Files
Abstract
The performance of Water Communities
(WCs), a form of self-managing organisation for
irrigation, in the Bregalnica region of the Republic of
Macedonia is investigated. Analysis, drawing on
primary survey data, focuses on the decision of
farmers to join a WC (Heckman selection probit
model), determinants of farmers’ satisfaction with
their membership of WCs (ordered probit model) and
factors associated with changes in farmers’ water
payment behaviour (non-parametric CLAD model).
Key determinants identified include transparency and
trust with respect to the structure and operation of the
WC, cost recovery rates, farm size and irrigation
costs. Membership satisfaction is an important
determinant of payment behaviour. Lessons for
sustainable self-management are drawn.