Performance assessment of irrigation management transfer from government-managed to farmer-managed irrigation system: a case study

✍ Scribed by Muhammad Latif; Javaid A. Tariq

• Publisher: John Wiley and Sons
• Year: 2009
• Tongue: English
• Weight: 192 KB
• Volume: 58
• Category: Article
• ISSN: 1531-0353
• DOI: 10.1002/ird.424

✦ Synopsis

Abstract

The government of NWFP, Pakistan, established an autonomous body, the Frontier Irrigation and Drainage Authority (FIDA), in 1997 to effectively cope with the emerging challenges in irrigation management. Six distributaries were recently transferred to farmers' organizations under the irrigation management transfer (IMT) for their operation and management. Results of the study revealed that the irrigation supplies are adequate to meet the crop water requirements. The relative water supply (RWS) index varies from 1.66 to 2.02 during summer, whereas in winter it varies from 2.22 to 2.55. The delivery performance ratio (DPR) during summer varies from 0.78 to 0.83 and in winter from 0.73 to 0.63. Irrigation supplies were reliable during both summer and winter seasons. Due to improved irrigation supply, annual irrigation intensity has increased by 25%. There is a prominent increase in yield of maize (40%), sugarcane (55%) and wheat (43%). The irrigation service fee collected was approximately 60% of the fee assessed. Hydraulic committees at each distributary should be established to operate the distributary according to crop demand. Awareness of the farmers should be created regarding the farm irrigation application methods to avoid over‐irrigation and wastage of water. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.