Communality in farmer managed irrigation systems: Insights from Spain, Ecuador, Cambodia and Mozambique

Worldwide farmer managed irrigation systems have provided crops for food, feed and the market centuries. From high mountain environments to river valleys deltas, in all continents people organized construct, use, maintain, transform sustain irrigated agro-ecosystems. In this context it is important better understand how these are sustained. The objective of contribution explore theorize through which strategies mechanisms irrigators able a constantly changing socio-environmental context. study based on ethnographic qualitative research four areas where sustained by (Valencia region, Spain; Ecuadorian highlands; Cambodian Mekong delta; Tsangano district, Mozambique). Research consisted interviews observations was supported literature review what has been published about systems. Results show that dynamic but changes we term ‘communality’. We introduce point out three interrelated elements stand at basis sustenance, namely: commons, community polity. Analysis case studies points mobilized differently farmers depending their mobilization different amidst internal external challenges conflicts, forms longevity sustainability collectively collective action portrayed as main pillar sustains This notion showing combination individual actions, practices, normative frameworks organizational forms; sense community; development political agency (polity). Recognizing come together site specific hybrids opens new avenues inquiry