| The conflict between supply and demand of water resources has being tense in China. The water used in agriculture, accounting for the most of water withdrawal, has been seriously wasted, and has great potential for water conservation. Therefore, the key of solution to the current tension in the supply and demand of water resources is to save water in agriculture. Irrigation district which is the main carrier on irrigation crop cultivation, will alleviate the current shortage of water resources situation if it realize effective water-saving. For achieving water-saving in irrigation district, the traditional method is to resort to the means of engineering and technology, but it needs strong financial support, and it will be difficult to achieve the desired objectives if lack of effective institutions and policies to guarantee popularization and implementation of these means. At present, the lack of effective water management policies and backward water resources management institution are the significant factors that result in irrigation system not operating as intended and the situation of water resources shortage.With rapid development of economies, gradual establishment of a socialist market economic system and the expansion of irrigated area, the contradiction of irrigation water use has been increasingly conspicuous in Qinghai province, and the status quo can hardly meet the needs of economic development and agricultural production. Existing agricultural water management institution in Qinghai has no more suited to the socio-economic development of efficient water saving requirements.The paper draws on theories of Institutional Economics, Property Rights Economics, management and sustainable development, adopts methods of interview and survey questionnaires, tries to study irrigation district management institution from advanced theory and practice based on system analysis, aims to improve the efficiency of the use of water resources, develop irrigation district management status, and promote sustainable development of irrigated areas.Firstly the paper outlines the background, main contents, methods of irrigation district management study and technical route of this paper, gives a summary on irrigation district in Qinghai province. The second part summarizes the related research progress about irrigation district management institution at home and abroad and gives briefremarking. Based on analysis of the status quo of irrigation district management organizations, water price and water rights, the third part summarizes the problems of irrigation district management in Qinghai province and provides the basis for the reform. Proceeding from the fact on irrigation district in Qinghai province, the paper puts forward three schemes about the reform of irrigation district management institution in the fourth part. The current reform of the irrigation district management institution cannot be accomplished overnight, but should be gradually deepened according to the situation of irrigation district and its management. Each scheme resolves problems on irrigation district management in different strength and depth, and also brings forward requirements of different degrees on irrigation channels, metering facilities and other hardware facilities. The paper finally analyzes the effects of water-saving, the income of the farmers and grain yield on various schemes qualitatively. |
