IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/eee/agiwat/v241y2020ics0378377420308052.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Too big to handle, too important to abandon: Reforming Sudan’s Gezira scheme

Author

Listed:
  • Goelnitz, Anna
  • Al-Saidi, Mohammad

Abstract

Participatory irrigation management (PIM) has been broadly promoted by public administrators and donor organizations. The reasons for this push include performance failures of state-controlled irrigation schemes and the need to improve irrigation productivity for meeting rising food demands. A popular reform for increasing participation and ownership is represented by Irrigation Management Transfers (IMTs). IMTs mean replacing the government with the civil society (farmers) in irrigation management, and they go beyond working with the public sector as in PIM. These widely implemented reforms produced mixed experiences. Besides, the evaluation of IMT cases is reliant on scarce quantitative data. IMTs are also difficult to replicate due to methodological issues. However, qualitative research can engage with stakeholders’ perceptions and narratives, especially the most relevant target group, namely farmers. We provide in this study stakeholders’ opinions and attitudes towards several waves of IMT reforms in the Gezira scheme in Sudan. This mega-scheme is of high developmental and socio-cultural importance for the country ever since the independence from the British Empire. Using a perception survey and in-depth interviews with key informants, we illustrate the failure legacies to reform the Gezira scheme by enhancing farmers’ participation through Water User Associations (WUAs). While both farmers and experts have suggested a poor implementation, inadequate farmers’ involvement and unclear objectives of the reforms, the reforms’ recurrent failures are explained within complex historic and political contexts. There are long-standing legacies of development missteps of the Gezira scheme, with no clear and ultimate triggers of performance deterioration. Besides, splits in professional cultures, power imbalances, political instrumentalization (of farmers) and the lack of farmers’ awareness or capacities are salient factors for understanding the poor state of the Gezira scheme. It is difficult for stand-alone irrigation management reforms to be successful. Such reforms need to be embedded within a comprehensive policy package that prioritizes irrigation governance and proposes sound regulations based on clear roles, consensus-making and prior consultation.

Suggested Citation

  • Goelnitz, Anna & Al-Saidi, Mohammad, 2020. "Too big to handle, too important to abandon: Reforming Sudan’s Gezira scheme," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 241(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:agiwat:v:241:y:2020:i:c:s0378377420308052
    DOI: 10.1016/j.agwat.2020.106396
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0378377420308052
    Download Restriction: Full text for ScienceDirect subscribers only
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1016/j.agwat.2020.106396?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    As the access to this document is restricted, you may want to search for a different version of it.

