PIM- A Tool For Farmers’ Self-empowerment.
Participatory Irrigation Management (PIM)
Seeds, fertilizers, landholdings, finances, irrigation
argil techniques and technology are main ingredients of farming. Efficient,
prudent and productive use of any would improve the productivity. Irrigation is
having top priority as water is precious and scare. Hence, its management will
fetch good results to our peasants and country.
An estimated 70% of agriculture production of India
comes from irrigated land. As such, the role of irrigation in strengthening and
sustaining the agricultural economy is crucial. Unfortunately, the state of
irrigation infrastructure across the county is very poor.
Design flaws, poor upkeep of physical system,
unviable water pricing and bad irrigation management practices contributed to
substantial underutilization which is a colossal waste to investment. Spending
more than rupees one billion on creating physical infrastructure on dams and
canals in many states has reached as little as 25% of potential irrigation.
Asia’s population is expected to reach 5 billion by
2050, with an estimated 1.5 billion more people to share its land, water, and
food resources. Meeting the region’s food demands will therefore require more
efficient use of resources, including irrigation systems, to boost agricultural
productivity. Looming climate change effects and declining water resources only
complicate the task.
Irrigation system impacts agricultural productivity
and food security. It helps alleviating poverty and promoting inclusive
economic growth. Therefore, irrigation and water management is crucial. An
integrated, cross-sectoral and participatory approach is essential to our water
management.
Before 1960, traditional form of local management of
water resources for different uses was prevalent in many countries around the
world. In most of the developed countries like the Netherlands, France,
Germany, Portugal, and Spain local management models had evolved through the
social cooperative processes in overall governance.
In developing countries like India, Iran, Indonesia,
Sri Lanka in the absence of stable governance during the Medieval period, the
local communities came together to develop local water resources and irrigation
systems to ensure water availability for agriculture.
Many imposed institutional reforms and strategies
that were expected to improve the performance of the contemporary irrigation
sector. Due to the deteriorating conditions of such infrastructure, one of the
major institutional reforms introduced, especially by the financing agencies
like the World Bank and Asian Development Bank in the eighties was
“Participatory Irrigation Management” (PIM)
Participation is
defined as a process through which stakeholders influence and share control of development initiatives and of decisions
and resources that affect them. Thus, participation requires more than just
disseminating information and giving farmers government-specified roles in
projects.
Participation in irrigation management
involves a larger role for farmers, water groups, and other stakeholders.
It may range from offering information and opinions during consultations, to fully enabling
farmers to act as principal decision makers in all or most project activities.
PIM is hinged around developing cooperation
with and involvement of farmers in operation, management, and maintenance of
the irrigation systems at secondary and tertiary levels through the “Water User
Associations” (WUAs). During last three decades about 60 countries having
significant irrigated area have adopted PIM in varying degrees and ways.
The WUAs are considered as the most
appropriate entity to bring together farmers being served by a given
infrastructure and act as an interface between the farmers and the Irrigation
Agency towards conflict resolution and cooperation and also to build synergy
among all stakeholders. PIM approach in improving the efficiency and
performance of irrigation systems is not in question.
During last three
decades many countries notably Bangladesh, China, India, Indonesia, Iran,
Mexico, Nepal, Pakistan, Philippines, Thailand, Turkey, Senegal, South Africa,
Sri Lanka, Vietnam took initiative in introducing PIM approach with an
intension of turning ‘vicious cycle’ to ‘virtuous cycle’ in their public
managed initiative.
However, in many cases the concept of
participation by farmers is considered as alien to the culture and is
introduced as one of the many imposed institutional reforms and strategies that
were expected to improve the performance of the contemporary irrigation sector.
World Bank (WB) supported Uttar Pradesh Water
Sector Restructuring Project Phase-1(UPWSRPP) closed on 31October, 2011. It
developed a multi-faceted long-term program covering a 15-20 year horizon.
