MANAGEMENT OF SPATE IRRIGATION SYSTEMS

2.1

Management of spate irrigation:role of local government and user organisations

Viability of spate irrigation systems is determined by strength of organisations

Management arrangements

Three types:

Farmer management Farmer management and local government Farmer management and specialized agency

management

Farmer managed systems

Arrangements for farmer management– Rules on maintenance and water

distribution– Internal organisation– External support mechanisms– Activities beyond spate management

Rules on maintenance and water distribution

• Water distribution: Defines who has access to the floodwater and on what terms

• Linked to contributions in maintenance

Rules on maintenance and water distributionArrangements that relate maintenance to water

allocation

        Contribution according to shares – contribute in accordance to his land share irrespective of whether it was irrigated or not.

        Graded contributions – contribution related to likelihood of irrigation

        Contribution according to capacity – those that have draught animals are expected to bring them, those that do not, only provide labour

       Contribution according to benefit – for instance proportion of harvest

        Contribution by contract - only those who want to be entitled to water contribute. All others are expected to close their field inlets.

Rules on maintenance and water distribution

• Important requirement of maintenance is their robustness – ability to keep the systems going even in ‘bad’ years

Internal organisation in farmer managed systems

• Typical Characteristics– Minimum overhead costs– Maintenance organised as common labour– Seasonal (paid) functionaries– Sub-groups

Committee Meetings in Bada, Eritrea

The first meeting of the committee and group leaders is usually held after the harvest to discuss the reconstruction of the diversion structure (agim). The second meeting takes place after the reconstruction work to evaluate the work on the agim. The third meeting is held before the start of the planting season to discuss if diversion structures requires additional maintenance and if measures to avoid crop damage by pests and livestock are necessary. During this meeting the committee usually also decides which fields should be irrigated with the water of late floods. The fourth meeting takes place after the planting period to organise crop protection and to discuss measures to control damage by floods especially in the field to field system. Meetings should be attended by at least two-third of all farmers. Farmers absent during a meeting have to accept the decisions made.

Internal organisation

• Functionaries – typical tasks– Coordinate water supply to the flood channel– Supervise water distribution along the channel– Organize repair works– Mobilisation of contributions for maintenance

Ex Sheikh al-Wadeyeen (master of two wadis) Wadi Tuban, Yemen

Example

• Determine the water share of each main canal, following consultation of each Sheikh-al Obar (canal leader)• Decide the number of days that water is allocated to each main canal• Decide the required work to divert spate water at head reach

Raakha (engineer/guard on earthen bund), DI Khan, Pakistan

  supervise the layout and position of earthen bund, when it is constructed;  before the rainy season inspects the structure and points out weaker sections  vigilance during the spate season and communication with individual field owners, water user association, down stream farmers and with revenue department  witness breaching of the sadd/Ghandi  keep contacts with raakha of next downstream structure(s). 

Example

Internal organisation in farmer managed systems

• Existence of sub-groups– Easy mobilisation of labour for

maintenance at block and group/flood channel level

– Facilitation of the implementation of rules

ExampleTernafi (subcommand leader), Sheeb, Eritrea      assess the amount of labour required to carry out specific works;      mobilise labour for maintenance of irrigation structures;      supervise the works undertaken by farmers of his group;      check if all fields in his group receive irrigation water;      convey information and directives from the local administration/Ministry of Agriculture to the sub-group leaders;      investigate reasons when a farmer has not contributed labour during collective works;      transfer messages and requests from to the local administration  prepare written reports about the works undertaken by his group

External support

• Social organisation required to mobilize human and animal power for construction of diversion structures has been difficult to sustain in places:– For instance the outmigration after a drought can cause

the loss of a ‘critical mass’ of people to maintain and repair the system

– Or where there is inequity and ‘powerplay’ certain areas are deprived of water

• Need to support for instance by:– Organizing Water Users Associations – but be careful to

do it right– Support of earthmoving equipment: allow the timely

reconstruction of the diversion bunds

Activities beyond spate management

• Main task local farmer organisations: Organisation of maintenance and the enforcement of water distribution rules

