How Do Farmers Adapt to Water Scarcity? Evidence from Field Experiments

This research is about how people adapt to water scarcity. Field experiments were carried out in a region exposed to severe water scarcity in Colombia. Willingness of water users to cooperate in conforming to extraction caps as a means of adapting to water availability declination was calculated. Quantity and Time treatment groups were organized to assess water allocation decisions. The sustainability of water resources demands more research in order to further understand cooperative behavior. Since the literature on water scarcity is classified in three orders, namely physical, institutional and socio-political, behavioral dimensions are suggested as a subdivision of the social order. The quantitative results suggest that people are inclined to follow the cap. The main difference between the quantity and time treatments refers that in the latter people allocate much more water to be consumed in the future, whereas in the former, they prefer to allocate more water to be consumed in the present. Adaptation options have favorable implications in pursuing SDG 6, which is related to water use efficiency. Yet, ever since success in water conservation programs might be difficult due to complexity in human-decision making, more research is needed to deepen understanding of cooperation drivers in aquifer conservation