Asset Management of Irrigation Infrastructure – The Approach of Goulburn-Murray Water, Australia

This paper presents a case study of Goulburn-Murray Water's approach to the development and implementation of its asset management program for irrigation infrastructure. The success and effectiveness of asset management is not a matter of technical aspects only, rather it depends on an integrated package of institutional, organisational, technical and financial aspects.     

A Farmer-Centered Analysis of Irrigation Management Transfer in Mexico

With the rewritten Article 27 of the Mexican Constitution and the National Water Law of 1992, Mexico embarked on an ambitious program of transferring the management of many irrigation systems to local user groups, primarily farmers. By 1996, 372 water user associations had been formed to control water delivery to 2.92 million hectares. During this time water prices increased by 45–180% and government O&M subsidies were eliminated. Limited economic analysis of stakeholder impact has been conducted of the irrigation management transfer (IMT) program. This research effort pilots a partial budget analytical framework for analyzing the social benefits and costs of IMT. Two irrigation modules near Culiacan, Sinaloa were selected as case studies. Results reveal that even with significantly higher water prices, water users have invested more in their systems than during the post-IMT period and consider their overall irrigation costs to be lower. Lower transaction costs in the pre-IMT period explain the majority of these cost savings. Efforts to quantify incremental benefits and costs associated with IMT at the module and district levels proved difficult given the unavailability of reliable, time series information.     

Level basin design based on cutoff criteria

This paper describes a new procedure for the design of level-basin irrigation systems which is based on the irrigator's cutoff criteria. Design with this procedure, hopefully, will be more transferable to users and will allow basin designs to be adopted to local practices. Comparisons are made to existing design procedures, and it is shown that many of them can be expressed in terms of this new procedure, available in the form of a computer program. A sensitivity analysis was used to confirm the desirability of these new guidelines on design. The sensitivity analysis also showed that the cutoff distance can be adjusted to account for changes in vegetative roughness.     

Innovations in irrigation management and development in Hunan province

Mass movement labor was an important contributor to irrigation system construction in China during the seventies, making up a third or more of system costs. Total per-ha system costs are roughly consistent with those in other Asian countries when contributed labor is valued at estimated farm wage rates, but less than average if zero labor opportunity cost is assumed.Innovative practices are being employed in managing and supporting irrigation system operations in Western Hunan Province. Many are ones which have been advocated repeatedly elsewhere but infrequently applied. These include the volumetric wholesaling of water to distribution organizations, farmer water charges with both fixed and volumetric components, financially autonomous irrigation management agencies, and delegation of water distribution and fee-collection responsibility to village-based organizations. Heavy emphasis currently rests on financial self-reliance of schemes as denoted by the slogan, let water support water. This has led to a proliferation of secondary income-generating enterprises associated with irrigation system management, as well as strenuous efforts to collect irrigation fees. Often the secondary enterprises generate a larger share of total income than does the irrigation service itself.Fee levels for rice generally fall into the $12 to $20 ha/yr range, intermediate to those prevailing in Pakistan at $8.50/ha for two crops of rice and the Philippines at $45/ha for double cropped rice. Collection of fees is typically handled by the village. Charges are usually levied on an area basis but one large system employed a more complicated system which had both fixed and variable components. Water allocation at lower system levels is also delegated to the village in many cases, with the state serving as a wholesale provider of water.Abbreviations and units ha-m hectare-meter - jin unit of weight equal to 0.5 kg - kw kilowatt - mu unit of land area equal to 1/15 ha - Rmb Renmimbi (Yuan) equal to US$ 0.27 officially in September 1988 and about half of that unofficially - RMD Reservoir Management Division - WCB Water Conservancy Bureau - WMD Water Management Department     

Turnover and irrigation service fees

This paper reviews the implications of the new economic policies of turning over public irrigation systems to local water users and irrigation service fees that are in the process of being implemented by the Indonesian Government. These policies are designed to ensure that irrigation is economically sustainable over the next decades. The turnover program has already made considerable progress and, once government policies are clarified, has the potential to major impact on irrigation in the more mountainous provinces. It is expected by the year 2002 that 108 billion Rupiah will be raised from service fees. However, with respect to the collection of such fees, there is still bureaucratic uncertainty and local resistance that must be overcome before the policy can be successfully implemented throughout the country.     

