- Resource System
- Irrigation system
- Resource Units
- Water
- Location
- India
The resource appropriated from A Tailend Watercourse in Area Two is water for irrigation to farmlands. The resource discussed in this study is a watercourse located in the tail-end part of a large irrigation system. Area Two is a large irrigation system managed by a government agency. There are neither users' organizations nor effective rules governing water rotation at the watercourse level. Great inequalities exist between head-end and tail-end farmers.
This case study is part of the original Common-Pool Resource (CPR) database. A summary of the original CPR coding conducted in the 1980s by Edella Schlager and Shui Yan Tang at Indiana University may be found under the CPR tab in the Institutional Analysis section below.
The resource appropriated from A Tailend Watercourse in Area Two is water for irrigation. The resource discussed in this study is a watercourse located in the tail-end part of a large irrigation system.
SCREENER:
Case: A Tailend Watercourse in Area Two, India
The information regarding the following common-pool resource system was taken from empirical evidence from a field setting. Data on the system was extracted from a paper issued by a scholar or research institution. Currently, there are no additional documents to cite which may provide further information about this common-pool resource.
These documents describe four resources in detail. The primary resource is the A Tailend Watercourse in Area Two, situated in A Tailend Watercourse in Area Two of India. More generally, it is located in Middle East & South Asia. The system's sector is that of water. Relatively good information has been collected about the stakes of participants who appropriate from A Tailend Watercourse in Area Two. The condition of this resource is well understood. Complete information is available regarding the strategies used by key groups interacting with the system. There is thorough documentation of the operational rules for this resource. This is the result of a high level of confidence that the authors who recorded the features of A Tailend Watercourse in Area Two have a complete knowledge of its particulars. Furthermore, the authors have provided sufficient data to formulate a structured coding process.
There are less than 25 total appropriator teams appropriating from the resource . Appropriator teams for the resource are always formally organized.
Bottrall develops an analytical framework to evaluate irrigation project management in developing countries, based on a literature review and 4 field studies in South and East Asia (bureaucratic system vs. irrigation association with full-time officials, system with vs. without formal watercourse organizations and rules). A principal focus is the performance of the activity of water distribution, since it is peculiar to irrigated agriculture. He identifies and recommends organizational structures and management procedures most likely to serve the interests of the rural poor, especially small farmers and those at the tail-end of a system, and concludes that there are great opportunities to improve performance of irrigation projects via management reform and better water distribution. Appendix A is a checklist, Guidelines for Analysis. Area Two is a large irrigation system managed by a government agency. There are neither users' organizations nor effective rules governing water rotation at the watercourse level. Great inequalities exist between headend and tailend farmers. Features of a typical tailend watercourse are coded. (Bottrall provided Country)
CITATION(S):
Bottrall, A. F. (1981) "Comparative Study of the Management and Organization of Irrigation Projects." World Bank Working Paper No. 458. Washington, DC: World Bank.*
The resource appropriated from A Tailend Watercourse in Area Two is water for irrigation. It is produced physically and is a renewable moving (fugitive) unit. The resource discussed in this study is a watercourse located in the tail-end part of a large irrigation system.
The boundary of this resource has natural/constructed attributes which do not limit entry. The boundaries of this resource are the same as the location, and exist in one country, and are not divided among multiple general purpose local jurisdictions at a single level. The boundaries of this resource are independent of a development project designed by non-residents.
There are not distinct and stable micro-environmental or ecological zones within this resource (educated guess).
There are not strategic points within the resource where the main flow of the water for irrigation can be controlled (educated guess). There is considerable, and mildly predictable variation over space in the availability of water for irrigation within the resource (inferred). There is considerable, and mildly predictable variation in the flow of water for irrigation within a single year (inferred). The case study did not include information regarding whether or not there is considerable variation in the flow of water for irrigation from year to year.
The topography of the resource or the land immediately around the resource is gently undulating (educated guess).
The boundaries of the production resource are totally seperated from the boundaries of the appropriation resource (confident). The boundaries of the production resource are totally seperated from the boundaries of the location (confident). The boundaries of the distribution resource are not identical to the boundaries of the appropriation resource. The distribution resource is a facility connected to the appropriation resource (confident). The boundaries of the production resource are not equivalent to the boundaries of the distribution resource. The production resource is a facility connected to the distribution resource (confident).
