrastructure that is compatible with the water service and local management capacities; (3) well-specified management functions and assignment of authority; (4) effective accountability and incentives for management; (5) arrangements for viable and timely conflict resolution; and (6) adequate resources that can be mobilized for irrigation management. Includes bibliography. (Author abstract, modified)