The potential for farmer participation in irrigation system management

The management of most irrigation systems involves shared responsibility between one or more government agencies and farmers. Finding the optimal level of farmer management participation is an essential part of achieving optimal system performance. Two cases are discussed where farmers have been encouraged to play a more active management role with promising results. In the Gal Oya system in Sri Lanka, farmers manage the tertiary channels and also have a voice in managing the main system. In the Philippines, small systems have been turned over entirely to farmer management, while on large systems farmers manage the tertiary or secondary levels. A number of factors appear to be important in the management success of these irrigation systems including:

-the social environment,

-a manageable main system,

-a strong commitment by the irrigation agency,

-the use of community organizers, and

-construction tasks around which farmers can organize.

Greater farmer involvement in irrigation management can have both economic and social benefits. Economically there is evidence that farmers perform certain functions better than outside agencies can, and that both farmers and agencies perform their management tasks better when they feel a mutual responsibility for a common objective. Social benefits include the organizational skills that farmers learn and which may be useful in other activities, and a sense of self-respect and self-reliance. Though farmer participation requires a deliberate effort on the part of international and government agencies, as well as farmers, the benefits can be substantial.