15.7 Summary
339
grain production and self-supply, but on the other hand, it provides more resources
and spaces for agricultural development. Both conditions encourage the improvement
and reform of agricultural water resources management.
Agricultural water resources management is a local issue, representing domestic
natural, economic, and social circumstances. Even under a unified and centralized
system in China, management practices vary from one place to another. Issues arising
from water use for agriculture in the various provinces of northern and southern
China; or in the upstream and downstream areas of river basins, are all different.
Therefore, agricultural water resources managers need to fully consider the natural
resources and economic and social issues unique to a particular place in order to
design a targeted policy.
Both structural instruments and non-structural instruments are required. Nonstructural instruments should focus more on improving water-use and management
efficiency, while new infrastructure could provide more water sources for development. In China, both measures are conducted to guarantee and increase agricultural
water supply and improve the efficiency of both water use and management.
An effective management institution is essential. An institution with clear responsibility and adequate resources (including human resources) can provide the fundamental basis for sustainable agricultural water resources management. In China,
management practices related to the water sector have struggled with institutional
reform from the highest levels of governance down to field-level development. Based
on the small-scale characteristic of farming in China, some governmental failures
are unavoidable in the field. Due to the complex integration of agriculture in society
and the economy, full market operation is impossible, too. Thus, only after China
introduces WUAs and promotes meaningful reform, can an effective management
institution be developed. In order to sustainably operate the institution, China will
face a challenging task of disentangling public and private financing and pricing. But
the development of WUAs in irrigation demonstrates their potential role in improving
the efficiency and effectiveness of agricultural water resources management.
Public resources and inputs are the engine to drive agricultural water resources
management. Due to the high public-interest and low economic yield of agriculture,
public inputs play a key role to push agricultural water resources management activities. In China, the fluctuation of agricultural water use and grain yield from 1990
onwards are all the results of public input changes, such as the cancelation of farmer
labor input in 2000, and the continuous increase of public investment after 2005.
A flexible mechanism is key to guaranteeing sustainable development of agricultural water resources management. Since 1990, China has implemented a series
of reforms in agricultural water resources management, including water pricing
and water rights. The target and pathway of these reforms are clear: they are
market-oriented. But the flexibility of pricing and rights mechanisms and an open
policy system are essential to realize a market-based agricultural water resources
management system.
Clearly defining the boundaries of both the public agency and private users
improves efficiency. Given the public-interest of agricultural water resources
management, it is still necessary to define the management boundaries of different
339
grain production and self-supply, but on the other hand, it provides more resources
and spaces for agricultural development. Both conditions encourage the improvement
and reform of agricultural water resources management.
Agricultural water resources management is a local issue, representing domestic
natural, economic, and social circumstances. Even under a unified and centralized
system in China, management practices vary from one place to another. Issues arising
from water use for agriculture in the various provinces of northern and southern
China; or in the upstream and downstream areas of river basins, are all different.
Therefore, agricultural water resources managers need to fully consider the natural
resources and economic and social issues unique to a particular place in order to
design a targeted policy.
Both structural instruments and non-structural instruments are required. Nonstructural instruments should focus more on improving water-use and management
efficiency, while new infrastructure could provide more water sources for development. In China, both measures are conducted to guarantee and increase agricultural
water supply and improve the efficiency of both water use and management.
An effective management institution is essential. An institution with clear responsibility and adequate resources (including human resources) can provide the fundamental basis for sustainable agricultural water resources management. In China,
management practices related to the water sector have struggled with institutional
reform from the highest levels of governance down to field-level development. Based
on the small-scale characteristic of farming in China, some governmental failures
are unavoidable in the field. Due to the complex integration of agriculture in society
and the economy, full market operation is impossible, too. Thus, only after China
introduces WUAs and promotes meaningful reform, can an effective management
institution be developed. In order to sustainably operate the institution, China will
face a challenging task of disentangling public and private financing and pricing. But
the development of WUAs in irrigation demonstrates their potential role in improving
the efficiency and effectiveness of agricultural water resources management.
Public resources and inputs are the engine to drive agricultural water resources
management. Due to the high public-interest and low economic yield of agriculture,
public inputs play a key role to push agricultural water resources management activities. In China, the fluctuation of agricultural water use and grain yield from 1990
onwards are all the results of public input changes, such as the cancelation of farmer
labor input in 2000, and the continuous increase of public investment after 2005.
A flexible mechanism is key to guaranteeing sustainable development of agricultural water resources management. Since 1990, China has implemented a series
of reforms in agricultural water resources management, including water pricing
and water rights. The target and pathway of these reforms are clear: they are
market-oriented. But the flexibility of pricing and rights mechanisms and an open
policy system are essential to realize a market-based agricultural water resources
management system.
Clearly defining the boundaries of both the public agency and private users
improves efficiency. Given the public-interest of agricultural water resources
management, it is still necessary to define the management boundaries of different