Paimpillil Sebastian Joseph - Senior Researcher; Center for Earth Research and Environment Management
Thomas

The benefits from irrigation projects in India are not in proportion to the investment on them and steps were taken to bring down the expenditure. Attempts were initiated for participatory Irrigation Management to increase farmers' direct involvement in irrigation management, which ultimately results in the transfer of authority and responsibilities from the government, either in full or in part, to farmer organizations. Under a pilot study, one branch canal each of Neyyar (Olathanni) and Malampuzha (Kuthannur) projects were taken up with the objectives: to learn from the experiences on a smallscale manageable irrigation system by implementing, monitoring and learning; to help in testing the appropriateness of various PIM elements to local conditions; to demonstrate the possibility of PIM in Kerala; and to evolve a practicable and replicable strategy for the implementation in all irrigation projects of Kerala state. The pilot projects were being implemented by handing over the control and management of the two branch canals to the farmers. The projects encouraged collective farming, ensured the involvement of women in irrigated cultivation, promoted cooperation with panchayats, departments and other agencies and linked the farmers to the marketing sector. As the government had transferred some responsibilities of Irrigation Management from government agencies to Water Users Associations (WUAs), the villagers including farmers participated in the maintenance of the water management structures with a sense of ownership. The functions of these associations such as the acquisition and distribution of water, maintenance and repairs, fixation and collection of water charges, punishing defaulters within the areas of the WUA and resolving disputes among water users in the area of operation seemed to be an effective strategy for ensuring farmer/users participation in management of water for irrigated agriculture.