Hybrid water rights systems for pro-poor water governance in Africa

Water-permit systems are widely used across Africa as a blanket requirement for small and micro irrigation enterprises, as well as large enterprises. The present study aimed to, first, further understand the implications of permit systems for both the most vulnerable and the state, and, second, base...

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Autores principales: Schreiner, B., van Koppen, Barbara
Formato: Journal Article
Lenguaje:Inglés
Publicado: MDPI 2020
Materias:
Acceso en línea:https://hdl.handle.net/10568/109669
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author Schreiner, B.
van Koppen, Barbara
author_browse Schreiner, B.
van Koppen, Barbara
author_facet Schreiner, B.
van Koppen, Barbara
author_sort Schreiner, B.
collection Repository of Agricultural Research Outputs (CGSpace)
description Water-permit systems are widely used across Africa as a blanket requirement for small and micro irrigation enterprises, as well as large enterprises. The present study aimed to, first, further understand the implications of permit systems for both the most vulnerable and the state, and, second, based on the findings, identify options for pro-poor water legislation that also meet the water governance requirements of the state. The growing recognition of the importance of farmer-led irrigation development for food security across the continent underlines the importance of these questions. Focusing on Kenya, Malawi, South Africa, Uganda, Zimbabwe, and other African countries, we found that permit systems criminalized instead of protected the water rights of small-scale farmers. Moreover, little if any attention is paid to the logistical burdens and costs to the state of implementing such systems relative to the intended revenue generation. As many small-scale farmers in Africa were found to operate under customary land and water tenure systems, the study proposes a hybrid system of water rights that formally recognizes such practices, along with the use of permits, including enforcement of conditions for large users, to serve the interests of both the state and small-scale farmers.
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spelling CGSpace1096692024-06-26T10:09:23Z Hybrid water rights systems for pro-poor water governance in Africa Schreiner, B. van Koppen, Barbara irrigation small scale systems farmers smallholders water users legislation legal pluralism customary law licences water law water governance water rights Water-permit systems are widely used across Africa as a blanket requirement for small and micro irrigation enterprises, as well as large enterprises. The present study aimed to, first, further understand the implications of permit systems for both the most vulnerable and the state, and, second, based on the findings, identify options for pro-poor water legislation that also meet the water governance requirements of the state. The growing recognition of the importance of farmer-led irrigation development for food security across the continent underlines the importance of these questions. Focusing on Kenya, Malawi, South Africa, Uganda, Zimbabwe, and other African countries, we found that permit systems criminalized instead of protected the water rights of small-scale farmers. Moreover, little if any attention is paid to the logistical burdens and costs to the state of implementing such systems relative to the intended revenue generation. As many small-scale farmers in Africa were found to operate under customary land and water tenure systems, the study proposes a hybrid system of water rights that formally recognizes such practices, along with the use of permits, including enforcement of conditions for large users, to serve the interests of both the state and small-scale farmers. 2020-01-04 2020-09-28T08:24:17Z 2020-09-28T08:24:17Z Journal Article https://hdl.handle.net/10568/109669 en Open Access MDPI Schreiner, B.; van Koppen, Barbara. 2020. Hybrid water rights systems for pro-poor water governance in Africa. Water, 12(1):155. (Special issue: Selected Papers from 2019 World Water Week) [doi: 10.3390/w12010155]
spellingShingle irrigation
small scale systems
farmers
smallholders
water users
legislation
legal pluralism
customary law
licences
water law
water governance
water rights
Schreiner, B.
van Koppen, Barbara
Hybrid water rights systems for pro-poor water governance in Africa
title Hybrid water rights systems for pro-poor water governance in Africa
title_full Hybrid water rights systems for pro-poor water governance in Africa
title_fullStr Hybrid water rights systems for pro-poor water governance in Africa
title_full_unstemmed Hybrid water rights systems for pro-poor water governance in Africa
title_short Hybrid water rights systems for pro-poor water governance in Africa
title_sort hybrid water rights systems for pro poor water governance in africa
topic irrigation
small scale systems
farmers
smallholders
water users
legislation
legal pluralism
customary law
licences
water law
water governance
water rights
url https://hdl.handle.net/10568/109669
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