FORMATION AND DEVELOPMENT PROCESS OF PARTICIPATORY IRRIGATION MANAGEMENT IN QAZVIN AREA  Fulltext 

[ Ghasemi ] - M.Sc. in Irrigation Structures, and Managing Director of Qazvin Irrigation Management Co. (QIM), & Initiator and Executive of Qazvin Participatory Irrigation Management Project. Address: Shahid Bahonar Bulvd., Qazvin, Iran.
[ Razavi ] - Director of Planning Affairs in QIM
[ Yousefi ] - Director of Int'l Affairs - Dept. for Extension and Farming System, Ministry of Jihad-e-Agriculture (MOJA)
[ Lashgari ] - Director of Engineering Affair in QIM

خلاصه مقاله:

Since last fifty years, gradual progression in management style of irrigation and drainage systems supported by promotion of people's participation in management trend has faced the government-oriented or hindering mechanisms to critical challenges at global scale. Genesis of this mind-set could largely facilitate evolution of change management through the four-stage process including: diagnosis, denial, cooperation and participation. The largest infra-structural establishment of Qazvin was created during 60s and 70s. It enjoys 1200 km. concrete canals bearing conveying capacities of 30 m 3 . The network imitates a telescopic model in operation with hydro-mechanical diversion and checks (Amil) installed at its upstream. The Irrigation Management system in Qazvin (QIM) also follows full public governance as being experienced everywhere across the country. This traditional management, parallel to over-dated structures has left nothing but a depreciated and inefficient network in Qazvin. A holistic plan for capacity building and empowerment of local farmers was founded in the province to develop a participatory management and promote due changes towards optimum utilization and maintenance of the network. The initiative is reliant on a model and consists of: farming groups, water users associations, unions and their tree-shaped apex Federation at provincial level. Upon direct election of farmers' representatives and formulation of legal instruments, managerial and maintenance affairs in main and lateral canals were gradually transferred to the local clients. Presently, many commitments encompassing structural rehabilitation and water distribution have been shifted to the farmers in Qazvin, followed by logistic and administrative works handled by private sectors. Dynamic involvement of the young men and women at managerial and technical levels scattered at WUAs branches or Federation posts remarks for outstanding aspects of the PIM system in Qazvin. To date, the mode applied for creation of CBOs (community-based organizations) and legislation of NGOs in terms of Water Users Association (WUAs) in Qazvin, generates a national pattern over the state.

Participatory Irrigation Management (PIM), Participation, Irrigation Management Transfer (IMT), Empowerment, WUAs, NGOs, CBOs