The headworks (production resource) are operated by the same agency(s) (or the same group(s) of people) as the appropriation resource, and the agency(s) or the group(s) of people are the sole operator(s) of the headworks (inferred). The distribution system is solely operated by the same agency(s) (or the same group(s) of people) as the appropriation resource (inferred). The distribution system is solely operated by the same agency(s) (or the same group(s) of people) as the headworks of the system (inferred).
LOCATION:
The appropriation resources are situated in an area served by a watercourse in the tail-end of a large irrigation system. The boundaries of the location are the boundaries of a watercourse. The appropriation resource present in this location consists of a watercourse that delivers water to farmlands.
The system is located within one country. Within this country, the system's location is not divided among several general purpose local jurisdictions at the same level. A permanent population lives year round in this location (inferred). Additionally, the most common mode of transportation in this region is -1. This location is also characterized by an economy that is stable and tied to other economic networks during the entire time period (educated guess).
The latitude of this location is -1, and its longitude is -1. The elevation of this location is -1 meters. The highest elevation is -1. The lowest elevation of this location is -1. The region's average annual rainfall is 840 milimeters (highly confident). The region's average annual evapotranspiration is unknown. The distribution of rainfall and evapotranspiration per month is as follows:
January precipitation: unknown, evapotraspiration: unknown
February precipitation: unknown, evapotraspiration: unknown
March precipitation: unknown, evapotraspiration: unknown
April precipitation: unknown, evapotraspiration: unknown
May precipitation: unknown, evapotraspiration: unknown
June precipitation: unknown, evapotraspiration: unknown
July precipitation: unknown, evapotraspiration: unknown
August precipitation: unknown, evapotraspiration: unknown
September precipitation: unknown, evapotraspiration: unknown
October precipitation: unknown, evapotraspiration: unknown
November precipitation: unknown, evapotraspiration: unknown
December precipitation: unknown, evapotraspiration: unknown
The resource appropriated from A Tailend Watercourse in Area Two is water for irrigation. The resource discussed in this study is a watercourse located in the tail-end part of a large irrigation system.
OPERATIONAL LEVEL:
TYPE OF SITUATION
The processes described in the related documents are primarily related to appropriation, distribution, and production. The formal owner(s) of the resource discussed in this study is a regional government. The set of individuals who have rights to withdraw from this resource is well-defined. As of the beginning of this period, the owners are exercising (or attempting to exercise de jure) and effective in gaining closed access to this resource. Since the beginning of this period, the appropriators may be exercising or attempting to exercise closed access to this resource, however this information was not included in the study.
EVENTS MARKING THE BEGINNING ACTION SITUATION
It is estimated that the operational level coded on this form ended in 0. The estimated duration of the patterns that are described in this form is 26 to 50 years. Throughout the duration there were no changes made in operational, collective, or consititutional rules. There was no change in resource size or structure. There was no new technology introduced to the system over the duration of the patterns coded on this form. There was no substantial external change in the value of the units appropriated. The quantity of units available did not change due to a change in appropriation patterns of other appropriators' withdrawals from the same production or distribution resource. There were no new groups starting to withdraw units from the appropriation resource. There was no recorded change to one or more variables internal to the operational level. The variables that changed were -2. The author begins the description of this case at this point in history. The author begins at this point in history because the irrigation system was constructed in 1960.
CONDITIONS AT THE BEGINNING AND END OF PERIOD COVERED BY THIS FORM*
For biological resources at the beginning of this period, the balance between the quantity of units withdrawn and the number of units available was not included in the case information. For biological resources at the end of this period, the balance between the quantity of units withdrawn and the number of units available was an extreme shortage (inferred). For physical resources at the beginning of this period, the balance between the quantity of units withdrawn and the quantity of units needed, given the usual patterns of use for these units was not included in the case information. For physical resources at the end of the period the balance between the quantity of units withdrawn and the quantity of units needed, given the usual patterns of use for these units, was an extreme shortage (inferred).
The following includes the available statistics on the use of this resource at the beginning of the time period, followed by the end of the time period:
Square meters of fields irrigated at the beginning of the period: 330000 (educated guess)
Square meters of fields irrigated at the end of the period: 330000 (educated guess)
*In fisheries and other biological systems, this is the maximum sustainable number of units. In irrigation, this refers to the optimal water requirements of the crops in the established fields served by this system.
At the beginning of the period, the units were predominantly used to produce other units.
At the end of the period, the units were predominantly used to produce other units.
