LAUSR

A brief description is presented of the process and impact of the transfer of the infrastructure, management, and operation of irrigation districts in Mexico from the state to farmers. It begins with an overview of the present and future conditions of the hydro‐agricultural sector in the country, and goes on to discuss the social background and the legal framework under which the transfer process was planned and carried out, highlighting the participation and the organizational framework adopted by the users, which not only remains in force, but has been consolidated, giving rise to a social organization that constitutes an example nationwide. In addition, a series of major challenges, problems, and opportunities that need to be addressed in order to meet the current and growing food demand prevailing in the country are discussed. In closing, a reflection is given on the importance of the legal framework on water and its impact on the agricultural sector, highlighting the need to have a General Water Law that is applicable both to the three tiers of government that exist in Mexico and to society at large, an action currently in progress. Copyright © 2018 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.