320
15 Agricultural Water Management in Northern China
thus guarantees their revenues. Both of these changes provide a basis for the sustainable operation and management of agencies. Additionally, through internal restructuring, the reform builds the capacity for agricultural water resources management
organization, reduces water tariff levels, and increases the efficiency of infrastructure. At the same time, sustainable financial support and successful water pricing
reform have become critical to guaranteeing the success of the changes.
15.4.1.2 WUA
Another institutional reform the promotion of the development of WUA in the
country. In 2005, the MWR, the NDRC, and the Ministry of Civil Affairs issued
“Opinions on Strengthening Farmer’s WUA Development,” to promote WUAs
nationwide, based on the experiences of pilot programs.
The reform aimed to strengthen, foster and support WUA development and to
solve problems in rural water resources management, including absence in village
level, unclear responsibilities, rights and duties, and the inefficiency and ineffectiveness of many organizations. Based on collective action, the reform promoted the
self-management and improvement of rural water infrastructure, better water saving,
and the increased comprehensive ability and income of farmers.
At the same time, the document required the government to decentralize and
bestow partial or full rights and responsibility for rural water resources project
management to water users.
The development of WUAs enables the self-regulation of agricultural water
resources management. it is aimed at solving grass-roots problems such as fieldlevel water-use management, field-level irrigation infrastructure maintenance and
operations, and water tariff collection. Before the reform, these field-level activities
were the responsibility of the irrigation management bureaus, but these bureaus had
no capacity to cover and operate at such a local level; therefore, field-level water
infrastructure became a “last 1 km” problem in China.
The development of WUAs has improved the relationship between water supplier
and water user, improved field-level project management and maintenance, improved
field-level irrigation and drainage services, promoted water saving, increased
the water tariff collection rate, decreased farmer irrational burdens, decreased
agricultural production costs, and increased farmers’ incomes.
The WUA concept is continuously promoted by the government. The 2015 State
No. 1 Document encourages the development of WUAs and to support them as the
main body involved in small-scale irrigation engineering construction, management,
and maintenance.
The Development of WUA in Hetao Irrigation District, Inner Mongolia
The Hetao Irrigation District locates at the northern bank of Yellow River, Inner
Mongolia. The district has an effective irrigation area of 574,000 ha.
15 Agricultural Water Management in Northern China
thus guarantees their revenues. Both of these changes provide a basis for the sustainable operation and management of agencies. Additionally, through internal restructuring, the reform builds the capacity for agricultural water resources management
organization, reduces water tariff levels, and increases the efficiency of infrastructure. At the same time, sustainable financial support and successful water pricing
reform have become critical to guaranteeing the success of the changes.
15.4.1.2 WUA
Another institutional reform the promotion of the development of WUA in the
country. In 2005, the MWR, the NDRC, and the Ministry of Civil Affairs issued
“Opinions on Strengthening Farmer’s WUA Development,” to promote WUAs
nationwide, based on the experiences of pilot programs.
The reform aimed to strengthen, foster and support WUA development and to
solve problems in rural water resources management, including absence in village
level, unclear responsibilities, rights and duties, and the inefficiency and ineffectiveness of many organizations. Based on collective action, the reform promoted the
self-management and improvement of rural water infrastructure, better water saving,
and the increased comprehensive ability and income of farmers.
At the same time, the document required the government to decentralize and
bestow partial or full rights and responsibility for rural water resources project
management to water users.
The development of WUAs enables the self-regulation of agricultural water
resources management. it is aimed at solving grass-roots problems such as fieldlevel water-use management, field-level irrigation infrastructure maintenance and
operations, and water tariff collection. Before the reform, these field-level activities
were the responsibility of the irrigation management bureaus, but these bureaus had
no capacity to cover and operate at such a local level; therefore, field-level water
infrastructure became a “last 1 km” problem in China.
The development of WUAs has improved the relationship between water supplier
and water user, improved field-level project management and maintenance, improved
field-level irrigation and drainage services, promoted water saving, increased
the water tariff collection rate, decreased farmer irrational burdens, decreased
agricultural production costs, and increased farmers’ incomes.
The WUA concept is continuously promoted by the government. The 2015 State
No. 1 Document encourages the development of WUAs and to support them as the
main body involved in small-scale irrigation engineering construction, management,
and maintenance.
The Development of WUA in Hetao Irrigation District, Inner Mongolia
The Hetao Irrigation District locates at the northern bank of Yellow River, Inner
Mongolia. The district has an effective irrigation area of 574,000 ha.