Indonesia's 1987 Irrigation Operation and Maintenance Policy introduced a series of efforts to improve irrigation management. Small schemes were to be transferred to farmer organizations, irrigation service fees introduced through participatory institutions, and operation and maintenance made more efficient. In 1999, amidst dissatisfaction with the results of earlier efforts, the Indonesian government proclaimed a new irrigation reform policy. This paper explores the dynamics of reform over the twelve years between these policies. The paper argues that reforms which only offer farmers voice in agency-controlled projects are insufficient, and that the route to successful reform lies through empowering farmers to direct their own development.
Lack of credit limits the effectiveness of irrigators' organizations. Microfinance programs have proved that the poor are creditworthy. This paper outlines how principles of successful microfinance programs might be used to make irrigators' organizations creditworthy.
by Bryan Bruns and Ruth Meinzen-DickHow can water allocation be improved amidst contesting claims? Reforming water allocation depends on understanding how water rights work in practice at the local level, amidst the competing claims, complex interactions of state and local law, and multiple forums for disputing, which anthropologists have analyzed in terms of legal pluralism. Four contexts for negotiating water rights deserve particular attention, because of their practical importance, and as promising directions for research and action: rengotiating rights in project intervention, reforming water tenure, developing basin water governance institutions and coping with demands for intersectoral transfers.
This essay outlines a series of questions for understanding current water rights and the prospects for improving water allocation institutions to cope with increasing competition and demands for intersectoral reallocation. It concludes by contrasting assumptions about water rights formalization, rights holders, enforcement, allocation principles, efficiency, duration, flexibility and transferability.
by Bryan Bruns and Ruth Meinzen-DickAs competition for water resources increases, how can we draw on the body of available experience with participatory approaches to develop better institutions for water resource allocation? This paper tries to identify relevant directions for improving water resources management, focusing particularly on the experience of rapidly growing countries in South and Southeast Asia and lessons from earlier efforts to improve participation in irrigation.
Vietnam already has participatory institutions which can provide a good framework for improving operation and maintenance of irrigation, drainage and flood control, if these institutions are suitably developed. However, there are still serious weaknesses, and a risk that if irrigation development is not wisely managed it could undermine existing institutional strengths. Efforts to improve participation can draw on a variety of experience, within Vietnam and in many other countries. As a basis for stimulating discussion this paper outlines several key sets of opportunities.
by Bryan Bruns and HelmiBeginning in the 1980s there was an increased emphasis on improving participation and irrigation operation and maintenance in Indonesia. This paper looks at what has been learned about participatory irrigation management, focusing particularly on lessons from: 1) turnover of irrigation systems smaller than 500 hectares to water user associations, 2) establishment of irrigation service fees with WUA participation in fee collection and identification of operation and maintenance needs and 3) development of irrigated agriculture by farmers in the On-Farm Water Management Development Project.
Bryan Bruns, G. Lamar Robert and Chongchit Sripun Tiam-TongTelephones are a tool rural people can use in coping with the forces transforming their lives. This paper draws on a recent study to look at the socioeconomic impact of rural telecommunications in Thailand. Realizing the potentials created by telecommunications to enable people to cope with changes in better informed ways depends crucially on the availability of services to provide equitable, affordable access.
Including: Just Enough Organization: Water Users Associations and Episodic MobilizationMuch effort has been invested in forming water users associations (WUA), unfortunately often with little result. On their own farmers tend to take a minimalist approach to irrigation organization, relying where possible on informal, episodic mobilization to accomplish specific tasks. WUA development will be more successful if it is focused in the same way. Flexible, responsive intervention and an enabling institutional framework can provide resources - legal, technical and financial - to assist WUA in developing just enough organization to manage irrigation systems well.
and Distributed Information Systems for Farmer-Managed Irrigation
Management information systems should enable managers to make better decisions. If farmers operate and maintain irrigation systems, then inventories and other information systems should serve them, as well as irrigation agency staff and others who provide services for farmer managed irrigation. This paper explores some conceptual principles for developing efficient information systems to support farmer management of irrigation.
How can design facilitate local participation? This paper examines an innovative weir design developed by a project based at Khonkaen University in northeast Thailand. The design includes a variable weir crest and other features which help to enhance existing people's irrigation systems with a high level of local participation in planning, construction and operation.
------------
BryanBruns@BryanBruns.com
C-723 Lanna Condo, T. Pa Tan A. Muang Tel 66-53 872-225
Chiang Mai 50300 Thailand Fax 66-53 872-226
www.BryanBruns.com