Economic value of irrigation water the Red river basin: A case study in Cau Son irrigation system

Abstract

The water value of rice irrigation is lower about 1.8 times than that of cash crops. In addition, though the household’s farming size remained, the water value of Spring crop with often water shortage occurred, was higher than that of Summer crop with a factor of 1.4. Several solutions are recommended: (i) changing the household's cropping structure toward increased crop area producing high value and using less water; (ii) applying advanced rice cultivation practices with saving-water irrigation, and improving water management including water reuse; (iii) applying water prices to increase water use efficiency in irrigation with adaptation to climate change.