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Irrigation inequality, rice farming productivity and food insecurity in rural Cambodia

Author

Listed:
  • Budy P. Resosudarmo
  • Kimlong Chheng

Abstract

This paper investigates the impacts of inequality access to irrigation on rice farming productivity as measured by rice yield and revenue per hectare and on food insecurity among rice farmers in rural Cambodia. Using our own household survey administered in 2014 to 251 rice farming households in 32 rural villages in four provinces, we show that better irrigation access, particularly reservoir, dike, or canal irrigation, provide households with significantly higher rice production and revenue. We also show that productivity of rice farming is significantly and negatively associated with household food insecurity. Hence, developing irrigation networks such as reservoirs, dikes, or canals to reduce irrigation inequality is a key policy option to tackle food insecurity in Cambodia.

Suggested Citation

  • Budy P. Resosudarmo & Kimlong Chheng, 2021. "Irrigation inequality, rice farming productivity and food insecurity in rural Cambodia," Departmental Working Papers 2021-19, The Australian National University, Arndt-Corden Department of Economics.
    • Handle: RePEc:pas:papers:2021-19
    as

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    File URL: https://acde.crawford.anu.edu.au/sites/default/files/publication/acde_crawford_anu_edu_au/2021-09/acde_td_resusudarmo_and_chheng_2021_19.pdf
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    irrigation; inequality; rice farming productivity; food insecurity.;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • D33 - Microeconomics - - Distribution - - - Factor Income Distribution
    • I31 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Welfare, Well-Being, and Poverty - - - General Welfare, Well-Being
    • O12 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Economic Development - - - Microeconomic Analyses of Economic Development
    • Q15 - Agricultural and Natural Resource Economics; Environmental and Ecological Economics - - Agriculture - - - Land Ownership and Tenure; Land Reform; Land Use; Irrigation; Agriculture and Environment
    • Q18 - Agricultural and Natural Resource Economics; Environmental and Ecological Economics - - Agriculture - - - Agricultural Policy; Food Policy; Animal Welfare Policy

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