A rational method for assessing irrigation performance at farm level with the aid of fuzzy set theory

Of the various client groups with interests in irrigation system performance, farmers are probably the least often considered. This is, at least in part, attributable to the profound difficulty encountered in attempting to obtain reliable measurements of performance at farm level in most systems. Yet irrigation systems should be seen as a service to farmers, whose perspective on the utility of the supply is an important component of performance monitoring. Direct measurement at field level is generally not feasible and an alternative approach is proposed utilising fuzzy set theory. The procedure can be seen as a rapid appraisal technique which is also applicable to performance assessment in informal farmer-managed systems. The usefulness of the approach lies in its ability to gather data in imprecise linguistic terms from individual farmers and to aggregate them rationally and objectively.     

Irrigation and Drainage Systems Maintenance: Needs for Research and Action

Irrigation system maintenance hastraditionally played second chair to systemoperations. This relative neglect hassquandered economic benefits and depletedthe value of capital assets. Recentprograms transferring operation andmaintenance responsibility to water usergroups offer an opportunity to redress thisbalance and create a more systematic andsustainable program of system maintenancein transferred systems. This paperidentifies important research needs thatform the basis for an action researchintervention program. The need to linkmaintenance inputs to hydraulic performance isclearly important, as is the need toprioritize inputs in terms of both cost andexpected impact on performance. Thefunding of maintenance is closely linked toasset management so that water user groupscan develop long-term strategies forprioritizing and financing theiractivities. Factors that lead water usergroups to choose between a self-helpstrategy towards O&M and the hiring ofprofessional staff to undertake these tasksalso requires additional research andinvestigation. Finally, the relationshipbetween regular maintenance and frequentrehabilitation needs to be defined and thetwo linked through policy, agreements, andfunding arrangements.     

山区苹果节水灌溉试验研究

通过3年田间试验,采用灌关键水、控制土壤水分下限和果树栽培管理相结合的管理模式,探索出苹果生长期的需水规律及节水灌溉模式,即管道输水加按棵施灌的灌水方法.以田间试验为主,通过4个小区不同灌溉制度与群众习惯灌溉的对比试验,按照水量平衡原理.确定了盛果期苹果园生长期的需水量及需水规律;根据各小区果树连续3年的需水量、果树产量和产值,确定苹果树的水分生产率和水分生产效益.求得灌溉效益最大的那组试验数据.由此制定出苹果非充分灌溉节水灌溉制度:苹果在管灌方式下,灌溉4次为宜,最佳灌水期为萌芽前、新梢生长和幼果膨大期、果实迅速膨大期和落叶期.灌溉定额为1 050 m3/hm2.     

Spreadsheets for water management — a case study from the Brantas Delta,East Java

The use of commercially available spreadsheet programs for scheduling of water supplies for large scale irrigation networks is a relatively new phenomenom. The paper describes the development and application of such a program for a 30 000 ha irrigation scheme in the Brantas Delta, East Java. The program has been in use for day-to-day scheduling of main system supplies since April 1986, during which time refinements and adjustments have been necessary to formulate a working package. The paper draws conclusions regarding the value of the program for improving water management.     

Lessons from the Demonstration Management Improvement Program

The Management Improvement Program,a process based on Organizational Developmentprinciples and methods, was applied to an irrigatedagricultural system in Arizona, USA. The MIP seeks toimprove management and performance of the agriculturalsystem through structured diagnosis, planning, andimplementation activities with the participation ofsystem stakeholders. An equally important objectiveof the demonstration project was to identify strengthsand shortcomings of the MIP methodology and togenerate recommendations for managing its futureapplications. The data used to analyze thedemonstration project's management were obtainedthrough formal interviews and informal conversationswith individual participants, program review andfeedback sessions, and records of meetings andindividual communications.Lessons about the project's management are categorizedin six areas: the initial exploration phase, initialplanning, participant on-boarding, formation of theprocess management team, development of the localcontrol group, and evaluation of the project. A keyaspect of conducting a change process such as the MIPfor improving the performance of agricultural systems,is that issues affecting the system may be difficultto identify early in the process or may requirelonger-term solutions, extending beyond the life ofthe formal process. Because of this uncertainty, adetailed action plan, the role of participants, andmeasures for evaluating progress or impact are alsolikely to be uncertain early in the project. Nevertheless, it is critical that the application,including these elements, be defined as concisely aspossible, especially relative to scope and funding,while still allowing the flexibility to address apotentially wider range of issues. Given the natureof the MIP, those responsible for its management needto be technically proficient, experienced with teammanagement techniques, sensitive to the localpolitical environment of natural resource management,and when necessary, willing to challenge stakeholders'initial understandings of issues.     

