SHADOC: a multi-agent model to tackle viability of irrigated systems

The viability of irrigated systems in the Senegal River Valley is being bro ught into question today due to their under-utilization. We assume that the ir viability depends largely on the way their different components behave a nd interact. We therefore sought to examine in greater depth today's knowle dge of the structure of these systems and activities performed within them. This led to the development of a multi-agent system model, a kind of virtu al irrigated system, with a special focus on rules in use for access to cre dit, water allocation and cropping season assessment as well as organizatio n and coordination of farmers. The purpose of this paper is to show how thi s kind of tool is relevant to the study of irrigated systems' viability. As an example it is used to examine the influence of existing social networks on the viability of irrigated systems.