Regional partnerships to assist public–private investments in irrigation systems

Abstract

Public-private partnerships have been implemented throughout the world since the 1970s with mixed results. This is mainly due to the lack of long run commitments from governments and other parties involved, lack of scientific understanding regarding clear short term and long-term potential biophysical and socio-economic, policy and legal consequences, and lack of trust between the partners. We present a Regional Irrigation Business Partnership (RIBP) model, which is capable of efficiently utilising research output and government policies for sustainable public-private irrigation planning and investment. Unlike other public-private partnership models, the RIBP is based on robust assessment of biophysical, hydrologic, socio-economic, political and legal aspects of water management. The RIBP model provides a crucial link between research and infrastructure investments while minimising short-term and long-term risks. The business investment framework involves iterative feedback from research and policy for identifying markets, defining products and establishing a legislatively and institutionally acceptable route to market as part of the feasibility assessment process. The RIBP model is based on the principle that sharing risks, rewards, and responsibilities coupled with sufficient investment incentives will motivate actors in water management to invest in irrigation infrastructure that saves water and generates better outcomes for the environment. We describe application of the RIBP model in the Coleambally Irrigation Area in New South Wales, Australia.

Investing in recovering water for the environment in Australia's Murray-Darling Basin

“…Cost-benefit analysis that incorporates social and environmental values is becoming increasingly common, for example in the selection of investment alternatives in projects funded by international development banks and donors. A robust assessment of market and non-market social and environmental benefits and costs may catalyze renewed investment interest (Khan & Mushtaq, 2009). After all, recovering water for the environment in a way that maximizes both regional and national welfare is the central goal of the MDB Plan.…”

Gestionar desde la territorialidad: ¿cómo integrar la multifuncionalidad y la participación social en la legitimación del regadío?

“…Cabe resaltar aquí como el aumento de la población y los cambios dietéticos que pronostican las organizaciones internacionales en materia de alimentación son los principales argumentos a favor del incremento de la producción agrícola de aquí al 2050. Ante perspectiva tal y de forma simplificada, la comunidad científica apuesta por tres acciones: intensificar la productividad agrícola; aumentar la superficie cultivable y/o incrementar la temporalidad del cultivo (cosechas/año) (Khan y Mushtaq, 2009). …”

Using PhotoStory to capture irrigators' emotions about water policy and sustainable development objectives: A case study in rural Australia

“…Export of produce is also an important market with 80 percent of rice destined for overseas countries. The gross value of production from irrigated crops in CIA is estimated to be more than AU$120 million per year measured at the farm gate (Khan & Mushtaq, 2009). However, series of droughts accompanied by some bad policy decisions made by the government(s) have jeopardized the community.…”