Introduction

This introduction presents an overview of the key concepts discussed in the subsequent chapters of this book. The book examines one aspect of the larger development effort in some detail and in one particular domain—the development of irrigated agriculture. It presents an analysis of organizational breakdown between main system bureaucracies and farmers, and to formulate strategic variables and relationships that contribute to improved design of local irrigation organizations. The book reports empirical case studies of middle-level irrigation organization in three nations—Pakistan, India, and Sri Lanka—and the impact of such organization on agricultural production. The story of the typical irrigation project is one of failure to fulfill projected economic returns to investment. A dollar or rupee invested in rehabilitating existing systems promises to provide a better return than investing in a new system.