Economic study for the impact of establishing water users associations in the improved areas – case study: El-Atf canal – Egypt

Water users associations (WUAs) were established in Egypt to help in rational distribution of irrigation water, in the operation and the maintenance of the improved Mesqas, and in solving the disputes between farmers. This study aimed to assess the economic impact of establishing water users' associations on improving farmers' income through increasing productivity and decreasing irrigation cost. The current study was conducted in an improved canal in El-Menoufia irrigation directorate (El-Atf canal), and it assessed the expected roles of WUAs boards in serving different members through identifying problems and giving suggestions to overcome them, the obstacles of establishing new associations and the impact of WUAs activities on improving the equity of water distribution. The economic impact of WUAs was assessed through comparing the net return per unit area and per unit of water, and water productivity in WUAs fields with traditional fields. The results referred to significant increase in crops yield with a decrease in total cost. As a result, there was an increase in the net return per unit of area and per unit of water. The differences were noticeable at tail end reaches due to the irrigation problems at these reaches before the establishment of WUAs.