Progress and prospects of comprehensive reform of agricultural water prices

WANG Huan; LU Wenhong; XU Lei

doi:10.3969/j.issn.1000-1123.2025.21.004

Abstract：The comprehensive reform of agricultural water prices is a crucial measure to promote sustainable utilization of water resources,ensure the sound operation and sustainable development of irrigation districts,and safeguard national food security and water security.After years of reform results progress have been achieved and valuable experience has been accumulated.This paper briefly outlines the objectives and significance of reform of agricultural water prices,reviews its four development stages,and summarizes main achievement based on the practices and experiences of various regions over the past 10 years.Focusing on the establishment of reform mechanisms,the paper analyzes and sorts out promotable local experiences.It elaborates on the basic contents and requirements of major reform mechanisms such as water metering technology,water price formation,and project operation and maintenance,and summarizes and refines innovative measures derived from local practices to form specific approaches with guiding significance.Current challenges are analyzed,including uneven infrastructure development,insufficient supporting metering facilities,difficulties in maintaining long-term incentive and subsidy mechanisms,and inadequate grassroots management systems.Based on the current reform situation,the paper further explores the future directions of deepening the reform prices,including consolidating long-term reform mechanisms,promoting the modernization of irrigation districts through digital technologies,improving water management systems based on water measurement,and establishing dynamic adjustment mechanisms for agricultural water prices and subsidies.The study aims to provide references and insights for further advancing the comprehensive reform of agricultural water prices in China.