After providing some background about the importance of cotton as a fibre, this article provides information about the global relevance of China’s and Australia’s cotton industries and compares the structure and other significant features of their cotton industries. Attention is given to...

Because of water's preeminent role in survival, political conflicts over international water resources tend to be particularly contentious. The intensity of a water conflict can be exacerbated by a region's geographical, geopolitical, or hydropolitical landscape. Water conflicts are especially...

Using a mathematical-programming agricultural-sector model of Egypt, this paper analyzes mechanisms for allocating scarce water and for charging the farmers the Operation and Management (O&M) costs of irrigation and drainage, currently covered by the government. The effects of cost recovery are...

CONTENTS: Brief 1. Overview / Ruth S. Meinzen-Dick and Mark W. Rosegrant Brief 2. Water for Food Production / Mark W. Rosegrant and Ximing Cai Brief 3. Domestic Water Supply, Hygiene, and Sanitation / Hans van Damme Brief 4. Emerging Water Quality Problems in Developing Countries / Wim van der...

Increasing water scarcity, rising costs of irrigation subsidies, and general economic liberalization are creating strong incentives for comprehensive water reform with establishment of tradable water rights and the development of markets in these rights. Experiences in Chile, Mexico, and...