Implications of environment and institutions for water.pdfVIP

Implications of environment and institutions for water productivity and water savings: lessons from two research sites in China 1 2 3 1 4 D. Molden , Dong Bin , R. Loeve , R. Barker and T.P. Tuong Abstract This paper is based on research conducted at two irrigation systems in China situated in strikingly different environments. The Zhanghe Irrigation System (ZIS) is located just north of the Yangtze River approximately 200 km west of Wuhan. The Liuyuankou Irrigation System (LIS) lies south of the Yellow River, just to the east of Kaifeng City. ZIS is situated in hilly terrain with clay loam soil and relatively abundant water resources but increasing competition for water for other uses. LIS is situated in flat terrain with loam soil and good groundwater resources in the physically water-scarce Yellow River Basin. What can be learned by contrasting these cases? The lessons about water productivity and savings form part of a changing trend in thinking about irrigation that considers the analysis of scales, multiple uses, and practices of irrigation in the context of water scarcity. The paper presents institutional and management arrangements and contrasts water management strategies at farm, system and sub-basin level and shows how these have led to water savings and increases in water productivity. In the water-rich environment of ZIS, farm and canal management of water is much more precise than in the water-scarce environment of LIS. Yet both systems are close to their water-saving potential. Both systems have experienced remarkable increases in irrigation water productivity over