15.3 Agricultural Water Resources Management Framework
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implementing water-related legislation and policies, formulating strategic plans for
district irrigation over the medium and long term, as well as annually. It is also
involved in managing water resources and drafting and implementing water supply
and demand plans, water resources allocation plans and annual water use, as well
as operating and maintaining water resources infrastructures. Other tasks involve
mediating water conflicts and cases entitled by the water administrative department,
collecting water-related fees, guiding WUA development, and being responsible for
drought-resistance, flood control, and drainage works.
Thus, the bureau is a combination of the governmental administrative agency
and service provider, both affording public services to manage water resources and
private or market-based services to supply water in the district.
WUA
Since the introduction of WUAs to China in the mid-1990s, the concept has developed
rapidly and been promoted. Normally, a WUA in China has responsibility for the
operation, management, and water supply of irrigation infrastructure in the jurisdiction, collecting water tariffs from water users on behalf of water suppliers (irrigation
district), as well as providing technologies related to water resources management
and irrigation to water users. Generally, a WUA is set up at the level of the village or
the end-user of a canal. About 78,000 WUAs have been set up in China, managing
an overall irrigation area of 16 million ha (Chen 2012).
So, within the system of WAD, two types of agencies, one for water resources
management and the other for water services provision, can be clearly defined
covering agricultural water resources management activities from a national level
down to individual water users.
15.3.1.2 Agricultural Administrative Department
Ministry of Agriculture (and Rural Affairs)
The Ministry of Agriculture is the agricultural administrative department of the
State Council. In terms of agricultural water resources management, its functions
include drafting and implementing agricultural and rural economic development
policies, strategies, and medium and long-term plans; improving rural operational
and management institutions, guiding the management of rural land contracts and the
transfer of usage rights to cultivated land, alleviating farmers’ burdens, and encouraging the development of agricultural services. It also oversees farmers’ professional cooperatives and agricultural product associations, guides production of key
agricultural products such as grain, is responsible for agricultural disaster-relief,
monitors agricultural disasters and oversees recovery works, formulates agricultural technology promotion plans and policies, and applies engineering, agricultural,
313
implementing water-related legislation and policies, formulating strategic plans for
district irrigation over the medium and long term, as well as annually. It is also
involved in managing water resources and drafting and implementing water supply
and demand plans, water resources allocation plans and annual water use, as well
as operating and maintaining water resources infrastructures. Other tasks involve
mediating water conflicts and cases entitled by the water administrative department,
collecting water-related fees, guiding WUA development, and being responsible for
drought-resistance, flood control, and drainage works.
Thus, the bureau is a combination of the governmental administrative agency
and service provider, both affording public services to manage water resources and
private or market-based services to supply water in the district.
WUA
Since the introduction of WUAs to China in the mid-1990s, the concept has developed
rapidly and been promoted. Normally, a WUA in China has responsibility for the
operation, management, and water supply of irrigation infrastructure in the jurisdiction, collecting water tariffs from water users on behalf of water suppliers (irrigation
district), as well as providing technologies related to water resources management
and irrigation to water users. Generally, a WUA is set up at the level of the village or
the end-user of a canal. About 78,000 WUAs have been set up in China, managing
an overall irrigation area of 16 million ha (Chen 2012).
So, within the system of WAD, two types of agencies, one for water resources
management and the other for water services provision, can be clearly defined
covering agricultural water resources management activities from a national level
down to individual water users.
15.3.1.2 Agricultural Administrative Department
Ministry of Agriculture (and Rural Affairs)
The Ministry of Agriculture is the agricultural administrative department of the
State Council. In terms of agricultural water resources management, its functions
include drafting and implementing agricultural and rural economic development
policies, strategies, and medium and long-term plans; improving rural operational
and management institutions, guiding the management of rural land contracts and the
transfer of usage rights to cultivated land, alleviating farmers’ burdens, and encouraging the development of agricultural services. It also oversees farmers’ professional cooperatives and agricultural product associations, guides production of key
agricultural products such as grain, is responsible for agricultural disaster-relief,
monitors agricultural disasters and oversees recovery works, formulates agricultural technology promotion plans and policies, and applies engineering, agricultural,