Water Delivery Performance in the Maricopa-Stanfield Irrigation and Drainage District

A Diagnostic Analysis was conducted in the service area of theMaricopa-Stanfield Irrigation and Drainage District in Arizona,USA. The study was an initial step in a managed change process,named Management Improvement Program (MIP), aimed at improvingthe performance of the area's irrigated agricultural system. Partof the Diagnostic Analysis study focused on the performance ofthe irrigation district's water delivery service. The studyidentified areas of high and low water delivery performance,factors contributing to the observed levels of performance, andimplications to on-farm water management. These findings promptedchanges in the delivery system's management. Results from a post-MIP intervention study indicate that the district's waterdelivery performance has improved as a result of those changes,and thus, that the Diagnostic Analysis and MIP methodologies areeffective tools for promoting positive change in a water deliveryorganization.     

再生水灌溉对紫花苜蓿产量和品质的影响

[目的]探究再生水灌溉不同因素对紫花苜蓿产量和品质的影响.[方法]通过三因素三水平正交试验,利用极差分析和方差分析,研究了再生水灌溉不同因素的主次顺序、显著性、各因素影响趋势及最优组合.[结果]灌溉定额对紫花苜蓿株高、茎粗、一级分枝数、干草产量、粗脂肪、粗纤维、酸性洗涤纤维、中性洗涤纤维、相对饲喂价值、氮、磷、钾和钙影...     

Asset Management for Irrigation and Drainage Infrastructure – Principles and Case Study

This paper presents the general principles and functions of asset management for irrigation and drainage infrastructure: Asset planning and creation strategies, operation and maintenance, performance monitoring, accounting and economics and audit and renewal analysis. The various elements of the program are conceptually defined and their application is illustrated with the asset management program (AMP) formulated for the La Khe Irrigation System in Vietnam. It also identifies the role of the AMP within the framework of service oriented management of irrigation and drainage services. An infrastructure and investment profile developed from the asset survey identified the investment requirement over the next 40 years. The analysis of cost of service and revenues shows a shortfall of US£17.00/ha/annum to meet the investment requirement over this period. The asset audit and renewal analysis shows the upgrades of the main system needed to improve the current level of service.     

Cumulative relative water supply: A methodology for assessing irrigation system performance

This paper discusses the usefulness and limitations of using the concept of Relative Water Supply (RWS) for evaluating the performance of irrigation systems, with special reference to systems irrigating rice. It then describes and demonstrates the use of a modification of RWS called Cumulative Relative Water Supply (CRWS), which can be used in conjunction with RWS. The advantage of CRWS is that it provides a measure of the cumulated RWS throughout a season, both in absolute terms at any given time, and in terms of the overall seasonal trend. It allows comparison of performance of an irrigation system or subsystem both to the target, and to other systems or subsystems. It can therefore be used both as an analytical tool by researchers, and as an operational tool by managers. The use of CRWS in conjunction with RWS is illustrated with examples from Sri Lanka.     

Modernization of irrigation systems: A case of research,oriented to improve management

In recent years, the traditional concept of an irrigation project has been changing. From just a physical structure for the storage, conveyance and distribution of water, it is now being regarded as a more complex system, including farmers' participation. This implies an improved management in all phases, from reservoir operation to farm management, and therefore the change from simple operation and maintenance to operation, maintenance and management.To face this new challenge, existing projects must be modernized. The Sorraia Irrigation Project is one of those projects. In this paper major problems are identified and it is showed how research (namely through modelling) can be oriented towards an improved management, regarding the conveyance and distribution systems as well as the on-farm systems.Finally it becomes evident that beyond the technical problems to be solved, the involvement and participation of farmers must be improved at all levels of management. Hence, there is also a need for implementing programs on education, training and extension.     

Can Farmers in Egypt Shoulder the Burden of Irrigation Management?

