A Case Study from System H, Sri Lanka

Farmer-Oflcer Coordination To Achieve Flexible Irrigation Scheduling 33engineering assistant, unit managers and field assistants to report the outcome of their discussion with their fellowfanners in respect of individual field channel areas. At this stage the individual fanner leader was competent tofurnish the following information in respect of his unit:a) the extent of different crops p hed for cultivationb) the mggered dates of commencement of land prepadon and the reqwtive crop extentc) the. fanners’ views about the proposed equitable water allocations for land preparation and crop growth for aturnout area and the application logistics.Officers hied to ensure that the farmers’ suggesdons conformed to the overall specifications of the Seasonal OperatingPlan and f d decisions were taken for a demand-oriented water distribution schedule for the land preparation period of30-45 days permitted by the Seasonal Operating Plan.DISTRIBUTARY CHANNEL ORGANIZATION PERIODICAL MEETINGSFrequency: Once a formight during land preparation and ripening periods and at the discretion of the engineeringassistant and distributary channel organization leaders during the growth period.Purpose: To compare the actual response from the field with the cultivation plan. The main pupme of thesemeetings was to encourage the farmer population to keep their cultivation operation according to plan. Further,the distributary channel organization meetings at the ripening stage provide information on the actual situation ofthe field, and this enables officers to cut off excess issues and limit field channel discharges to satisfying demandswithout wasting any water. The distributary channel organization also met occasionally at the discretion of theleader or the engineering assistant, to discuss any important issue relating to water delivery, such as any deviationfrom the agreed schedule of delivery due to unexpected water shortages in the main source, inadequacy of waterdue to unexpected dry weather, etc. These discussions helped both officers and fanners to understand theconstraints in both supply and demand and thus take appropriate measures.