THE EFFECT OF STOCHASTIC IRRIGATION DEMANDS AND SURFACE-WATER SUPPLIES ON ON-FARM WATER MANAGEMENT

This study presents a procedure for simultaneously addressing stochast ic input demands and resource supplies for irrigated agriculture withi n a linear modeling framework. Specifically, the effect of stochastic crop net irrigation requirements and streamflow supplies on irrigation water management is examined. Irrigators pay a self-protection cost, in terms of water management decisions, to increase the probability th at stochastic crop water demand is satisfied and anticipated water sup ply is available. Self-protection cost is lower when increasing the pr obability that anticipated water supplies are delivered, ceteris parib us, than when increasing the probability that the crop receives full n et irrigation requirement in the study region.