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| Institutions for Irrigation Mangement In Farmer-Managed Systems - Case study on Gravitation Irrigation System in Hill Region of Nepal (Argali Irrigation System) |
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Reference |
| Martin,Edward D; Yoder, Robert: 1987 "Institutions for Irrigation Mangement In Farmer-Managed Systems: Examples from the Hills of Nepal, International Irrigation Management Institute: Srilanka |
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Introduction to the Institution |
| This case study analyses the institutions employed by the farmers for the management of gravity irrigation systems in the hill region of western Nepal.Argali irrigation system is in Argali village Panchayat located between Ridi Bazaar and Ranighat(refer Fig 2).In Argali there are four irrigation system, the largest one being the Raj Kulo, each consisting of an intake on the Kurung Khola stream and a canal which conveys water to a command area on the Aragali river terrace.The four systems range in area from 11 to 47 hectares during the monsoon and in membership from 28 to 159 households.The soils are well drained with high percolation rates. The average size of irrigated landholding(khet) per household is about 0.3 hectares.The Raj Kulo was originally constructed to irrigate land to support a temple which was built on the bank of the Kali Gandaki River at Ridi.Part of the production from a small section of the present command area is still given to the temple |
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Coverage of the Institution |
| This same type of device for proportioning water distribution is found in many of the irrigation systems in western Nepal.They have different names as: "pani dhara", "penaro", "karahankota" |
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Rules for Management
of the Institution |
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(a) Boundary Rules |
| Spatial:The irrigation system is located on the river terraces 100-200 metres above the Kali Gandaki River at an elevation of about 650 metres
Social:Same as Chherlung system (refer the next case study) |
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(b) Governance
rules |
| Those who farmed irrigated rice land, whether owners or tenants, were members of the irrigation organization and were responsible for operating the system.The organization fined persons who were absent from work and were caught stealing water.At the end of the year, the money collected in fines was spent for a feast for the members
The tenant operators became land owners after passage of the Land Reform Acts in 1957 and 1964 and since then the amount of fined money has been invested in improvements in the system
Maintenance: Major routine maintenance is done in late May and June to prepare the system for the monsoon season when efficient water delivery for rice cultivation is important. At this time, the diversion and canal walls are repaired to reduce leakage, silt and weeds are cleaned from the entire length of the canal, and sections of the canal are lined with clay to reduce seepage.This usually takes place between two and three weeks.The intake and main canal are patrolled daily so that there is a early detection of damage.The members take turns patrolling in pairs.If there is a need for more laborers, one of them will inform the "mukhiya" who then organizes members to do the repairs.
In Argali, where water is allocated in proportion to area irrigated, labor and cash are also contributed according to area served.Members must contribute labor for ordinary maintenance work at the rate of one man for each 40 "maato muri" of khet each work day. A household with only 20 "maato muri" is required to provide one worker every other day * Maato muri:This is a traditional measure of area where 40 maato muri equals approx. half a hectare
Regarding sanctions, the fine for missing a day of ordinary maintenance is Rs 6(1982), but if fines are not paid the organization can deny the offender water. The community can exert social, as well as physical pressure on members to pay fines |
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(c) Resource Allocation |
| Same as Chherlung system (refer the next case study)
(Point of difference from that of Chherlung system) In Argali, saachos are used for distributing water from the main canal into secondary canals, from the secondaries into tertiary canals, and from the tertiaries to the farmer's fields.They are installed to the field level when farmers are not able to satisfactorily distribute the water among themselves less formally |
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Conflict Resolution Mechanism |
| Regarding the rule of proportionality in resource mobilization, whenever there is an emergency, each member household must supply one man, irrespective of its water allocation.Once in 1983 annual meeting some members with small water allocations strongly protested that it was unfair for them to have to provide the same number of workers in an emergency as households with a much larger water allocation.However, after much discussion the decision was made to leave the rule unchanged. |
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Problems Faced by Institution |
| The allocation principle does have equity implications, in Aragali the only way that a person can irrigate rice is for the household is to have inherited khet land with a water allocation or to buy some irrigated land. It is thus nearly impossible for the poor and low caste people to acquire access to irrigation for the important monsoon rice season, since irrigated land is extremely expensive, and the poor have little possibility of buying any.So far one Damai (untouchable caste who work traditionally as tailors) has been able to buy a small parcel of khet, he being the only low caste person that has a water allocation for monsoon rice. |
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Country |
| Nepal |
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Region |
| Dist:Palpa |
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Date Of Publication |
| RS-3/04/96 |
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