Search results

AbstractVietnam is considered to have a sound legal system for water resources management, but the enforcement of these systems remains limited. This weakness and its causes were reported in various studies on institutional arrangements. However, clear relationships among stakeholders with respect to water resources, or water tenure, and levels of implementation of water tenure governance that are related to these limitations remain undocumented. Using a new approach on water tenure analysis to identify issues and conflicts related to water tenure arrangements in a pilot area in Vietnam is the aim of this study. Most of the types of possible formal (8) and informal (7) water tenure arrangements were identified in the pilot area. The analysis of water tenure governance covering 14 aspects and the assessment of water tenure security were conducted in the study area. The study results illustrate the need to improve the implementation of law enforcement and to strengthen the process of water tenure governance. Based on the analysis results, several relevant solutions are recommended including review and update of legal framework and strengthening the enforcement of current legal regulations in Vietnam.

AbstractThe policy on irrigation service fee had been adopted in irrigated agriculture in Vietnam for decades but has changed to exemption since 2008. This study surveyed irrigation systems in the Red River basin and found that the ratio of irrigated area to cultivation command area of irrigation system increased from 85% to 91% for a period 2008–2014 thanks to increased maintenance fund for upgrading irrigation systems. Using the Difference in Difference method, the study assessed impact of the policy on on‐farm irrigation performance, agricultural productivity, and household economy at sites across the 44,600 ha of the Cau Son Irrigation System. The analysis found that the exemption policy had a negative and significant impact (p < 0.01) on on‐farm irrigation performance measured by flexibility, reliability, and equity indicators. We found the exemption caused no significant impact on agriculture productivity, cultivation labor, or rice yield in the study area. While net cultivation income of the sample households increased, total income and gross cultivation income of these households were not affected as irrigation service fee accounts for only 1–2% of the total annual household incomes. For improved irrigation performance, it is recommended to revise the current exemption policy and follow a cost recovery approach.