Effects of training duration and the role of gender on farm participation in water user associations in Southern Tajikistan: Implications for irrigation management

Abstract The fostering and empowerment of water user associations (WUAs) has been regulated by the Minister of Agriculture since 2012. However, the implementation of this guideline varies. Some water user associations have achieved improvement, while some others have not. This study discusses how a WUA in the villages that use Bengawan Solo River water has successfully managed the irrigation. One of the factors leading to the success of this WUA is the stakeholder engagement in the agricultural irrigation management and farm business. This study was conducted from June 2016 to June 2017 by employing a qualitative approach. It aimed to identify and understand the stakeholder engagement in agricultural irrigation management by: 1) conducting an analysis on stakeholder power and interest indices, 2) mapping the positions, responsibilities, and obligations of stakeholders, and 3) identifying the stakeholder engagement in agricultural irrigation management. The research results are as follows: a) the analysis using Likert scale showed that the power index reached a value of 0.76, while the interest index reached a value of 0.78; b) the mapping of internal stakeholders, especially the responsibilities and obligations, has been regulated under the Articles of Incorporation of WUAs and obligations of external stakeholders, especially the government in making government regulations, irrigation infrastructure support, and flood prevention; c) cooperation of the stakeholders has an important role in the agricultural irrigation management and in solving the problems faced by WUAs.

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Role of Water User Associations on the Restoration of the Ecosystem in Tanzania

Water ◽

10.3390/w11010141 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 11 (1) ◽

pp. 141 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

Happyness Ngonyani ◽

Khaldoon Mourad

Keyword(s):

Land Use ◽

Land Use Planning ◽

Water Resource Management ◽

Freshwater Ecosystems ◽

Mitigation Strategies ◽

Freshwater Ecosystem ◽

Sample Population ◽

Water User Associations ◽

Water User

The Mkoji sub-catchment is the most populated sub-catchment in the uppermost part of the Rufiji basin in Tanzania, with critical users downstream, and it is vulnerable to water shortages. Despite the efforts made by governmental and non-governmental organizations in forming and supporting water user associations, little is known about their role on water resource management in the country. This study aimed to investigate the role of water user associations on the restoration of decreased environmental flow and degraded aquatic ecosystems in Tanzania, taking the Mkoji sub-catchment as a case study. Six water user associations were assessed, focusing on their strategies and influence on restoration, land use, ecosystem degradation, and their role in climate change mitigation strategies. Data were collected from various sources using interviews, focus group discussions and questionnaires. The Spearman correlation test was used to seek the relationship between the flow and the aquatic ecosystem. Statistical results showed that there was no correlation between the flow and rainfall, and there was a correlation between freshwater ecosystems and the flow. The results showed that 89% of the sample population accepted the decrease of the flow while 75% accepted the decrease of the fish catch in the freshwater ecosystem of the study. Based on the results obtained, the paper concluded that water user associations are doing a great job in management and restoration while politics, funding, and water permits were the main obstacles. Therefore, the government should play a role in restoring the ecosystem, bridging the gaps between farmers and animal keepers, land use planning, and developing aquaculture.

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Improving on-farm water use efficiency: Role of collective action in irrigation management

Water Resources and Economics ◽

10.1016/j.wre.2017.06.001 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 22 ◽

pp. 4-18 ◽

Cited By ~ 5

Author(s):

Anita M. Chaudhry

Keyword(s):

Collective Action ◽

Water Use Efficiency ◽

Water Use ◽

Irrigation Management ◽

Use Efficiency ◽

On Farm

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Participatory Exclusion in Water User Associations: A Subaltern Perspective

Asian Review of Social Sciences ◽

10.51983/arss-2020.9.1.1609 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 9 (1) ◽

pp. 34-38

Author(s):

K. Gulam Dasthagir

Keyword(s):

Ground Water ◽

Tamil Nadu ◽

Irrigation Management ◽

Democratic Participation ◽

Canal Water ◽

Water User Associations ◽

Water User ◽

Water Sharing ◽

Participatory Irrigation Management ◽

Caste Discrimination

Although Participatory Irrigation Management envisions democratic participation and equity in water sharing among farmers , this article while investigating the challenges of Dalit farmers in Water User Associations and access to surface or ground water for irrigation, espouse the perpetuation of ‘Participatory Exclusion’ of Dalit farmers in canal water sharing and rights in water user associations . Since caste discrimination is embedded in modern user organizations, participatory exclusion of Dalit farmers operates at all levels of membership, participation and representation in PIMinrural Tamil Nadu.

