Dan Yaron

Adoption and abandonment of irrigation technologies

Adoption and abandonment processes are analyzed for seven irrigation technologies. A procedure is developed to estimate the technology cycle and applied to data available for citrus groves in several regions of Israel, and Gaza. The technology cycle was used to estimate diffusion-abandonment patterns for several irrigation technologies that have been abandoned. Results suggest that the technology cycle is unique to each technology and similar in length for all regions. Results predict the year of full abandonment of each technology. For modern technologies still in the diffusion phase, a logistic equation was fitted to the aggregated data. Results suggest that diffusion is significantly affected by economic variables such as water price, crop yield price, and subsidy for irrigation equipment. Use of the estimated equations for policy purposes suggest that water price and subsidy for irrigation equipment can be used to control the diffusion process (speed and ceiling) of the irrigation technologies.

Evaluating Cooperative Game Theory in Water Resources

Two empirical applications of Cooperative Game Theory concerned with regional cooperation in the use of irrigation water are presented. Both studies attempt to derive income maximizing solutions for the participants and the related income allocation schemes. Distinction is made between transferable and non-transferable utility situations. The reasonableness and the acceptability of the schemes derived are later critically evaluated. Main findings are: (1) use of utility functions leads to problems in gains allocations, (2) the Core concept may be useless in this application because since it is either difficult to calculate or is empty in many cases, (3) gains allocation and the derived core are heavily dependent on probabilities of coalitions formation in the Shapley value or the Generalized Shapley Value.

Application of Dynamic Programming in Markov Chains to the Evaluation of Water Quality in Irrigation

With the aid of a dynamic programming model in Markov chains, this paper presents an economic analysis of irrigation with saline water. Results provide guides to optimal irrigation policy. Estimates of the value of water quality in irrigation are derived, and possible applications in water resource development decisions are discussed.

Regional cooperation in the use of irrigation water: Efficiency and income distribution

The paper presents an analysis of the economic potential of regional cooperation in water use in irrigation under conditions characterized by a general trend of increasing salinity. Income maximizing solutions for the region are derived and the related income distribution schemes are solved for, with the aid of cooperative game theory algorithms and shadow cost pricing. Distinction is made between distribution policies with and without side payments. The reasonableness and the acceptability of these schemes is later critically evaluated. The Nash-Harsanyi approach seems to be the most appropriate for the conditions studied.

The value of information on the response function of crops to soil salinity

The expected profitability to farmers from acquiring additional information on the biological response function of crop yield to soil-salinity is investigated. First, a switching regression approach to estimate piecewise linear response function with critical threshold level is presented. Then, an optimization irrigation model was developed, aimed at determining the optimal use of irrigation water for soil leaching. Finally, a loss function was defined, the expected value of sample information was calculated and the optimal number of additional needed observations was determined. At each stage, an empirical analysis, using data from potato field experiment in Israel, is presented.

Adoption of drip irrigation in cotton: the case of Kibbutz cotton growers in Israel.

Abstract The subject of technological innovations in agriculture has attracted considerable attention among development economists because new technologies offer opportunities to increase income substantially. Immediate and uniform adoption of agricultural innovations is quite rare. Some innovations have been well received while others have been adopted by only a very small group of farmers. The aim of this paper is to identify, estimate and explain the parameters which promote the adoption and speed the rate of diffusion of drip irrigation technology in cotton‐growing. Using cross‐section time‐series regression models, the analysis was applied to a sample of 38 kibbutz cotton‐growers in two regions of Israel. It was found that profitability is the major motive for adoption of drip irrigation in cotton by a profit‐maximizer kibbutz farm. Additional significant explanatory variables which affect the rate of diffusion are detailed in the paper.

Economic evaluation of the transition from a traditional to a modernized irrigation project

Abstract This paper presents an analysis of modernization of a traditional irrigation project in which the transition to a capital-intensive and water-saving irrigation system was accompanied by a shift to a new crop mix dominated by high-income vegetable crops, grown using a modern technology package. The study applies the cost-benefit analysis approach and examines the modern project as a comprehensive entity. The main findings of the study are (1) a modern irrigation project, incorporating drip irrigation systems, in combination with high-value cash crops, attains a high internal rate of return to capital; (2) a modern irrigation project, incorporating drip systems, but practicing a traditional crop mix, is not economically justified; (3) under conditions of scarce capital resources partial modernization systems which include only selected components of modernization may be appropriate.

Economics of irrigation and the institutional and pricing systems of water in Israel

Abstract The paper reviews some of the relationships which apparently exist between the progress made in (1) the economics of irrigation, and (2) the institutional framework and system of water pricing. It suggests that under conditions of scarcity of irrigation water and conceptional understanding of the economic relationships involved in irrigation, pressure develops to adapt the institutional and pricing systems to obtain a more rational utilization. Highlights of the development of these two interrelated fields in Israel since 1950 are reviewed and briefly discussed.

Alternative cropping systems and intensive irrigation under arid zone conditions

Abstract Water and land are two inputs that affect agricultural productivity due to their relative scarcity. Intensified agricultural practices utilizing water and land, as well as other inputs, have been suggested by agronomists and other agricultural researchers as one possible means to increase agricultural production. Intensified agricultural practices tend to be capital intensive, and should be evaluated carefully for their feasibility. A general framework for analysis was suggested and applied to a case study under arid conditions in the Israeli Negev region. Results suggest that certain combinations of crop mix and irrigation technologies provide better opportunities than traditional cropping and irrigation practices. Intensification of the production system by including double cropping of field crops and incorporation of high-income crops can reduce the burden of the additional irrigational capital cost.

Economics of water resources : the contributions of Dan Yaron

List of Figures. List of Tables. Acknowledgments. Preface. 1. Dan Yaron: The Person, His Work and His Legacy A. Dinar, D. Zilberman. 2. The Israel Water Economy: An Overview D. Yaron. 3. Empirical Analysis of the Demand for Water by Israeli Agriculture D. Yaron. 4. Wheat Response to Soil Moisture and the Optimal Irrigation Policy under Conditions of Unstable Rainfall D. Yaron, et al. 5. A Model for the Economic Evaluation of Water Quality in Irrigation D. Yaron, E. Bresler. 6. Application of Dynamic Programming in Markov Chains to the Evaluation of Water Quality in Irrigation D. Yaron, A. Olian. 7. A Model for Optimal Irrigation Scheduling with Saline Water D. Yaron, et al. 8. Optimal Allocation of Farm Irrigation Water during Peak Seasons D. Yaron, A. Dinar. 9. The Value of Information on the Response Function of Crops to Soil Salinity E. Feinerman, D. Yaron. 10. A Model for the Analysis of Seasonal Aspects of Water Quality Control D. Yaron. 11. Treatment Optimization of Municipal Wastewater and Reuse for Regional Irrigation A. Dinar, D. Yaron. 12. Evaluating Cooperative Game Theory in Water Resources A. Dinar, et al. 13. Adoption and Abandonment of Irrigation Technologies A. Dinar, D. Yaron. 14. An Approach to the Problem of Water Allocation to Israel and the Palestinian Entity D. Yaron. 15. Placing Dan Yarons Work in the Literature D. Zilberman, A. Dinar. Appendix: Dan Yarons Graduate Students. Index.