THE POLICY ON PRICING IRRIGATION SERVICES IN THE MANAGEMENT OF IRRIGATION SYSTEMS AND AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTION VARIES WORLDWIDE AND IN VIETNAM, CASE STUDY IN NAM DINH PROVINCE
The role of irrigation is crucial for the development of agriculture, socio-economic growth, ecological protection, and disaster response. However, there are still many limitations in the management and operation of irrigation systems, including low efficiency in water utilization, deficiencies in the management system, complexity in the management process, low labor productivity, weak management capacity, water and irrigation infrastructure wastage, and rapid deterioration of irrigation structures. These issues and constraints result from the lack of appropriate management mechanisms, where water services are still considered the responsibility of the State, and users only have to pay minimal fees determined by the government. Therefore, it becomes necessary and urgent to transition from a fee-based irrigation model to a pricing model for irrigation products and services. This transition would create a transparent and equitable operating environment for organizations and individuals involved in providing irrigation products and services, attracting and stimulating the participation of private enterprises under market mechanisms that align with the policies and objectives of the State. The research employs various analytical methods, including descriptive and comparative statistical analysis and multivariate regression. The study examines the impact of pricing policies for water services on agricultural production, with a typical case study conducted in Nam Dinh province, Vietnam.
Irrigation; Pricing Irrigation Services; Agricultural Production.