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Meinzen-Dick, Ruth, 2014. "Property rights and sustainable irrigation: A developing country perspective," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 145(C), pages 23-31.
    2. Cesario Cambaza & Jaime Hoogesteger & Gert Jan Veldwisch, 2020. "Irrigation management transfer in sub-Saharan Africa: an analysis of policy implementation across scales," Water International, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 45(1), pages 3-19, January.
    3. Ostrom,Elinor, 2015. "Governing the Commons," Cambridge Books, Cambridge University Press, number 9781107569782, September.
    4. Al Zayed, Islam Sabry & Elagib, Nadir Ahmed & Ribbe, Lars & Heinrich, Jürgen, 2015. "Spatio-temporal performance of large-scale Gezira Irrigation Scheme, Sudan," Agricultural Systems, Elsevier, vol. 133(C), pages 131-142.
    5. Kai Wegerich & Asghar Hussain, 2016. "Creating accountability: representation and responsiveness of the irrigation bureaucracy in Punjab, Pakistan," Water International, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 41(5), pages 662-681, July.
    6. Vermillion, Douglas Lynn, 1997. "Impacts of irrigation management transfer: A review of the evidence," IWMI Research Reports 52798, International Water Management Institute.
    7. Al Zayed, Islam Sabry & Elagib, Nadir Ahmed & Ribbe, Lars & Heinrich, Jürgen, 2016. "Satellite-based evapotranspiration over Gezira Irrigation Scheme, Sudan: A comparative study," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 177(C), pages 66-76.
    8. Samad, M. & Vermillion, D., 1999. "Assessment of participatory management of irrigation schemes in Sri Lanka: Partial reforms, partial benefits," IWMI Research Reports H025058, International Water Management Institute.
    9. Verhoeven,Harry, 2015. "Water, Civilisation and Power in Sudan," Cambridge Books, Cambridge University Press, number 9781107061149, September.
    10. Senanayake, Nari & Mukherji, Aditi & Giordano, Mark, 2015. "Re-visiting what we know about Irrigation Management Transfer: A review of the evidence," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 149(C), pages 175-186.
    11. Al-Saidi, Mohammad, 2017. "Conflicts and security in integrated water resources management," Environmental Science & Policy, Elsevier, vol. 73(C), pages 38-44.
    12. Plusquellec, H., 1990. "The Gezira Irrigation Scheme In Sudan: Objectives, Design, And Performance," Papers 120, World Bank - Technical Papers.
    13. Bushara, Mohamed O.A. & Barakat, Hoyam E., 2010. "Decomposing Total Factor Productivity Change of Cotton Cultivars (Barakat-90 and Barac (67)B) in the Gezira Scheme (1991 – 2007) Sudan," 2010 AAAE Third Conference/AEASA 48th Conference, September 19-23, 2010, Cape Town, South Africa 96648, African Association of Agricultural Economists (AAAE).
    14. Nitin Bassi & M. Kumar, 2011. "Can Sector Reforms Improve Efficiency? Insight from Irrigation Management Transfer in Central India," International Journal of Water Resources Development, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 27(4), pages 709-721.
    15. Murat Yakubov, 2012. "A Programme Theory Approach in Measuring Impacts of Irrigation Management Transfer Interventions: The Case of Central Asia," International Journal of Water Resources Development, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 28(3), pages 507-523.
    16. Samad, Madar & Vermillion, Douglas Lynn, 1999. "Assessment of participatory management of irrigation schemes in Sri Lanka: Partial reforms, partial benefits," IWMI Research Reports 44577, International Water Management Institute.
    17. Andrea Zinzani, 2016. "Hydraulic bureaucracies and Irrigation Management Transfer in Uzbekistan: the case of Samarkand Province," International Journal of Water Resources Development, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 32(2), pages 232-246, March.
    18. Roula Khadra & Juan Antonio Sagardoy & Suzan Taha & Nicola Lamaddalena, 2018. "MONEVA - a Monitoring & Evaluation System to Assess the Performance of Participatory Irrigation Management/Irrigation Management Transfer Programs in the Mediterranean Region," Water Resources Management: An International Journal, Published for the European Water Resources Association (EWRA), Springer;European Water Resources Association (EWRA), vol. 32(1), pages 123-140, January.
    19. Roula Khadra & Juan Antonio Sagardoy & Suzan Taha & Nicola Lamaddalena, 2017. "Participatory Irrigation Management and Transfer: Setting the Guiding Principles for a Sustaining Monitoring & Evaluation System – a Focus on the Mediterranean," Water Resources Management: An International Journal, Published for the European Water Resources Association (EWRA), Springer;European Water Resources Association (EWRA), vol. 31(13), pages 4227-4238, October.
    20. Andrew Reid Bell & Noora-Lisa Aberman & Fatima Zaidi & Benjamin Wielgosz, 2013. "Progress of constitutional change and irrigation management transfer in Pakistan: insights from a net-map exercise," Water International, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 38(5), pages 515-535, September.
    21. Yakubov, Murat, 2012. "A program theory approach in measuring impacts of irrigation management transfer interventions: the case of Central Asia. [Abstract only]," Conference Papers h045056, International Water Management Institute.