The Government of Egypt is mandated toplan, construct, operate, manage, andmaintain the water system. However, withthe growing water demands over supplies inthe country, water management became a verydifficult task. This has led Egypt toreform policies, technologies,institutions, and development strategies tomanage water more effectively. One of thesestrategies is the irrigation managementtransfer (IMT) that has been a majorstrategy adopted to encourage farmers toplay a more important role in irrigationmanagement and related water services andalso share the cost of O&M of irrigationand drainage systems. IMT policy islaunched in Egypt as a pilot phase toexpand water users' participation atsecondary levels of the irrigation anddrainage systems. Four pilot areas (5,000–8,000 acre) representing all categories andgeographical locations of agriculturallands of Egypt were selected to implementthis policy.This study was conducted in these pilotareas prior to the start of any IMTactivities to describe, analyze, andexplain farmers' attitudes towardirrigation maintenance and implementationof IMT process. Socio-economicquestionnaires were designed and used asthe main tool for data collection. Afterthe field pre-test of the surveyinstrument, a sample of 240 farmers, 60from each pilot area, was selected usingthe sampling frame of multi-tiered process,and the statistical data analysis was doneusing SpssWin software.The major result of this study is that,without proper education and interface withfarmers, there is widespread resistance tothe idea farmers assuming management andmaintenance responsibilities beyond theon-farm level. It would have to proceedvery cautiously, and yield responsiveresults if it were to survive in the faceof the attitudes the farmers have shown,with their strong belief in the necessityof the role of the government. Meanwhile,farmers expressed great confidence in theIMT process and its objectives.     

农田优化灌溉动态管理基本程序与方法研究

从土壤———作物———大气连续体角度出发 ,利用田间试验资料和气象资料 ,分析了影响优化灌溉方案制定的有关因子 ,确定出春小麦、春玉米不同生长阶段土壤水分控制下限标准 ;在土壤水分平衡理论的基础上 ,建立了时域滚动预报灌溉日期的方法 ;并以春小麦、春玉米农田为例进行了检验 ,结果比较理想     

Economic incentives reduce irrigation deliveries and drain water volume

This paper describes the application of an economic incentive program to achieve water quality objectives by motivating improvements in farm-level water management practices. The program includes farm-specific water allotments, tiered water pricing, and low-interest loans for purchasing irrigation equipment. The implementation of this program in a California water district has resulted in significant reductions in irrigation deliveries and drain water volume. Since the program was implemented, average irrigation depths have declined by 25% on cotton fields, 9% on tomatoes, 10% on cantaloupes, 30% on seed alfalfa, and 29% on grain fields. The average volume of drain water collected each year in subsurface drainage systems has declined from 4.8 million m³ during 1986 through 1989 to 2.6 million m³ during 1990 through 1993. These results confirm that economic incentives can be effective in generating improvements in water quality.     

Determining the optimal size of water users' associations

In 1985 the General Irrigation Department (DGI) of the Province of Mendoza, Argentina, launched a water users' associations reorganization program to attain administratively more effective associations. At that time there were 760 water users' associations (WUAs) managing a total irrigated area of 360,000 ha. Under the reorganization program all water users' associations of less than 1000 ha were merged into larger organizations. The main obstacle to the viability of small WUAs was the lack of adequate funding to perform their irrigation water management responsibilities. At that time it was thought that the ideal administrative area should range from 10,000 to 15,000 ha. Eight years after the reorganization, the total number of WUAs was reduced to 360. This paper reviews the experience with the reorganization program. It concludes that the optimal size should be between 3000 and 10,000 ha to minimize management costs. This conclusion is based on the detailed budgets of nine new WUAs administering from 500 to 14,000 ha.     

Farmer's perspective on irrigation performance

Of the many client groups with interests in irrigation system performance, farmers are probably the least often considered. This paper attempts to explore the meaning of irrigation performance from their perspective, highlighting at the outset basic difference between this perspective and that of system managers. It then reviews several important concepts underlying a consideration of performance in irrigation systems. The paper then proposes and discusses a set of twelve measures of irrigation service judged to be of interest to farmers. These are adequacy, timeliness, equity, tractability, convenience, predictability, temperature, sediment content, salt content, nutrient content, toxics, and pathogens.