Readings

Pillar of Sand: Can the Irrigation Miracle Last? Chap. 9, Thinking Big About Small- Scale Irrigation, pp.201-227 and Chap. 10. The Players and the Rules, pp.228-253, Sandra Postel. (1999).

A New Era for Irrigation, Chap. 6. Future Directions, pp. 169-180, National Research Council (1996).

Crops and Drops, Making the best use of water for agriculture, FAO, 2002. Access at: www.fao.org/DOCREP/005/Y3918E/Y3918E00.HTM. (22 pages).http://www.fao.org/DOCREP/005/Y3918E/Y3918E00.HTM.

Key Questions

Pillar of Sand: Can the Irrigation Miracle Last

How does the author link small-scale irrigation development and enhancement of food security?
What are the important factors that influence adoption of technology by poor farmers?
What factors contributed to the success of the treadle pump?
What factors impede adoption of treadle pump technology by farmers?
What are the barriers for development of large irrigation projects in Africa?
Do traditional systems of irrigation matter in the present day context?
Can there by a confluence of traditional irrigation / rain water harvesting methods and modern technology?
What is an important non-technological factor in relation to the success of the traditional irrigation or water harvesting practices?
What problems plague large scale irrigation projects?
Why would it be difficult to price surface irrigation water in developing countries?
How can a farmer in the U.S. make use of the water market?
What is the major trend in managing irrigation projects in developing countries?
What is the outline of the author’s plan for ground water management?

A New Era for Irrigation

What factors influence the future of irrigation in the U.S.?
How will these affect the American farmer?
What major change in the farming structure is expected because of these factors?
What major shifts in irrigation related public policy is expected?
How is the term “irrigation” redefined to suit the present day context?
What ideas do the authors put forward to manage irrigation demand in urban areas?
What are the driving forces for modern irrigation technology innovation and adoption?
What factors constrain adoption of these technologies? How can these be overcome?
Why is irrigation management at watershed levels important?

Crops and Drops, Making the Best Use of Water for Agriculture

How much of the water withdrawn for agriculture, domestic and industrial purposes is actually consumed?
What are the criteria used for identifying water stressed countries?
What is the reason for the drying up of the several large rivers (e.g., Yellow River of China) before they reach the sea?
What is the current irrigation efficiency of the world?
What is the trend of natural disaster occurrence in the world with reference to time?
What type of natural disaster has affected the maximum people and caused the maximum loss in recent years?
What are the major reasons for increased flooding?
What strategies will help in meeting the future world food demand?
How much do rainfed and irrigation agriculture contribute to world food production?
The expected increase in water withdrawal for agriculture in 2030 is low compared to the expected increase in irrigated area. Why?
What are the key factors in maximizing agricultural output per unit of water?
What are the key issues to be borne in mind when involving people in water management?
What are the key policies required for increasing water productivity?

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