|
|
|
Previous
Next
|
| Farmer Managed Irrigation Systems in Nepal - Satrasaya Phant Irrigation System |
|
Reference |
| Pradhan, Prachanda (----), "Farmer Managed Irrigation Systems in Nepal", (Prachanda Pradhan is Head, Nepal Field Operations of International Irrigation Management Institute (IIMI), Khatmandu, Nepal) |
|
Introduction to the Institution |
| The local believe that the Satrasaya Phant is 200 years. Until 1979, the irrigation system was looked after by Jimawal. A Jimawal is a government agent who is responsible for collecting land revenue on behalf of government. If the revenue collection falls short of the quota for the area, he must pay the revenue difference himself. In 1979, this system was discontinued.
|
|
Coverage of the Institution |
| Command area the Aadi Mul spring in Tanahau district. |
|
Rules for Management
of the Institution |
|
(a) Boundary Rules |
| Spatial: Command area of Adi Mul soring in Tanahau district area exceeding 1700 mato mori (21.6 ha) Social: Farmers under thsi command area. |
|
(b) Governance
rules |
| After Jimawal system was discontinued in 1979 in Satrasaya Phant in 1979, a seven-member committee was formed to look after the irrigation system. Currently, they have a ten member committee with a chairman, vice-chairman, secretary, treasurer, and six other members. The secretary has been the same person since the committee was formed. The committee has written ruleswhich are updated each year after discussion. There were 45 irrigators registered as members in 1979 and 1980. The same number is still contnuing.
The tasks of teh committee are to maintain the system and repair the dam annually, gaurd the dam during main crop cultivation (paddy), and allocate water to each farm within the command area.
The committee also assigns six persons for each night to gaurd the dam on prevent the breach of the dam by Yampa Phant farmers.
Maintenance: Duringh the Jimawal managed atrasaya Phant, 128 men were mobilised for main canal maintenance each day until the ork was complete. The command area was divided into four blocks; 32 men from each block contributed their labour. Today, these blocks are the basis for the rotation system for water distribution during stress periods.
After the irrigation committee was formed, they locally contracted for the annual maintenanace of teh main canal. The lowest bidder for the job is given the cintract for the year. In 1985, the contract amont for the maintenance work was Rs 1000. he vice-chairman of the committee supervises the contractor. Dam repair is also done through the contractor. |
|
(c) Resource Allocation |
| After the irrigation committee took over water distribution from the Jimawal, the farmers found that they could not do the job satisfactorily as a group. The committee then contracted the responsibility for water allocation and distribution to a person called a water supervisor. The contract is reviewed, and teh water supervisor's performance is evaluated.
During the summer paddy season, water is allocated along the main canal by the supervisor. The farmers have used the allocation procedures for many years. Though there is no pucca outlets along the main canal, the size of teh outlets is fixed according to the tradition. When someone needs water, they give the water supervisor four to five years advance notice. The water supervisor allows water to flowinto the first outlet until all the lands there are wet. He then rotates water from outlet to outlet from head to tail along the main canal until all the fields are wet. This procedure is repeated throughout the season.
When the rains are late or do not come during summer paddy season, the water supervisor divides Satrasaya Phant into four blocks and allocates water for 24 hours each block. For his work, the water supervisor receives from each farmer two kg of paddy per ropani (0.05).
|
|
Conflict Resolution Mechanism |
| The irrigation system was kept alive and active because, satrasaya phant has a serious water rights conflict with Yampa Phant, another farmer-managed irrigation system, at the source of the spring. Satrasaya Phant system attempts to direct all of the spring's water into their main canal. When they try to do this, the lower sections of Yampa Phant are deprived of water. Therefore, the farmers of Yampa Phant frequently break the Satrasaya Phant brush dam to feed water to the channels going to the Yampa Phant. For this reason, protecting the dam in order to secure a steady flow of watre is a prominent task of Satrasaya Phant's irrigation committee.
This is the only major source of conflict for Satrasaya Phant farmers. This is a perennial conflict and has never been satisfactorily resolved. Internal conflicts at the farm level are settled by individuals involved. |
|
Country |
| Nepal |
|
Region |
| Tanahau district |
|
Date Of Publication |
| Srinivas: 27/07/96 |
|
| |
