Evaluation Critical Factors Affecting Success of Irrigation Projects

Abstract

Irrigation assumes a vital role in socio-economic development, population stabilization, and
environmental protection in developing countries, especially in agriculture-based countries like
Vietnam. All these operations require many water resources. It is forecasted that by 2040, 260
billion m3 of water will be needed for socio-economic use in Vietnam. However, water resources
endure uneven spatial and temporal distribution, which makes exploitation and use of it a
challenge. That is why construction and successful development of irrigation projects, efficient
and economized use of water becomes the decisive factor in the development of agricultural
production and, in turn, impacts people's living and the national economy. This paper ranks the
critical success factors (CSFs) of irrigation projects in Vietnam by applying the fuzzy approach.
The research results show that the three most critical success factors of irrigation projects are (i)
the smoothness of ground clearance compensation; (ii) the capacity of project management unit
and other project participants; and (iii) support of organizations inside and outside the project.