Abderrazak IKAMA - Rural Engineer, Head of the management unit of Sahla project, rural engineering department, Morocco

The large-scale irrigation sector is characterized by the State’s direct intervention while small – and medium- scale irrigation is run locally by traditional associations in so far as management and operations of the district are concerned. The year 1969 saw the promulgation of the Agricultural Investment Code, which was the first legal instrument of its kind to govern management and operations of irrigation schemes and which requires that users basically contribute to the State’s financial effort without actually involving them in the implementation of irrigation development projects. This approach based upon the State’s unilateral intervention inevitably resulted in adverse effects (deterioration of equipment and frequent recourse to rehabilitation operations). Faced with this critical situation, the government opted for the development of Participatory Irrigation Management (PIM) as early as 1990. The adoption of PIM as an irrigation policy was a strategic alternative aiming at revisiting a methodology previously used in the beginning of the 60’s--a period when each irrigation development was unilaterally designed, funded and implemented by the State rather than through a participatory approach involving consultation with, organization and commitment of water users. The Middle Sebou irrigation scheme, located in the Fez area, provides a highly representative illustration of the transition from centralized management to onsultative management. Indeed, the development of this 6500- hectare area was carried out through a new development and irrigation management pattern stemming from a partnership holding between the State and water users. This approach is aimed at sharing roles and responsibilities and effectively getting users grouped in Water Users' Associations (WUAs) supervise management of their irrigation systems. Therefore, the Middle Sebou irrigated system is run through a contractual framework directly by the beneficiaries who are adherents to any of the twelve Water Users’ Associations (WUAs) which are structured into two federations.