Beneficiary Participation in Irrigation Water Management: The Kerala

34 The NIA was a government corporate body of six directors and an administrator as its
chief executive officer. It had offices in the 12 regions and 68 provinces in the country. It
is analogous to PWD in India in terms of functions, since it is in charge of the overall
development of irrigation in the country. In 1984, NIA was constructing 33 new projects
and improving 42 schemes, expecting command areas of 2,37,000 hectares and 81,000
hectares respectively.
35 The problems faced in organising the associations effectively were inadequacy and untimely
supply, of water, defective design of irrigation structures, inability of office-bearers of
associations to resolve conflicts and to achieve equitable water distribution, and inability
of members to make the contractual contributions in cash and labour and to meet other
obligations.
36 Originally CIS had mostly been constituted and operated by farmers themselves. They
had commanded good support from irrigators and were administered in accordance with
rules decided upon by the general membership. Every farmer-member knew and accepted
his responsibility in the organisation.
37 When the methods employed by it failed to achieve farmer involvement NIA made
arrangement with Farm Systems Development Corporation (FSDC) to organise farmers;
that attempt too failed before long. Thereupon, through case studies of old but existing
and successful instances, NIA evolved the participatory approach (PA).
38 Twentysix Pilot programmes were set up to help organise farmers by the end of 1983,
which together covered an area of 23,000 hectares. Two pilot projects in Laur, Neuva
Ecija; (i) The Pinagbaryuthan Irrigation System (1600 ha) and (ii) The Bagting-siclong
Irrigation Systems (600ha) were cases in point.
39 For instance, the attendance of BFAs was relatively high in the Canal Committees in
which the Agricultural Officers were present to advise on cropping patterns, variety of
seeds to be used, and the crop planning to be done in the area.
40 These include resolution of conflicts and control of the rich and the powerful.
41 Refers to collective procurement and distribution of seed, fertiliser, and simple agricultural
implements, common nursery, group preparation for cultivation, fixing appropriate time
for commencing cultivation and for pesticide application, fixing appropriate crop-pattern
for the area, and preparation of action plans.
42 These include arranging awareness camps, seminars, and tours for model BFAs in
neighbouring areas.
43 Group procurement of management subsidy under the auspices of BFAs and its
disbursement among the BFA members, come under this set of functions.
44 Summoning annual General Body and periodical Executive Committee meetings are the
major functions in this category.
45 C. J. Josseph, Irrigation Water Management Problems in Kerala – a case study of
Periyar Valley project, P.VII – 3.
46 UN, Consultation on Irrigation in Africa, FAO, ROM, 1987, p.44.
47 Recently at the suggestion of the World Bank, these were formed in which the tasks and
the means to do the tasks were defined. These tasks include provision of water against
payment and provision of extension service by government, charged to the national budget.
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