The Potential Benefits of Water Reallocation among Agricultural Users.

Irrigated fields produce a large share of the world’s crops, but in many river basins agriculture faces growing competition from other water users. This paper focuses on intensity irrigation use, i.e., volume applied per unit irrigated land, ten districts located Mexican side Rio Grande-Bravo Basin. Based analysis historical production data for districts’ main results show that varies widely among and through time. Local environmental conditions (aridity seasonal availability water) explain most this variability; however, districtlevel organizational characteristics (plot sizes land tenure regime) also play role. These features agricultural use within water-stressed basin point to substantial opportunities using transfers meet nonagricultural needs (including uses) without affecting overall crop production.