In this phase 343000
hectares of irrigation and drainage systems rehabilitated and modernized. Over
800 WUAs were set-up. UP PIM enacted in 2009. State-level water resource
institutions were set-up. A management information system in UP irrigation
department was introduced.
WB approved UPWSRPP-2
worth $ 360 million credit to India on August 28, 2013. It aims to help build
the institutional capacity needed to increase agricultural productivity in this
low-income state where agriculture will continue to play an important role in
alleviating poverty. The phase-2 will also support the UP government’s effort
to consolidate and deepen its various institutional reform initiatives such as
PIM act during phase-1.
PIM act played a
transformative role in giving WUAs greater responsibility in managing waters
available for the farms. WUAs are also playing a greater role in managing the operations
and maintenance of local systems, resolving conflicts amongst competing users
and assessing water charges.
Some of the other
important initiatives that will be taken up in this phase include a specialized
flood management information system as more than 30% of the total geographical
area in 23 districts of UP in flood-prone.
Extensive use of
modern technology such as satellite remote sensing, GIS, and mobile-based applications
will be employed. As part of the project’s design, the UP Remote Sensing
Applications Center will monitor agriculture areas using satellite
technologies.
Plainly speaking, PIM
is decentralization of power. Right now, UP irrigation department officials are
managing it. PIM is an act which transfers this power from government officials
into hands of common farmers’ hand. WUAs would associate farmers in different
level committee. These committee would be registered with irrigation department
and have to work under the direction and control of it.
Under Panchayati Raj
system, a village has more than fifteen committee. Most of them are headed by
Gram Pradhan. It is assumed, each takes collective decisions after through
discussion in open meeting.
Likewise, PIM is
another step to devolve officials power to common farmers associated into
different level’s committee. PIM fulfils the dream and desire of our national father
Gandhiji.
PIM empowers common
farmers to associate themselves into registered Kulawa, Alpika, Rajbaha and
Brach committee. These would manage whole irrigation affairs as directed by PIM
rules and regulations.
In India, 16 states enacted
PIM. Under this and other notifications, Andhara Pradesh at top has formed
10748 committee followed by MP with 1687. UP stands at 15th with
830.
UP Irrigation department
is nodal agency to implement this project through Project Activity Core Team (PACT).
Deen Dayal Upadhaya state insititue for rural development is engaged for Information,
Education and Communication (IEC).
In UPWSRPP-1, after
PIM, 7 districts were covered. All irrigation facilities in these districts
were handed over to newly formed committee. This phase ended in March 5, 2010.
UPWSRPP-2 proposed to
cover 16 districts. Irrigation department team conducted one day workshop in
all districts to aware all associated and connected officials, public and
representatives.
In IEC effort, one
day workshop was organised on March 4, 2014 at Firozabad- one of the 16
districts. A successful and useful workshop was organised in association with irrigation
department and Regional institute rural development Manpuri.
More than 600
participated. A booklet, containing all information regarding PIM in a simple language,
was given to all participants as IEC materials. After knowing new system under
PIM, all felt happy. A mark of pleasure was observed on the faces of
participants as PIM is empowering them. This sensitization and awareness
workshop inspired them to fall in love with PIM.
Motivated
participants took pledge and gave commitment to embrace PIM. This will
galvanized the irrigation system if implemented as envisaged in the act.
Improving governance by PIM of one input (irrigation) would lead to enhance
productivity without any additional cost. It is strengthening our Panchati Raj Institutions.
PIM is a nice step in
favour of our farmers in line with our gram swaraj. PIM is an economical, farmer’s
friendly and cost effective tool. Hence it is an appreciable step. As a participant
of this workshop, I visualized that PIM is converting Gandhian visions into reality.
Heera Lal (Views are personal and based on different
sources)
Ref:
8.
http://epaper.jagran.com/epaper/05-mar-2014-199-agra-edition-firozabad.html
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