Providing irrigation services in water-scarce basins: representation and support.

This paper provides an outline of the challenges (particularly the external challenges) facing locally managed irrigation in closing river basins, which directly affect the institutional requirements for irrigation service provision. Three support needs for locally managed irrigation in water-scarce basins are discussed, these are: water rights systems and water allocation mechanisms; compensation mechanisms for water transfers; and increasing water productivity. The issues on poverty and representation in river basin management are also discussed including productive water and pro-poor water policy.