The main focus in id21 natural resource Highlights 6 is water. Five relevant research articles are presented that focus on various issues related to water resources.
1. Increasing the productivity of irrigation systems in China
- This research carried out by IWMI, Sri Lanka and partners examines how water used for rice irrigation is managed in two sites in China - the Yellow River basin and Yangtze River, and assesses various water-saving strategies on farms to understand if and how water is saved.
- The author finds that policies and strategies for changing water use and management must aim to align the objectives and incentives for different groups.
2. Is improving rural water supply a question of finance?
- This paper argues that in order to assist in providing access to safe drinking water in many parts of rural Africa financing needs to be improved.
- Research from the University of Loughborough investigates various financial aspects of water provision and presents a systematic approach to determining service delivery costs.
- The research suggests a comprehensive assessment of maintenance, repair and rehabilitation costs for different water system technologies.
3. Integrated water resource management in Nigeria
- This research paper from the University of Uyo, in Nigeria, examines irrigation schemes using the integrated water resource management (IWRM) approach, focusing on irrigation projects in the Cross River Basin.
- The paper discusses the failures of The Cross River Basin Development Authority (CRBDA) in aiming to improve farming systems and increase food supply.
4. Making watershed services fair in the Caribbean
- This article looks at how policymakers want to charge for the services watersheds provide, including water, to generate funds for management to improve watersheds in the Caribbean.
- This research carried out by the Caribbean Natural Resources Institute (CANARI), shows that ‘Payment for Water Services’ (PWS) systems is difficult to implement in Caribbean islands.
5. A new era for water governance in Kenya?
- The Kenyan government recognising that effective governance is essential for national water management established a Water Services Regulatory Board to issue licenses to water providers, determine standards of service, among others tasks. But are the reforms working?
- Research from the University of Westminster, UK, evaluates Kenya’s water governance framework.