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Farmer-led Water User Associations in Agricultural Water Management

The Oxford Handbook of Food, Water and Society ◽

10.1093/oxfordhb/9780190669799.013.46 ◽

2018 ◽

pp. 223-250 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Rami Zurayk ◽

Azza Dirar

Keyword(s):

Resource Management ◽

Water Resource Management ◽

Irrigation Management ◽

Participatory Approaches ◽

Water User Associations ◽

Agricultural Water Management ◽

Water User ◽

Water Users ◽

Precious Resource ◽

Implementation Experience

Since agriculture consumes the largest share of the world’s water, farmers undoubtedly play an instrumental role in the management of this precious resource. As such, various policy approaches have sought to engage farmers in the management of water for irrigation. There is much literature on policy approaches that devolve irrigation management to farmers through organizing them into ‘water user associations’ and mobilizing them into cooperative water resource management. When the implementation experience and success of these approaches are assessed, the results show a great variation in experience with overall limited success. The key challenges stem from various assumptions underlying the policy approaches, namely the way in which farmers are conceptualized as a homogenous group of ‘water users’. Cooperative and participatory approaches to natural resource management cannot be institutionally manufactured without addressing key political ecological realities and the wider contexts in which ‘resource users’ operate.

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The role of information and communication technologies in the modernisation of water user associations’ management

Computers and Electronics in Agriculture ◽

10.1016/j.compag.2013.08.005 ◽

2013 ◽

Vol 98 ◽

pp. 121-130 ◽

Cited By ~ 8

Author(s):

M. Soto-Garcia ◽

P. Del-Amor-Saavedra ◽

B. Martin-Gorriz ◽

V. Martínez-Alvarez

Keyword(s):

Information And Communication Technologies ◽

Communication Technologies ◽

Water User Associations ◽

Water User ◽

Information And Communication ◽

Role Of Information

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Managing Landscape Irrigation to Avoid Soil and Nutrient Losses

EDIS ◽

10.32473/edis-ss586-2013 ◽

2013 ◽

Vol 2013 (11) ◽

Author(s):

George Hochmuth ◽

Laurie Trenholm ◽

Don Rainey ◽

Esen Momol ◽

Claire Lewis ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Natural Environment ◽

Management Practices ◽

Root Zone ◽

Irrigation Management ◽

Critical Factor ◽

Nutrient Losses ◽

County Agents ◽

The Right ◽

Soil And Water

Proper irrigation management is critical to conserve and protect water resources and to properly manage nutrients in the home landscape. How lawns and landscapes are irrigated directly impacts the natural environment, so landscape maintenance professionals and homeowners must adopt environmentally-friendly approaches to irrigation management. After selecting the right plant for the right place, water is the next critical factor to establish and maintain a healthy lawn and landscape. Fertilization is another important component of lawn and landscape maintenance, and irrigation must be applied correctly, especially following fertilization, to minimize potential nutrient losses. This publication supplements other UF/IFAS Extension publications that also include information on the role of soil and the root zone in irrigation management. This publication is designed to help UF/IFAS Extension county agents prepare materials to directly address nutrient losses from lawns and landscapes caused by inadequate irrigation management practices. This 6-page fact sheet was written by George Hochmuth, Laurie Trenholm, Don Rainey, Esen Momol, Claire Lewis, and Brian Niemann, and published by the UF Department of Soil and Water Science, October 2013. http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/ss586

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