Linear Programing Models for Estimating the Agricultural Demand Function for Imported Water in the Pecos River Basin

This paper provides the results of applying parametric linear programing methods to estimate the agricultural demand function for imported water in the Pecos basin. A parametric linear programing model suitable for the Pecos basin is developed. Agricultural activities in which land is irrigated either by local or imported water and by either ditch or sprinkler irrigation are developed and adjusted for forecasted 1980 prices. These agricultural activities are used by the parametric linear programing model, and various agricultural demand functions are obtained for the Pecos basin. These functions show the expected quantities of imported irrigation water that would be demanded at different prices and under a variety of constraints.