As of the beginning of the period, the quality of the units being withdrawn from the resource was passable (educated guess). As of the end of the period, the quality of the units being withdrawn from the resource was passable (educated guess). At the beginning of the period of the study, there were no problems of pollution in this or other resources, due to the way units are being appropriated (inferred). At the end of the period of the study, there were no problems of pollution in this or other resources due to the way units are being appropriated (inferred). As of the beginning of the period, the extent of technical externalities resulting from the appropriation activities of participants from this resource was not indicated. As of the end of the period, the extent of technical externalities resulting from the appropriation activities of participants from this resource was relatively high (educated guess). At the beginning of this study the appropriation resource was being maintained at a level that was not recorded in the case information. At the end of this study the appropriation resource was experiencing considerable deterioration due to poor maintenance (confident). At the beginning of this period the appropriators shared low levels of mutual trust (e.g. oral promises rarely used) (educated guess). At the end of the period the appropriators shared low levels of mutual trust (e.g. oral promises rarely used) (educated guess). ## Unknown markup: Start ##By the end of this period no change had occurred in the property rights regime related to the appropriation resource (educated guess).
INFORMATION LEVELS
There is no information in the study to indicate the availability of maps or charts of the appropration resource for use by the appropriators. Maps and/or charts of the production and distribution resources are available to appropriators (educated guess). The appropriators of this resource can be seen by each other while withdrawing units from the resource (educated guess). No appropriators are in radio communication with each other while appropriating from the resource (educated guess). There are actions being taken, by appropriators or officials, to generate information about the condition of the resource (inferred). There was no information in the study about whether or not there are records of the withdrawals from this resource kept in a systematic way. There was no information in the study about whether or not there are records of the physical factors which directly affected the resource kept in a systematic way. There is no information in the study to indicate whether or not records are kept in a language accessible to most of the appropriators. The keepers of these records are not indicated as being "officials" or "non-officials" in this case study. The case study did not indicate whether or not these records are available for inspection by appropriators. There are arenas being used for the exchange of information about conditions of the resource (inferred). Appropriators get together to discuss mutual problems of the resource at a frequency which was not included in the case study. The appropriators have a considerable familiarity with the characteristics of this resource (educated guess).
POTENTIAL ACTIONS AND LEVELS OF CONTROL
There are non-appropriators that made up a specialized staff or workers to undertake maintenance (inferred). The quality or quantity of the units available to the appropriators are adversely affected by the strategies of prior appropriators (inferred). There are not problems of pollution resulting from activities of others who are not appropriators of this resource or inhabitants of this location (e.g. acid rain, sewage disposal) (educated guess). There does not appear to be an insurance mechanism available to the appropriators related to variability of income from the resource (educated guess).
PATTERNS OF INTERACTION
Differences between subgroups relating to gender identification does not affect communication (educated guess). Differences between subgroups relating to ethnic identification does not exist (inferred). Differences between subgroups relating to clan identification are not included in the case study. Differences between subgroups relating to racial identification does not exist (inferred). Differences between subgroups relating to caste identification are not included in the case study. Differences between subgroups relating to religious identification are not included in the case study. Differences between subgroups relating to languages spoken does not exist (inferred). Differences between subgroups relating to general cultural views of the resource system and its use does not exist (inferred). Differences between subgroups relating to any problems that affect communication are large and significantly affected communication (confident).
The general manner in which appropriators related to one another during this study is a relatively neutral, quid-pro-quo manner -- each exchange was evaluated for what it might bring (inferred). The documents do not present evidence of concurrent or prior history of cooperative actions between the appropriators in regards to other activities (inferred). If someone violated the rules-in-use related to the appropriation process from this resource, it is unlikely that he/she would encounter social sanctions imposed by other appropriators (who are not filling posititions as official monitors) (educated guess). If someone violates the rules-in-use related to the appropriation process from this resource, it is likely as not that an official monitor or guard would move to impose sanctions (educated guess). It is likely that local appropriators would attempt to bribe an official if an official monitor or guard moved to impose sanctions (educated guess).
POSITIONS AND PARTICIPANTS
At the end of the period studied there was no information coded to indicate whether or not the position of non-appropriator (individuals prevented from using the resource) existed. At the beginning of the period there was a general estimate of Less than 25 appropriators (inferred). There was a general estimate of Less than 25 appropriators at the end of the period (inferred). The "official" position of monitor (apart from the willingness of all appropriators to monitor) does exist, and monitors are employees of an external governmental authority (educated guess). This position monitors rules devised by regional collective choice processes (column 2 of the rules form) and rules-in-use.
