Participatory Irrigation Management– Realigning incentives for PIM.

J. Raymond Peter, INPIMrpeter@inpim.org

Steering meeting of INWEPFTokyo, Japan 02 Nov 2004

International Network on Participatory Irrigation Management

INPIM - Mission

Global network of professionals involved in irrigation and water resource management to facilitate and promote participatory irrigation management.Through

Exchange of peopleIdeasBest practicesTraining materialInformation and Knowledge sharing

INPIM - ActivitiesWebsite http://www.inpim.orgPublishes a biannual newsletterPublishes a monthly electronic newsletterConducts national seminars and workshopsConducts an international seminar on participatory irrigation management bienniallyAnnual Capacity Building Program on PIMFacilitates setting up country chapters for promoting PIMDevelops partnership for facilitating and promoting PIM with international organizations

INPIM - Chapter

INPIM aims to build country networks for the facilitation, promotion and advocacy for participatory irrigation managementCountry Chapters

India -ChinaPakistan -JordanNepal -EgyptIndonesia -MexicoVietnam -Albania

International Seminars

International seminars on participatory irrigation management enable exchange of ideas on PIM

Mexico (1994)Turkey (1996)Indonesia (1998)India (1999)China (2002)Albania (2004)France (May 2005)

Background:Irrigation has contributed to food securityIncreasing competition of waterExtra food for an increasing population to come from irrigationNeed for increasing the productivity of water.Technical, Managerial and Institutional interventions required.Need for a new paradigm in irrigation – PIM, participation of users.

Shifting paradigmsEarly 1800’s Community Activity Early 1900’s Public Activity – Massive constructions –food self sufficiency – Agency managed.Early 1970’s – O&M difficultFocus on construction.Farmers as beneficiaries and supplicants.Poor management, water deliveries, deteriorating canals and drains, lack of accountability.80’s – reduce burden on Govt. Participation seen as an alternative.

What is PIMPIM as a term was first used at the first international seminar in Mexico, to refer to participation by users in irrigation management. Participatory irrigation management refers to the participation of users –the farmers- in all aspects of management and at all levels.

All aspects: planning, design, construction, O&M, financing, decision making, M&EAll levels: tertiary, secondary, primary, basin levels

-PIM Handbook, World Bank

New partnership between Government and Users –new roles

Benefits of PIMsense of ownership and secure water rights;increased transparency of the water allocation process;greater accessibility to government and system personnel;right to fix and collect water fees;improved maintenance;participate in decisions concerning irrigation service;reduced conflicts among users; and Increased agricultural productivity.

Svendsen et al, EDI-IIMI workshop(1997)

Why PIM ?

Improve the performance of the irrigation systemEffect better cost recovery for O&Mtake control of irrigation management.Orient and target new investments efficientlySignificant cost reductionsWin-Win for govt. donors, farmers and irrigation agencies.

Participatory Irrigation ManagementA World View

22,400,00022,400,000United States

800,000850,000Columbia

1,150,0001,550,000Philippines

35,000,00059,000,000India

3,700,0004,500,000Turkey

6,000,0006,100,000Mexico

2,900,0002,900,000Brazil

3,200,0003,985,000Bangladesh

3,200,0007,000,000Indonesia

30,000,00056,000,000China

1,561,0001,561,000Argentina

Area Locally Managed

Irrigated AreaCountry

WUAWUABothAgencyAgencyAgencyCollection of Water fee

New Zealand, FMIS schemes

Mexico, Australia, FranceJapan

AP, Albania, Turkey

Philippines, Pakistan

SrilankaOffice Du Niger

Most developing countries

Some examples

WUAWUAWUAWUAWUAAgencyUser Representation

WUAWUAWUABothAgencyAgencyO&M

WUAWUAAgencyAgencyAgencyAgencyOwnership of Structures and Waters

WUAAgencyAgencyAgencyAgencyAgencyRegulation

Full WUA Control

WUA Owned ( Agency Regulation)

WUA and O&M

Shared Management

Agency O&M ( User input)

Full Agency Control

Activity

Range of Arrangements

Early Vs. Current Reform Strategies

Focus on small farmers at the village or local levelSatisfy donor requirementWeak legal framework

Farmers seen as beneficiaries

Low O&M collections – reluctance to pay

Grass roots mobilization, community workers etc.

No political will and support - half hearted attemptsContinued role of irrigation agencies –Business as usual

Greater role for the WUA, Much larger unitsPIM seen as a partnershipClear legal framework and rightsFarmers seen as partners in developmentHigher O&M, rate/ Collections -willingness to pay

Less grass roots organizing work

Strongly driven politically Statewide reform strategy

Utilize professional O&M staff, reductions etc.

PIM - ImpactsNew partnership between Governments and Users in irrigation development and managementRestructured irrigation agencies – reduction of unskilled / skilled staff; new roles WRM/EnvironmentCost effective O&M – savingsHigher cost of water charges – better collection rates –willingness to payConflict resolution – water managementProductivity ?Sense of OwnershipEmerging comprehensive policies and legal frameworks.New financing mechanisms

Key issues in PIM:Elite capture, powerful & influential farmers farmers, Equity issues – farmer self interestLack of transparencyCollusion with agenciesWeak WUAs – merely seen as extensions of agencies, Slow processResistance from AgenciesSustainabilityIssues of exclusion of users ( tenants, other water users, poor)Capacity BuildingInadequate incentives, resourcesInappropriate legal frameworkParticipation is not a panaceaGovernments and Agencies will have a critical role to play in strengthening PIM.

Realign incentives for PIM

Redefining roles of the GovernmentDecentralization, devolution, facilitator, regulatorNew roles for usersNew roles for agencies

River basin planningWater resources allocation and monitoringAdvisory servicesDispute resolution

Realigning Incentives for PIM

Empower Water user associationsLegal frameworkClear jurisdiction and powersResourcesFederate to project and basin levelsWater rights

Realigning incentives for PIM

New Strategies in financing:Linking water charges to O&MSmart subsidiesSinking/ reserve fundsIncremental approach to rehabilitationBuilding creditworthy WUAs

Realigning incentives for PIM

Promote Farmer Networks and Federations

Nested organizationsFarmer networks in water sector reform

INPIM pilot project.

Multistakeholder platforms

Realign incentives for PIM:

Improved service deliveryRapid appraisals (RAP)RehabilitationModernization of irrigation schemesBenchmarking to compare and improve performance

Realigning incentives for PIMRegional Cooperation

Developing a database of documents and relevant literatureWorkshops at the local, state and national level.Action research programsCapacity building activitiesPublication of a newsletters / email conference.Documenting the experience of different states/ countries and WUAsOrganizing study tours.Lobbying and advocacy.Networking with the Nepal chapters and the National federation of water user associations of Nepal.Participation in International Seminars etc

Information dissemination through the website

Realigning Incentives for PIM:Capacity Builiding:

Technical: O&M, Inventory and asset management, preparation of estimates, procurement, quality control, water management, crop water requirement, water scheduling and budgeting.Legal - Awareness of the law and legal provisions and procedures, Dispute resolution. Financial management: Accounting, audit and social audit, raising resources, levy and assessment etc. Administrative - Conducting of meetings, recording proceedings, communication and negotiating skills, conflict resolution and conjunctive management with the irrigation agency/Government.

PIM is not a panacea

but is one of the effective ways to irrigation management

International Capacity building program on Participatory Irrigation Management

Menemen, Turkey

December 5-14, 2004

http://www.inpim.org/leftlinks/CBP

Contact

info@inpim.org