62) decentralised governance of irrigation water in cambodia - CDRI

3.2 Key Informant Interviews
Key informants (KI) at local and provincial level from the Provincial Department of
Water Resources and Meteorology (PDOWRAM) and private companies, as well as farmers,
FWUC committee members and CC members were identified for interview and discussion
through a set of guiding questions. These questions were developed based on the specific roles,
expectations and experiences of organisations working in the water and agriculture sector. The
purpose of the interviews was to seek information on water related issues.
The research team met with PDOWRAM and FWUC committees to discuss overall
management of water in each case study scheme. Points of discussion included:
1.
2.
The creation of FWUCs
Rehabilitation of the schemes
3. Planning and irrigation development strategies for water related issues (IWRM, IMT,
PIMD, ISF, O&M)
4. Allocation and management of water and irrigation infrastructure within each scheme
(i.e., main, secondary and tertiary canals)
5. Relationships and coordination between the FWUC committee and the CCs within a
scheme that crossed several commune boundaries.
3.3 FGDs with Farmers and Village Leaders
Information was also collected through FGDs. Farmer groups were chosen for their up-
and down-stream geographical locations, limited coordination, and regular conflicts during
periods of water scarcity. Two FGDs were held within each selected scheme. The first FGD
comprised FWUC and village leaders and focused on general information such as type,
scale, physical condition and topography of the schemes, canal systems, water allocation,
coordination and conflict management, etc. The second session involved the FWUC committee
but was also open to non-committee member farmers whose livelihoods were dependent on
agriculture, in most cases wet and/or dry season rice farming. These FGDs were designed to
collect general data and information about local administration and social issues, especially
regarding agricultural activities, income generation and livelihood improvements as well as to
inform and update stakeholders about water related issues (scheme development/rehabilitation
and FWUC creation).
3.4 Farmer Interviews and Field Observations
Farmer interviews were conducted after the FGDs to verify data and information garnered
from the FGDs. Representatives from 12 to 25 households were selected for interview in each
of the case study schemes. These households were chosen to represent a range of geographic
locations across the scheme: the first group from the lower scheme, the second from the middle
scheme, and the third from the higher scheme. Interviews with farmers were conducted privately
so as to evoke responses that were not influenced by the presence of a FWUC committee
member. These interviews were often conducted in the interviewee’s rice paddy where field
observations could also be made and consisted of general questions about the use of water
resources for agriculture, water allocation, farmer participation and understanding of ISF and
10 Decentralised Governance of Irrigation Water in Cambodia: Matching Principles to Local Realities