ABSTRACT
In contrast, farmers in arid areas would plan their activities in expectation of irrigation rather than depending on rainfall. As irrigation is more predictable and the demands relatively stable, management is simplified. Producers in such low-rainfall areas know what to expect by way of water supply in the rainy season and would accordingly limit the extent of high-value, water sensitive crops with the balance area under low-value crops or kept fallow. If there is ample rainfall, it will benefit all the planted crops. But if the rains fail, low-value crops would probably be lost, whereas high-input crops would survive due to irrigation. Access to alternate sources of water such as a well could allow high value crops over the whole farm. Given the costs associated with pumping, producers would also tend to make effective use of the surface water supply (subject to any legal constraints) and rainfall. Indeed, how well irrigation systems make use of rainfall will have decisive implications for water management and for efficiency of water use.
