Home Page Link DFID logo
Back
  Toolkit For Sustainable Irrigation Turnover
 

R Number:  R7389
Contractor;  HR Wallingford
Dates:         New Project

Proposal to develop step by step procedures for field level organisations to ensure sustainability of surface irrigation systems turned over to small farmers. The toolkit with training materials for maintenance developed and pilot training implemented.

Executive Summary
Background
Governments in many parts of the world are pursuing policies of turnover of management of irrigation schemes to farmers, often without a full analysis of the longer-term consequences, particularly for maintenance. On large schemes, agencies often retain responsibility for O&M of the highest order channels. Farmers may see no incentive to accept greater responsibilities and the financial burden for additional O&M work, unless their supply from the main system is improved, or they have greater control over the resource. In addition, they may well not possess the technical, financial and organisational skills to maintain large turned-over systems. Most of the research work to date has focussed on institutional and operational issues, and the problem of maintenance has not yet been adequately addressed. Unless maintenance is improved, systems will continue to deteriorate, leading to repeated requests to government for assistance, thus defeating a primary objective of turnover.
Objectives

In response to the problem described, the specific purpose of this action-research project is to assist governments and farmers to improve standards of maintenance, and thereby improve the sustainability of irrigation and drainage infrastructure following turnover. The purpose will be achieved by: (1) acquiring knowledge of the impact of infrastructure condition on scheme performance, and the constraints to improvement, (2) development of guidance in the form of checklists on maintenance for use by governments prior to turnover, to develop suitable arrangements and allocate responsibilities between farmers and government, (3) design and pilot implementation of training packages for farmers, to improve maintenance on selected turned-over schemes.
Methodology

The project is based in Nepal, and potentially also in Gujarat, India, where the respective governments are committed to irrigation turnover. A sample of typical turned-over schemes will be investigated, together with selected projects where the Government has retained some management responsibility.

  • The initial stage will concentrate on accumulating knowledge of scheme condition and maintenance as it affects technical, economic and financial performance, on turned-over and control schemes throughout both wet and dry seasons. Schemes will be selected where good background information is already available. The information will be analysed in the context of the institutional and legal framework of the scheme, including such issues as ownership of, and rights to use, infrastructure, since these are crucial to the sustainability of schemes. Information on the performance of comparable schemes elsewhere in the world under improved management and planning procedures will be taken as a yardstick.

  • Guidance for governments will be provided via a checklist to ensure that issues affecting the sustainability of schemes after turnover, in particular system economics, farmers' finances, and operation and maintenance needs (O&M) are anticipated. A study of O&M at main system level will include alternative institutional arrangements and support needed by farmers after turnover.

  • Training of farmers will be undertaken through the development of training material for identifying and carrying out maintenance, tested through pilot implementation on selected turned-over schemes, and evaluated prior to final dissemination of research findings.

  • The outcomes of the project will be summarised in a final report.

    • The project team is led by HR Wallingford Ltd working with Mott MacDonald Ltd, in collaboration with the Department of Irrigation, His Majesty's Government of Nepal. The Narmada and Water Resources Department, Government of Gujarat, India is also interested in collaborating in the research. National field-level NGOs and other institutions supporting farmer groups will also be involved throughout the project.

    Further Information
    Collaborating Organisations
    Mott MacDonald Ltd, UK

    Department of Irrigation, HM Government of Nepal

    The Narmada and Water Resources Department, Government of Gujarat, India

    Contact Details for Further Information
    DFID KAR WATER Dissemination Officer
    HR Wallingford
    Howbery Park
    Wallingford
    Oxon OX10 8BA

    Tel: +44 (0) 1491 835381
    Fax: +44 (0) 1491 832233
    Email: dfid-kar-water@hrwallingford.co.uk