    22. Aysegül Kibaroglu, 2020. "The role of irrigation associations and privatization policies in irrigation management in Turkey," Water International, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 45(2), pages 83-90, February.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Giordano, Meredith A. & Samad, Madar & Namara, Regassa E., 2006. "Assessing the outcomes of IWMI’s research and interventions on irrigation management transfer," IWMI Research Reports 44524, International Water Management Institute.
    2. Uysal, Özlem Karahan & AtIs, Ela, 2010. "Assessing the performance of participatory irrigation management over time: A case study from Turkey," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 97(7), pages 1017-1025, July.
    3. Senanayake, Nari & Mukherji, Aditi & Giordano, Mark, 2015. "Re-visiting what we know about Irrigation Management Transfer: A review of the evidence," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 149(C), pages 175-186.
    4. Yercan, M. & Dorsan, F. & Ul, M. A., 2004. "Comparative analysis of performance criteria in irrigation schemes: a case study of Gediz river basin in Turkey," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 66(3), pages 259-266, May.
    5. Samad, M., 2002. "Impact of irrigation management transfer on the performance of irrigation systems: A review of selected experiences from Asia and Latin America," IWMI Books, Reports H030877, International Water Management Institute.
    6. Ali, Sameen A. Mohsin, 2020. "Driving participatory reforms into the ground: The bureaucratic politics of irrigation management transfer in Pakistan," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 135(C).
    7. Al Zayed, Islam Sabry & Elagib, Nadir Ahmed & Ribbe, Lars & Heinrich, Jürgen, 2016. "Satellite-based evapotranspiration over Gezira Irrigation Scheme, Sudan: A comparative study," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 177(C), pages 66-76.
    8. Leroy, David, 2023. "An empirical assessment of the institutional performance of community-based water management in a large-scale irrigation system in southern Mexico," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 276(C).
    9. Ghosh, Souvik & Kolady, Deepthi Elizabeth & Das, Usha & Gorain, Subrato & Srivastava, Shivendra Kumar & Mondal, Bitan, 2019. "Spatio-temporal variations in effects of participatory irrigation management (PIM) reform in India: A panel data analysis," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 222(C), pages 48-61.
    10. Aymen Sawassi & Roula Khadra & Brian Crookston, 2024. "Water Banking as a Strategy for the Management and Conservation of a Critical Resource: A Case Study from Tunisia’s Medjerda River Basin (MRB)," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 16(9), pages 1-20, May.
    11. Amirova, Iroda & Petrick, Martin & Djanibekov, Nodir, 2019. "Long- and short-term determinants of water user cooperation: Experimental evidence from Central Asia," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 113(C), pages 10-25.
    12. Shin, Hoon C. & Vallury, Sechindra & Abbott, Joshua K. & Anderies, John M. & Yu, David J., 2022. "Understanding the effects of institutional diversity on irrigation systems dynamics," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 191(C).
    13. Dawit K. Mekonnen & Hira Channa & Claudia Ringler, 2015. "The impact of water users' associations on the productivity of irrigated agriculture in Pakistani Punjab," Water International, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 40(5-6), pages 733-747, September.
    14. Al Zayed, Islam Sabry & Elagib, Nadir Ahmed & Ribbe, Lars & Heinrich, Jürgen, 2015. "Spatio-temporal performance of large-scale Gezira Irrigation Scheme, Sudan," Agricultural Systems, Elsevier, vol. 133(C), pages 131-142.
    15. Roula Khadra & Juan Antonio Sagardoy & Suzan Taha & Nicola Lamaddalena, 2018. "MONEVA - a Monitoring & Evaluation System to Assess the Performance of Participatory Irrigation Management/Irrigation Management Transfer Programs in the Mediterranean Region," Water Resources Management: An International Journal, Published for the European Water Resources Association (EWRA), Springer;European Water Resources Association (EWRA), vol. 32(1), pages 123-140, January.
    16. World Bank, 2003. "Sri Lanka : Promoting Agricultural and Rural Non-farm Sector Growth, Volume 1. Main Report," World Bank Publications - Reports 14879, The World Bank Group.
    17. Aarnoudse, E. & Closas, Alvar & Lefore, Nicole, 2018. "Water user associations: a review of approaches and alternative management options for Sub-Saharan Africa," IWMI Working Papers H048782, International Water Management Institute.
    18. Nadeem Ul Haque & Faheem Jehangir Khan (ed.), 2022. "RASTA Local Research, Local Solutions: Political Economy Of Development Reform, Volume VI," PIDE Books, Pakistan Institute of Development Economics, number 2022:6.
    19. Shah, Tushaar & van Koppen, Barbara & Merrey, Douglas J. & de Lange, Marna & Samad, Madar, 2002. "Institutional alternatives in African smallholder irrigation: Lessons from international experience with irrigation management transfer," IWMI Research Reports 44563, International Water Management Institute.
    20. Mutambara, Solomon & Darkoh, Michael B.K. & Atlhopheng, Julius R., 2016. "A comparative review of water management sustainability challenges in smallholder irrigation schemes in Africa and Asia," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 171(C), pages 63-72.

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:eee:agiwat:v:241:y:2020:i:c:s0378377420308052. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: Catherine Liu (email available below). General contact details of provider: http://www.elsevier.com/locate/agwat .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.