"Since the late 1980s, opportunities to harness new resources for agricultural water management (AWM) have grown fewer and more expensive. Lending for irrigation and drainage has focused on rehabilitation and improvement of the existing systems. Water productivity, however, has generally remained low, and returns on public investment have been disappointing, especially in large-scale irrigation. More recently, though, new solutions have begun to emerge, based on widely available technology and new management and governance options. The role of government is changing, responsibility is being decentralized, farmers are playing an increasingly important role in decisions and investment, and markets are driving growth." "Reengaging in Agricultural Water Management: Challenges and Options explores this emerging paradigm, which integrates AWM within a more comprehensive development framework. The ultimate aims of AWM are being redefined: to meet the ever-rising demand for food while at the same time increasing farmer incomes, reducing poverty, and protecting the environment - all from an increasingly constrained water resource base."--BOOK JACKET.