Is Small Better? A Comparison of the Effect of Large and Small Dams on Cropland Productivity in South Africa

This study estimates and compares the effects of small and large irrigation dams on cropland productivity in South Africa. To this end, a panel data set of South African river basins is constructed. The econometric analysis reveals that although large dams increase cropland productivity downstream, they have a negative effect on cropland within the vicinity. However, their existence can enhance the relatively small positive impact of local small dams. Although a cost-benefit analysis of irrigation benefits shows that small dams may be more viable than large ones, large dams can play a potentially important role within a system of both types of dams.

Bibliographic Details

Main Authors:	Blanc, Elodie, Strobl, Eric
Format:	Policy Research Working Paper biblioteca
Language:	English en_US
Published:	World Bank, Washington, DC 2013-08
Subjects:	AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTION, AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTIVITY, AGRICULTURAL WATER, BASIN, BASIN BOUNDARIES, BASIN LEVEL, CANAL, CANAL NETWORK, CAPACITY BUILDING, CATCHMENT, CATCHMENT AREA, CATCHMENT AREAS, CATCHMENTS, CLIMATE CHANGE, CONSTRUCTION COSTS, COVERING, CUBIC METERS, DAM BUILDING, DAM CLASSIFICATION, DAM DEVELOPMENT, DAM ENGINEERING, DAM FAILURE, DAM HEIGHT, DAM LOCATION, DAM SAFETY, DAM WALL, DRAINAGE, DRAINAGE BASIN, EARLY WARNING SYSTEM, EARTH DAMS, EARTHEN DAMS, EMBANKMENT, EMBANKMENT DAMS, ENVIRONMENTAL COSTS, ENVIRONMENTAL DEGRADATION, FILL DAMS, FILL EMBANKMENT, FLOOD CONTROL, FLOODS, FLOW OF WATER, GRAVITY, GRAVITY DAMS, HAZARD POTENTIAL, HYDRAULIC CONDUCTIVITY, HYDROLOGICAL CYCLE, HYDROLOGICAL MODEL, HYDROLOGY, HYDROPOWER, HYDROPOWER PRODUCTION, IMPACT OF DAM, IMPACT OF DAMS, INTEGRATED WATER RESOURCES MANAGEMENT, INTERNATIONAL WATER, IRRIGATED AREA, IRRIGATION CANAL, IRRIGATION INVESTMENT, IRRIGATION WATER, LAKE, LARGE DAM, LARGE DAM CONSTRUCTION, LARGE DAMS, LARGE IRRIGATION, LARGE-SCALE INFRASTRUCTURE, LARGER DAM, LOCAL RIVER, LOCALITY, MANAGEMENT PRACTICES, NATURAL RESOURCES, RAIN, RAINFALL, RAINWATER, RAINWATER HARVESTING, REMOTE SENSING, RESERVOIR, RESERVOIR CAPACITY, RIPARIAN, RIPARIAN RIGHTS, RIVER, RIVER BASIN, RIVER BASIN AREA, RIVER BASIN MANAGEMENT, RIVER BASIN SCALE, RIVER BASINS, RIVER FLOW, RIVER LENGTH, RIVER NETWORK, RIVERS, RUNOFF, SALINITY, SAND DAM, SAND DAMS, SEEPAGE, SMALL DAM, SMALL DAMS, SMALLER DAMS, STORAGE CAPACITY, STREAM, STREAM FLOW, STREAMFLOW, SURFACE AREA, TREE COVER, UPSTREAM DAM, UPSTREAM DAMS, USE OF DAMS, WATER HARVESTING, WATER LOGGING, WATER RESOURCES, WATER RIGHTS, WATER STORAGE, WATER SUPPLY, WATER SUPPLY MANAGEMENT, WATER TRANSFER, WATER USE,
Online Access:	http://documents.worldbank.org/curated/en/2013/08/18104538/small-better-comparison-effect-large-small-dams-cropland-productivity-south-africa http://hdl.handle.net/10986/16000
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