Exploring Farmers’ Willingness to Engage in Participatory Irrigation Infrastructure Programs: Evidence from a Water-Stressed Region
Publication: Journal of Construction Engineering and Management
Volume 150, Issue 6
Abstract
Climate change is increasingly exacerbating water shortages worldwide. Among the various repercussions of water scarcity, notably in developing countries, the most critical are the decline in social sustainability and the widening inequality within farming communities. In response, irrigation reforms aimed at establishing farmer-managed networks have been introduced to foster equitable water distribution and enhance the livelihood and food security of underprivileged farmers. However, these reforms have largely fallen short of achieving their social sustainability goals. A significant factor in this shortfall is the farmers’ limited capacity and reluctance to assume roles typically filled by bureaucracy under institutional reforms. This study explores farmers’ willingness to engage in a World Bank-assisted participatory irrigation infrastructure program. We utilized questionnaire surveys and hierarchical analysis to evaluate how various factors influence farmers’ willingness to participate. The findings indicate a multifaceted challenge that intensifies in communities fragmented by socioeconomic and political divides. Particularly, the predominance of large landowners in agricultural communities and the absence of sufficient bureaucratic support for participation are key impediments. Our research offers comprehensive insights into the regional sociopolitical obstacles obstructing farmer involvement in government-led participatory projects. It also guides policymakers in grasping the intricate interplay between program design, execution, and contextual elements, which is crucial for the sustainable development of resource-stressed areas.
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Data Availability Statement
Some or all data, models, or codes that support the findings of this study are available from the corresponding author upon reasonable request.
Acknowledgments
This material is based in part upon work supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China under Grant No. 72001160 and the Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities under Grant No. 22120230381. Any opinions, findings, and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this material are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of the funding agencies.
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Journal of Construction Engineering and Management
Volume 150 • Issue 6 • June 2024
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© 2024 American Society of Civil Engineers.
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Received: Jan 10, 2023
Accepted: Dec 8, 2023
Published online: Mar 23, 2024
Published in print: Jun 1, 2024
Discussion open until: Aug 23, 2024
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