Organizational Change for Participatory Irrigation Management

Based on such considerations, a ì modelî or a strategy has been developed 9 for the
Mahaweli Irrigation System, the largest Irrigation system in Sri Lanka. This strategy is
illustrated in Figure 4. It is aimed at transferring the irrigation management responsibility to
farmers and to achieve the goals of sustainable farmer income, initially at field channel and
distributory canal levels and later on at main system level. It should be reiterated that such an
approach or achieving a status of sustainable farmer income (through commercialization of
production and related business conducted by their own FOs/FCs, cooperatives or similar
organizations is considered as a prerequisite for achieving sustainable O&M by farmers.
Figure 4. A Strategy for Rehabilitation and Post-Rehabilitation
Management of Irrigation Systems
9 The author developed and proposed this model to the Mahaweli Restructuring and
Rehabilitation Project in Sri Lanka. Mahaweli is the largest river diversion/irrigation system
in Sri Lanka. The inputs of Gamini Batuwitage, Paul Rajasekera, Neela Adikaramge, I. K.
Weerawardene and M. U. A. Tennekoon all members of the Mihidiya Foundation of Sri
Lanka, in conducting consultations with stakeholders, including Mahaweli farmers and
officials and policy-makers and in developing the strategy, are gratefully acknowledged.
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