TY - JOUR
T1 - Volumetric water control in a large-scale open canal irrigation system with many smallholders: The case of Chancay-Lambayeque in Peru
AU - Vos, J.M.C.
AU - Vincent, L.F.
PY - 2011
Y1 - 2011
N2 - Volumetric water control (VWC) is widely seen as a means to increase productivity through flexible scheduling and user incentives to apply just enough water. However, the technical and social requirements for VWC are poorly understood. Also, many experts assert that VWC in large-scale open canals with many smallholders is not feasible. This article debates the practice of VWC, drawing on field studies in the arid North Coast of Peru. Here the large-scale Chancay-Lambayeque irrigation system achieved high allocation, distribution and financial performance with on demand delivery to some 22,000 smallholdings, under a VWC approach, with full cost recovery for operation and maintenance. This study shows there are options to promote VWC if its different elements – volumetric allocation, distribution, metering and pricing – are planned together
AB - Volumetric water control (VWC) is widely seen as a means to increase productivity through flexible scheduling and user incentives to apply just enough water. However, the technical and social requirements for VWC are poorly understood. Also, many experts assert that VWC in large-scale open canals with many smallholders is not feasible. This article debates the practice of VWC, drawing on field studies in the arid North Coast of Peru. Here the large-scale Chancay-Lambayeque irrigation system achieved high allocation, distribution and financial performance with on demand delivery to some 22,000 smallholdings, under a VWC approach, with full cost recovery for operation and maintenance. This study shows there are options to promote VWC if its different elements – volumetric allocation, distribution, metering and pricing – are planned together
KW - technology
U2 - 10.1016/j.agwat.2010.11.008
DO - 10.1016/j.agwat.2010.11.008
M3 - Article
SN - 0378-3774
VL - 98
SP - 705
EP - 714
JO - Agricultural Water Management
JF - Agricultural Water Management
IS - 4
ER -