Water Game Theory

Evolution of game theory application in Irrigation systems

Aishwarya S Manolkar

Dept: Industrial Engineering Management

RV College of Engineering, Bangalore, Karnataka

Masters in Engineering Management

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Abstract:

Water is the basic need for survival. The largest consumer of water is agriculture. Since the demand for water is expected to rise and also we know that freshwater is not an unlimited resource, there are a lot of conflicts about the use of water. The allocation issues are becoming more intense these days. This paper examines the potential for water conflicts, when water conflicts for water consumption for irrigation takes place. Here mainly Game theory is used as a platform which will provide the

Since there are too many interdependencies (externalities) among water uses and the fact that water in not always available at the ‘right’ time and the ‘right’ location, water users have to share water. This valuable and vital resource called water has to be shared at different levels of access. This variation about the distribution of water, its availability, its qualitative characteristics and the composition of its sectoral use contributes to the arising of conflicts among water users. The abusing of the available fresh water are getting higher and water scarcity affects the living standards which is a risk. In such a case, the number and level of conflicts are quite likely to be elevated in the future. Because water is so essential to agricultural sector due to its abundant use, conflicts and disputes over the use of irrigation water tend also to arise. Conflicts take place in several levels: on local, inter-state or international level (i.e. disputes between upstream and downstream irrigators or between two countries sharing a water body), between sectors (i.e. agricultural versus industrial water use), among competing economic and social interests (i.e. to invest on small-scale irrigation schemes or not),

The following approach is under game theoretical perspective. Game theory offers insights into any economic, political, or social situation that involves individuals who have different goals or preferences and make decisions that will influence one another's welfare (Myerson, 1991)[1] and, for that reason, it serves in a better understanding of conflict. Discussion on the evolution of game theory applications in irrigation may help in better understanding of past and present dilemmas about water consumption. The main goal of this article is to contribute to the discussion arising about resolving conflicts generated by irrigated agriculture. Previously published research work on game theory applications, analyzing agricultural water rights, is reviewed. Reviewing cases of recent empirical studies could assist in better understanding of research direction over such issues. The results of this analysis may be appreciated by policy makers for creative problem solving about water use in the field of irrigation management.

Section 2 will briefly emphasizes the contribution of irrigation to our livelihood it will also demonstrates some basic irrigation statistics and discusses the arising conflicts. Section 3 will provide briefly and describes some basic concepts about game theory. Section 4 will give examples of typical games in agriculture water and focuses on published research work on game theory and irrigation