The appropriators do not monitor the appropriation activities of each other apart from the monitoring of any "official" guards (educated guess). The general estimate for the number of official monitors on duty at one time during peak hours was 1-5 (inferred). Official monitors are paid in money. Almost all of the monitors were full-time (inferred).
NUMBER AND RELATIONSHIPS AMONG SUBGROUPS
There will be 1 subgroup form(s) completed in relation to this operational level form. The ID number(s) of the subgroup(s) coded are as follows: 75.1 - 0 - 0 - 0
EVALUATION OF RESULTS
There are appropriators who were consistently disadvantaged in this period (inferred). The relatively worst off appropriators have not been cut out of their benefits from this resource or substantially harmed (educated guess). By the end of the period studied the distance between those who were the least advantaged and those who were the most advantaged could be characterized as remaining relatively constant over time (educated guess).
AUTHOR'S EVALUATION AND CAUSAL ASSUMPTIONS
In this coding form the author focuses on the readers' concept of results and the evaluation of results (inferred).
The author's results indicate that the productivity, equity, environmental stability, cost, and cost recovery were not satisfactory in general. This is due to physical factors, as well as organization and management. Not all of the concepts of the results are captured. The author evaluates this system to be of low efficiency, based on productivity, crop intensity, yields, and water losses. The author also proposed means of increasing efficiency. See "Introduction and Summary" (pp.1-25).. The author discusses withdrawals per unit of effort based on -1
SUBGROUP:
Participants:
The criteria for who is a member is well defined (inferred). Membership at the start of this group numbered 10 (ambiguous). This group ended with a membership of 10 (ambiguous). An estimated 10%-25% of this group is literate in a language that records or publications about this resource and/or location (or other similar resources) is kept (inferred).
The following statements characterize the composition of this subgroup's population with respect to variables that may affect the capacity to communicate effectively:
The difference in composition with regard to gender identification does not affect communication (educated guess). Ethnic or cultural identification causes no difference in composition (inferred). Racial identification causes no difference in composition (inferred). There is no difference in composition with regard to languages spoken (inferred). Problems within this group that are also mentioned by the author stem from a low level of social cohesion.
.
Legal Rights:
Members of this subgroup have de jure rights of access (inferred). The right to withdraw is held by this subgroup de jure (inferred). Rights to participate in management of this resource are not held either de facto nor de jure (educated guess). Members of this subgroup cannot exercise the right to decide who can be excluded from particular zones within the resource either de facto nor de jure. (educated guess). The separable right of transfer to the flow of units from this resource is not held either by de jure nor de facto (educated guess). The separable rights to exercise transfer to shares of this appropriation resource, or closely related production and/or distribution resources are neither held de jure nor de facto (educated guess). Transferring shares of major appropriation equipment which are necessary to engage in appropriation is not exercised either je jure nor de facto## Unknown column: EQUIPSHAR ##.
Stakes and Resources:
The length of time this subgroup has regularly appropriated from this resource is 26 through 50 years (educated guess). Around 91%-100% of members reside in or adjacent to this resource (educated guess). Most people in this subgroup are very dependent (i.e. most of the family income) on this resource (inferred). The proportion of this subgroup that currently appropriates similar units from other resources is less than 10% (inferred). Given the economy of the location, the average annual family income (including all non-monetary forms of income) is considered average (educated guess). The variance of the average annual family income across families is high (educated guess). Over time the variance in average annual family income is low (inferred). No real alternatives for the supply unit are available (educated guess).
Potential Actions and Levels of Control:
A noticeable impact on the balance of the quantity of units withdrawn and the number of units available in this resource would occur in a drastic reduction of this subgroup's appropriation activities (inferred). Keeping in mind the physically available levels of withdrawal that are possible from this resource, the following shows the extent to which rules concerning different aspects of withdrawal constrain appropriation: technological rules lightly constrain (educated guess), time limits which limit the range of choice heavily constrain (inferred), quantity limits which limit the range of choice heavily constrain (inferred), and marginal units or units obtained by increasing levels of appropriation have a high value immediate return (inferred).
Technology:
The appropriative power of the technology used threatens the balance between units withdrawn and units available even if no new users are added (inferred).
