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Optimal analysis of fragmented irrigation projects

Optimal analysis of fragmented irrigation projects
Optimal analysis of fragmented irrigation projects

A new approach to the appraisal of 'fragmented' agricultural development projects in the poorer so-called 'Less Developed Countries' is developed from a critical examination of contemporary social cost benefit analysis procedures for project appraisal in such countries.In what are here termed 'fragmented' projects, fragmentation, although essentially physical, most importantly applies to decision making. This is predominantly decentralized since by virtue of the circumstances being considered land and labour are in the hands of numerous subsistence smallholders. Central control is limited to development inputs which typically might include infrastructural improvements, improved and more equitable availability of credit, the introduction of new technology (such as irrigation) and allied to all of these, the provision of extension. That the history of such projects has been characterized by a marked lack of success is seen to be' largely attributable to the current lack of techniques for dealing with the conceptually unique problems that inherently arise in the appraisal and the optimal *formulation and planning of this type of development. ixCentral to the methodology proposed for the analysis of fragmented projects is an analytical model that integrates the physical and socio-economic circumstances of the individual farmer in order to predict his response to development stimulae. By simulating the on-going inter temporal response of a representative group of farmers to their resultant individual and common circumstances the boundaries of a viable project can be investigated and subject to constraints and development objectives the optimal project identified. The central model was developed and is tested using data from a fragmented project in which the author was involved.

University of Southampton
Roberts, Jonathan Henry
Roberts, Jonathan Henry

Roberts, Jonathan Henry (1977) Optimal analysis of fragmented irrigation projects. University of Southampton, Doctoral Thesis.

Record type: Thesis (Doctoral)

Abstract

A new approach to the appraisal of 'fragmented' agricultural development projects in the poorer so-called 'Less Developed Countries' is developed from a critical examination of contemporary social cost benefit analysis procedures for project appraisal in such countries.In what are here termed 'fragmented' projects, fragmentation, although essentially physical, most importantly applies to decision making. This is predominantly decentralized since by virtue of the circumstances being considered land and labour are in the hands of numerous subsistence smallholders. Central control is limited to development inputs which typically might include infrastructural improvements, improved and more equitable availability of credit, the introduction of new technology (such as irrigation) and allied to all of these, the provision of extension. That the history of such projects has been characterized by a marked lack of success is seen to be' largely attributable to the current lack of techniques for dealing with the conceptually unique problems that inherently arise in the appraisal and the optimal *formulation and planning of this type of development. ixCentral to the methodology proposed for the analysis of fragmented projects is an analytical model that integrates the physical and socio-economic circumstances of the individual farmer in order to predict his response to development stimulae. By simulating the on-going inter temporal response of a representative group of farmers to their resultant individual and common circumstances the boundaries of a viable project can be investigated and subject to constraints and development objectives the optimal project identified. The central model was developed and is tested using data from a fragmented project in which the author was involved.

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Published date: 1977

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Local EPrints ID: 459847
URI: http://eprints.soton.ac.uk/id/eprint/459847
PURE UUID: 2760a9cd-8cdb-4b82-ad0f-0681a25ae630

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Date deposited: 04 Jul 2022 17:20
Last modified: 04 Jul 2022 17:20

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Contributors

Author: Jonathan Henry Roberts

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