ABSTRACT
The implication for donors is, therefore, that some element of subsidy is inevitable if a country intends to proceed in developing irrigation. The literature already contains three useful listings of the main issues donors should weigh when appraising irrigation development. Berry et al. and David I. Steinberg come from Agency for International Development (AID)-financed studies and one from the Orginization for Economic Cooperation and Development. As a donor, AID could underwrite credit for small-scale operators–though this should be linked to training because of high risks and frequent failures. AID could do much more to insure technical backstopping for various Non-Governmental Organization, PVO and Peace Corps projects active in small-scale irrigation. Donors could promote the exchange of experience between those working on household and community supplies, often based on pumping, and irrigation sector in the same country. European donors such as SIDA and the Dutch have put heavy investments into development of community supplies in Africa, and have accumulated valuable experience.