Strategies Adopted:
At the beginning of the period the rate of unit withdrawals was increasing (educated guess). At the end of the period the rate of unit withdrawals was constant (educated guess). In irrigation, appropriation resources (at the beginning of the period) produce mostly grains other than paddy rice, and also paddy rice, and legumes. In irrigation, the appropriation resources (at the end of the period) produce mainly grains other than paddy rice, and also paddy rice, and legumes. During this time period members have not invested resources, such as their own labor, in maintaining or improving the structure of the appropriation resource (educated guess). Investment into constructing or improving production or distribution works for maintaining or improving their resource has not been made by members (inferred). Resources have not been expended (including time) to avoid actions that would harm the structure of the appropriation resource (inferred). Members do not have access to an alternative source of supply (educated guess). In characterizing the usual behavior of the members of this subgroup with respect to local operation level rules-in-use (other than in extreme shortage), it can be said that about half of the members follow the rules (educated guess). The level of infraction of members who are not rule followers is generally medium (educated guess). No action has been proposed to alter the operational or collective-choice rules affecting the appropriation from this resource (inferred).
Subgroup Results:
This subgroup appropriates 91%-100% of its total appropriated units at the end of this period (confident). By the end of this time period the appropriates from this resource have remained approximately constant (inferred). The absolute quantity of appropriation units obtained by this group has remained constant (inferred).
The resource appropriated from A Tailend Watercourse in Area Two is water for irrigation. The resource discussed in this study is a watercourse located in the tail-end part of a large irrigation system.
OPERATIONAL RULES:
Concerning national collective choice relating to the resource, there is a national level of government, but it does not exercise jurisdiction in relation to the type of resource appropriated by this subgroup. Concerning regional collective choice, the author provides a few detailed references to operational level rules as devised by regional collective choice mechanism which have been coded below..
With regard to local collective choice, there is a local level of government or organization of appropriators, but it does not exercise jurisdiction in relation to the type of resource appropriated by this subgroup.
Boundary Rules
The following rules define the requirements that must be met before individuals are eligible to harvest or withdraw units from the appropriation resource.
The national and local level(s) of government or organization had no jurisdiction over the resource.
A rule exists requiring ownership or leasing of land in the location of the resource. This rule is enforced at the regional and rules-in-use level(s).
Entry rights may be transmitted to anyone designated by the original owner.
Within one generation of potential resource appropriators, entry rights can be given, leased, rented, sold or transferred to others.
When transfer on a temporary or permanent basis is allowed, the person who makes the transfer determines to whom such rights can be transferred.
Authority and Scope Rules
The default conditions for both authority and scope rules do not apply.
The following paragraphs include information on rules of 1 cycle(s).
Authority Rules:
The national and local level(s) of government or organization had no jurisdiction over the resource.
There is a rule requiring withdrawal at a fixed time slot, based on the amount of land held. This rule is enforced at the regional level(s), and is part of the most restrictive, regularly adopted/used set of rules.
There is a rule forbidding withdrawal whenever and wherever desired, based on unspecific criteria. This rule is enforced at the regional level(s), and is part of the most restrictive, regularly adopted/used set of rules.
The authority and scope rules do not apply to whether or not certain subgroups received substantially unequal privileges, because there is only one subgroup.
Scope Rules:
The national and local level(s) of government or organization had no jurisdiction over the resource.
There is a rule requiring a periodically assessed appropriation tax, based on the needs during time period. This rule is enforced at the regional level(s), and is part of the most restrictive, regularly adopted/used set of rules.
Information Rules
There exists a rule requiring recording of the number of units withdrawn. This rule is enforced at the regional and rules-in-use level(s).
This information was recorded by a regional administrative body.
Payoff Rules
The default condition, that all appropriators can retain whatever they can physically keep hold of and no external rewards, taxes, or sanctions are imposed is not imposed in this case. The authors have the following confidence level for the results of this section: inferred. Incarceration is not imposed as penalty on appropriators for breaking rules related to the appropriation of this resource. Appropriators may not lose their entry or appropriation rights for breaking rules related to the appropriation of the resource. Severe community shunning is not used as a sanction that is consciously imposed on appropriators who break rules related to the appropriation of this resource. Appropriators cannot obtain external aid to develop their appropriation technologies. Appropriators can obtain aid from a regional (private or public) agency(s) to develop or repair their production, distribution, or appropriation resources. Appropriators can obtain aid from a regional (private or public) agency(s) to develop technologies for using the resource units.
The following percentages indicate the percentages assigned to individual positions. If more than one percentage is listed per position, the individual percentages refer to the different arrangements existing within the operational rules.
Aggregation Rules
Overall Questions About Rules Configuration
The general framework of the rules-in-use has governed the activities of this subgroup for 26 to 50 years.
Comparative Study of the Management and Organization of Irrigation Projects. Staff Working Paper.
. 1981.