Of course, any country has a network of infrastructure services: electricity and
water, to name just two of them. If each network form a “system”, then it should be
easy to understand how any National Infrastructure is a system of-systems of
infrastructures. These systems are integral to the proper functioning of modern
economies, but also face a number of serious challenges. This is further developed
in Chap. 6.
1.2 Examples of Infrastructure
By and large, infrastructure can be classified into several main categories (see
Table 1.1) which are discussed below. Fig. 1.1 shows a pictorial view of infrastructure assets.
1.2.1 Agriculture
Agriculture provides the means to produce food, as a basic requirement for life. Man
has learnt to cultivate the necessary plants, with or without irrigation, depending on
the circumstances. In many countries, it is not possible to cultivate crops successfully
without irrigation.
A cash crop or profit crop is grown for sale and is typically purchased by parties
distinct from an or not owning farm.
Sometimes a fast-growing crop (catch crop) is planted between rows of a main
crop. Thus, potatoes which take 70–120 days, tomatoes (75–90 days), beans
(45–60 days), radishes (25–30 days), to mature, can be grown between rows of
sugar cane and harvested before the main crop (sugar cane) matures. This practice
allows more efficient use of land.
Without irrigation, the average yield per hectare can be very low, while irrigation
facilities can considerably increase the yield per hectare. This can contribute significantly to the national economy and to the country’s food security. However,
irrigation expansion can place a greater demand on surface and ground water
resources, at the expense of other sectors such as the industrial and the domestic
supply.
An important side issue might be to ask what if the irrigation system does not pay
for itself by the extra yields obtained with irrigation.
Sometimes, subsidizing water and electricity for irrigation for political reasons,
may lead to wasteful use, rather than more optimal practices. It is almost a truism that
all planters (farmers) would like to get irrigation water for free. Most irrigation
departments, have limited revenues and budgetary support, and therefore find it
difficult to operate and maintain the efficiency of irrigation systems, thereby leading
to further temporal deterioration of the ageing structures and systems.
4
1 Introduction to Infrastructure
water, to name just two of them. If each network form a “system”, then it should be
easy to understand how any National Infrastructure is a system of-systems of
infrastructures. These systems are integral to the proper functioning of modern
economies, but also face a number of serious challenges. This is further developed
in Chap. 6.
1.2 Examples of Infrastructure
By and large, infrastructure can be classified into several main categories (see
Table 1.1) which are discussed below. Fig. 1.1 shows a pictorial view of infrastructure assets.
1.2.1 Agriculture
Agriculture provides the means to produce food, as a basic requirement for life. Man
has learnt to cultivate the necessary plants, with or without irrigation, depending on
the circumstances. In many countries, it is not possible to cultivate crops successfully
without irrigation.
A cash crop or profit crop is grown for sale and is typically purchased by parties
distinct from an or not owning farm.
Sometimes a fast-growing crop (catch crop) is planted between rows of a main
crop. Thus, potatoes which take 70–120 days, tomatoes (75–90 days), beans
(45–60 days), radishes (25–30 days), to mature, can be grown between rows of
sugar cane and harvested before the main crop (sugar cane) matures. This practice
allows more efficient use of land.
Without irrigation, the average yield per hectare can be very low, while irrigation
facilities can considerably increase the yield per hectare. This can contribute significantly to the national economy and to the country’s food security. However,
irrigation expansion can place a greater demand on surface and ground water
resources, at the expense of other sectors such as the industrial and the domestic
supply.
An important side issue might be to ask what if the irrigation system does not pay
for itself by the extra yields obtained with irrigation.
Sometimes, subsidizing water and electricity for irrigation for political reasons,
may lead to wasteful use, rather than more optimal practices. It is almost a truism that
all planters (farmers) would like to get irrigation water for free. Most irrigation
departments, have limited revenues and budgetary support, and therefore find it
difficult to operate and maintain the efficiency of irrigation systems, thereby leading
to further temporal deterioration of the ageing structures and systems.
4
1 Introduction to Infrastructure