Tackling water scarcity in India: farmer participation in irrigation management

Water scarcity is a growing concern in many developing countries, where water supplies are diminishing whilst demand is increasing. In India, some farmers are working together to improve the efficiency of existing water sources.

Policies for effective irrigation systems focus on conflict management and water distribution. In large-scale systems, government agencies undertake a lot of management activities, meaning irrigation management reflects official policies rather than farmers’ preferences. A lack of funds in irrigation departments means the service quality is often not as reliable as farmers would like.

However, farmers can have some influence if they act together, for example through water user associations. These groups act by making demands on the irrigation department and, to a lesser extent, maintaining irrigation canals and distributaries. These participatory methods are increasingly receiving attention as way to enhance the potential of existing irrigation systems. Research by the International Food Policy Research Institute, USA, and the Institute for Social and Economic Change, India, identifies the factors that facilitate and constrain farmer participation in irrigation management.

The research shows:

• Water scarcity differences from head to tail of the canal do not significantly influence the likelihood of a site having a water user organisation.
• Larger command areas (areas using one water source) were more likely to have an organisation than smaller areas.
• Sites closer to market centres are more likely to have an organisation than those further away. 
• The presence of college graduates and influential people increases the likelihood of an irrigation organisation. These people bring innovation and skills to irrigation management and have access to contacts to support irrigation systems.
• Larger command areas are more likely to draw the attention of government staff than smaller command areas.
• Areas far from commercial centres often suffer from a lack of opportunities to make irrigation profitable, or lack access to townspeople, notably government staff.
• The presence of influential social groups, such as religious organisations, helps to establish water user organisations.

Understanding these factors can improve the effectiveness of policies to improve farmer involvement in irrigation management. However, policy reforms to increase farmer participation will be useless unless farmers want to increase their involvement. Considering this, the research makes several policy recommendations:

• Government agencies should increase their efforts to work with farmers’ organisations, and increase the accountability of irrigation departments to farmers. This will support policies aiming to establish participatory irrigation management.
• These efforts should identify and build upon existing social networks, such as religious groups and trading partnerships.
• Effective farmers’ organisations build on traditional and modern leadership structures, such as educated young people.
• Existing local methods for water distribution and conflict management should be maintained alongside new farmer organisations.

Source(s):
‘Farmer involvement in irrigation: findings from Rajasthan and Karnataka’, in ‘Institutional reforms in Indian irrigation’, IFPRI, by A. Gulati, R. Meinzen-Dick and K.V. Raju, 2005
‘What Affects Organization and Collective Action for Managing Resources?  Evidence from Canal Irrigation Systems in India’, EPTD Discussion Paper 61, IFPRI, by K. V. Raju, A. Gulati and R Meinzen-Dick, 2000 Full document.
‘Innovations in Irrigation Financing: Tapping Domestic Financial Markets in India’, MSSD Discussion Paper 58, IFPRI, by  K. V. Raju, A. Gulati and R Meinzen-Dick, 2003 Full document.

Funded by: Ford Foundation

id21 Research Highlight: 29 November 2005

Further Information:
Ashok Gulati
International Food Policy Research Institute
2033 K Street, NW
Washington DC
20006-1002
USA

Tel: +1 202 862 5600
Fax: +1 202 467 4439
Contact the contributor: A.Gulati@cgiar.org

International Food Policy Research Institute, USA

Institute for Social and Economic Change, India

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'Efficient water use tackles food insecurity'

'Managing the business costs of water scarcity'

'Measuring and meeting demand for water – experience from Sri Lanka'

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