Incluye glosario.

Incluye bibliografía

Foreword -- Abstract -- Acknowledgments -- Executive summary -- The authors -- 1. Introduction -- 2. Irrigation in Victoria in 1984: starting point for the journey -- 3. Signposts along the way -- 4. Political economy of reform, government policy, governance and strategic planning -- 5. Profitability of irrigation -- 6. The irrigation authority as a commercial business -- 7. Environmental sustainability -- 8. Insights for future travellers -- Glossary -- Bibliography -- List of figures and tables

Significant reform took place in the Victorian irrigation industry in the decade 1984 to 1994. This reform has positioned irrigated agriculture to take advantage of emerging international markets while maintaining and enhancing the natural resource base on which irrigation depends. The overall strategy was to improve the profitability of irrigation, improve the efficiency of the irrigation authority, and improve the sustainability of irrigation with respect to its resource base, the waters and soils of Victoria. Improved profitability of irrigation generates an improved cash flow for irrigators to invest in improved management of soil and water resources. The ability to pay higher water prices also generates more revenue for the irrigation authority to invest in renewing irrigation infrastructure and improving services. Increases in water prices also stimulate necessary restructuring of the industry, the introduction of new technology and improvement of the profitability of irrigated agriculture. The authors have quantified the achievements over the decade. The irrigators were protected as far as practicable from the individually difficult consequences of economic reform. This report is not a prescription to treat the maladies that have beset irrigation over the centuries, but rather a map with signposts to indicate the way for those facing similar challenges who must make the same journey.