• However: These organisations may function as well in other situations (social capital is there): land disputes, tenancy, crop planning, extension and marketing

Management by farmers and local government

• Medium and large systems: Increase in complementing role of local government in management

Especially in Pakistanthere is an excellenttradition of this joint management in spate irrigation

Riaz MohammedAC Rod Kohi, DG Khan

Farmer management and local government

Local government/administration:– Play a constructive and supplementary role in

organising maintenance and supervising water distribution

– Facilitate other processes in spate irrigation– Intervene when necessary– Use (old) water right records

ExampleTeshildar, Kacchi, Pakistan:(local government):•Oversees water distribution between different area on same river•Oversees that no new areas are developed•Organizes collection of tax

WITH DECENTRALIZATION MAGISTRAL POWERS OF LOCAL GOVERNMENT STAFF

DISAPPEARED

THIS HAS BEEN A SERIOUS SET BACK IN THE OPERATION OF WATER DISTRIBUTION AND

ORGANIZATION OF MAINTENANCE –THIS NEEDS BE CORRECTED!

        Director of Agriculture (chairman), Permanent Secretary of the Department of Agriculture (deputy chairman) and seventeen to twenty five members, representing the landlords and cultivators.        Mashayikh al-A’bar (supervisors of channels) from the two wadis may be invited to attend meetings but their opinions shall be advisory in nature.        The Director of Agriculture shall submit to HH the Sultan a list of the names of those whom he nominates for the membership of the Agricultural Council, and H.H. the Sultan shall select from among them the required number.         The term of membership of the Council shall be for two years as from the date of appointment.

EXAMPLE: AGRICULTURAL COUNCIL TUBAN 1950YEMEN

       

• Division of water between the two main wadis

        Supervising water distribution and irrigation sequence within the area

        Rationalizing tenancy rules

        Distribution of land among small and large cultivators.

.        Maintenance of channels and barrages.

        Devising of a system for dealing with lands which are forced to pay maintenance contributions but which were not irrigated

        Regulation of maintenance charges on channels and wadis, and assigning a special fund for them.

        Introduction of a special system for thesecond irrigation of land is planted with red sorghum, so that the local food security is ensured

        Scrutinize agricultural land sales

        Review penalties applied to offenders and transgressors.

        Issue annual report of revenues and expenditure, submit it to H.H. the Sultan, and then have it published for the information of the public.

        Issue bye-laws and put them into execution after obtaining the assent of H.H. the Sultan.

FUNCTIONS OF THE COUNCIL

        Convene twice each month, During the spate season at least twice weekly       If a member fails to attend four consecutive sessions without permission, he is regarded as having resigned        All decisions of the Council shall be taken by simple majority vot When the votes are equal the Chairman shall have a casting vote; Quorum shall be considered to be established only when more than half the number of Council members are assembled.

Agency management

• Specialized agencies take responsibility for the management of spate systems

• Examples:Tihama Development Authority, Rod Kohi Authority

Agency management suffers from:– Inability to live

up to the promise of basic maintenance as a result of under funding

– Inability to manage and distribute water in a moderately fair manner because of poor links to farmer organisations or local government

– Continued high expectations

Agency management

• Agency managements suffer from:– Inability to live up to the promise of basic

maintenance as a result of under funding– Inability to manage and distribute water in a

moderately fair manner because of poor links to farmer organisations or local government

– Continued high expectations

Recommendations

• Important factors for improvement projects in farmer management:– Clear leadership– Clear arrangements for maintenance– Low-cost structures– Limited permanent positions– Strengthening sub-groups– Extend role of local government organisations

Recommendations

• Important factors for improvement projects in agency management:– Reduction of role in water distribution – Limit involvement to complex

maintenance– Promotion of effective communication– Involvement of farmer representatives