A tale of service regimes in irrigated urban agriculture: evidence from two cities in the Global South

Summary

This paper presents a service regime perspective on irrigated agricultural practices and their governance in cities of the developing world. Findings of the governance of irrigated urban agriculture and adjacent practices in Arusha (Tanzania) and Khulna (Bangladesh) show how service regimes bridge the gap between (formal) governance institutions and practices around irrigated urban agriculture. They cross-cut the different institutional layers in urban society and boundaries between agricultural and urban water systems. By acknowledging, facilitating and aligning service regimes, scholars and practitioners can strengthen governance arrangements for enhancing irrigated urban agriculture while safeguarding water quality and food safety.