IWMI Working Papers

In the past decade the Tanzanian government, with a loan from the World Bank, designed and implemented a new administrative water rights system with the aim of improving basin-level water management and cost-recovery for government water-resource management services. This paper evaluates the processes and impacts after the first years of implementing the new system in the Upper Ruaha catchment. In this area, the majority of water users are small-scale irrigators and livestock keepers who develop and manage water according to customary arrangements, without much state support. Although water resources are abundant, growing water demands intensify water scarcity during the dry season. Contrary to expectations, the new system has failed as a registration tool, a taxation tool, and a water management tool, and has also contributed to aggravating rural poverty. As a taxation tool, the system not only introduces corruption by design, but also drains government coffers because the collection costs are higher than any revenue gained. As a water management tool, the new system aggravates upstream-downstream conflicts, because the upstream water users claim that paying for water entitles them to use it as they like. However, unlike these and other counterproductive impacts of the new system, the taxation of the few private large-scale water users according to negotiated rates appeared to be feasible. The paper argues that the root of these paradoxical results lies in the dichotomy between the apos;modernapos; large-scale rural and urban economy with its corresponding legislation and the rural spheres in which Tanzaniaapos;s majority of small-scale water users live under customary water tenure. While the new water rights system fits the relatively better-off minority to some extent, it is an anomaly for Tanzaniaapos;s majority of poor water users. This paper concludes by suggesting easy adaptations in the current water rights system that would accommodate both groups water users, improve cost-recovery for government services, mitigate water conflicts and alleviate rural poverty.

Although many irrigation systems in the dry zone of Sri Lanka have water shortage problems, water consumption is very high during land preparation. This paper analyzes the impact of institutional interventions on efficient water management, especially during the land preparation period. It provides a comprehensive understanding of the factors behind prolonged periods of land preparation so that system managers and farmers communities can develop appropriate interventions to reduce water consumption

This paper is a collaborative research between the International Water Management Institute (IWMI) and the Agricultural Engineering Research Centre of Taiwan. This study contributes to IWMI’s program on the Comprehensive Assessment of Water Management in Agriculture. The research in 2003 consists of two components. First, research in Taiwan continues on estimating the positive and negative externalities of paddy-rice production. Second, research is being conducted in Sri Lanka to assess more broadly the impact of water resource development. In addition, two extensive literature reviews have been completed

Enduring low agricultural productivity is one of the major causes of rural poverty in South Asia. Based on a review of recent empirical studies, this paper focuses on three key questions: (1) why is agricultural productivity low in the region?; (2) what are the key constraints and opportunities for enhancing agricultural productivity; and (3) what are the effective mechanisms to improve access to key productivity enhancing technologies, factors and services. Two major points raised in the paper are: (a) improved management of land and water is important for increasing productivity, but equally important is farmersapos; access to non land and water-related inputs and services, which through their complementary relationships with water, increase the productivity and value of water. Even if most of the constraints related to land and water are removed through improved management, the resulting gains in productivity may not be sufficient-in the presence of constraints related to other factors and services-to have any significant impacts on poverty. Therefore, in order to generate any major increases in productivity, farmersapos; improved access to non land and water-related factors and services is also important; (b) access to these factors and services can be improved by providing them in an integrated manner with public-private sector partnerships. Based on examples of various models, initiatives and practices from Pakistan, India, Sri Lanka, China, Sub-Saharan Mrica and other countries, the study suggests a framework for integrated services provision in the agriculture sector, and raises key research issues and questions to be explored.

This exploratory study was designed to capture the main features of agrarian change in the upper part of the basin that depends mostly on anicuts. These anicuts amount to 59 percent of the total basin anicuts in terms of numbers, but to only 43 percent in terms of irrigated area. They are generally very old (the history of some of them goes back to 2000 years; see below) and obviously, many changes have occurred during this time. The study does not allow the reconstitution of all past transformations but offers some insight on recent changes: changes in population pressure over resources and changes in hydrology, crop choice, livelihoods and collective action. The analysis is based on exploratory surveys carried out by the authors and by students of the University of Sabaragamuwa and is not a detailed or in-depth investigation of agricultural systems in the Upper Walawe basin. However, it provides a useful outline of the situation in this part of the basin.

This paper discusses methodologies applied in the Deduru Oya river basin, the basin selected from Sri Lanka for the regional study on the development of effective water management institutions. The study was funded by the Asian Development Bank (ADB) to assist the five countries, Indonesia, the Philippines, Nepal, China and Sri Lanka to work out methodologies and develop effective water management institutions (ADB-RETA 5812). The Deduru Oya basin in which the empirical studies were carried out is located in the northwestern province of Sri Lanka. The methodology discussed in this paper includes mainly the approaches adopted for stakeholder consultation and other data collection methods for identifying water resources management problems in the basin. The findings of the various special studies carried out are not included in this paper and instead, the relevance of information generated through such studies to hold useful participatory stakeholder consultations are highlighted. The information generated through special studies became useful, facilitating inputs for the successful implementation of stakeholder consultation activities.

This report is based on a research project financed by the Asian Development Bank (ADB) to conduct a regional study for the development of effective water management institutions (ADBRETA no 5812). Research activities were conducted in five river basins in Indonesia, the Philippines, Nepal, China and Sri Lanka for a period of three years commencing from 1999. The river basin studied in Sri Lanka was the Deduru Oya river basin in the North Western Province of the country. This report contains the findings of the Deduru Oya basin study. The overall objective of the case study conducted in Sri Lanka was to help the government of Sri Lanka to improve the institutions managing scarce water resources within the frame work of integrated water resources management. This case study included a comprehensive assessment of the existing physical, socio-economic and institutional environment in the river basin and also the long term changes that are likely to take place.

The Special SIMA Seminar on Malaria in Irrigated Agriculture at the 18th ICID International Congress on Irrigation and Drainage was one of the activities aimed at increasing awareness in the agricultural community on the potential of environmental interventions to reduce malaria under Output 4 of SIMA. This document contains papers and abstracts submitted for this seminar in Montreal, Canada. The authors themselves are responsible for their contributions and it is hoped that the publication of these proceedings will stimulate discussions among participants of the seminar as well as in the wider SIMA Network. This seminar is organized by SIMA, the CGIAR Systemwide Initiative on Malaria and Agriculture, in collaboration with the International Water Management Institute (IWMI). This and subsequent scientific seminars will gather experts on malaria and agriculture to contribute to the development of a comprehensive knowledge base on malaria and agriculture.

The International Water Management Institute (IWMI) has, for many years, been involved in research on pesticide poisoning to analyse the reasons for the high number of pesticide poisoning cases in Sri Lanka and discuss ways of controlling the problem through changes in agricultural practices and community involvement. More recently, research has focused on risk factors for deliberate and occupational pesticide poisoning and on the impact that a shift towards Integrated Pest Management (IPM) will have on the health of farming families. A workshop on “Pesticides: Health Impacts and Alternatives” was held at the Colombo Hilton Hotel on 24 January 2002. The workshop marked the end of IWMI’s research on pesticide poisoning in Sri Lanka and provided researchers and policy makers from various disciplines such as health, environment, and agriculture an opportunity to share and discuss recent findings and to discuss strategies to reduce pesticide poisoning. This paper presents the workshop proceedings and includes a resource handbook for Sri Lanka on health impacts of pesticides and alternatives by listing names of relevant institutes, addresses and annotated references.

The extension of the Uda Walawe irrigation scheme in southern Sri Lanka may have a significant ecological impact on the development area and its downstream wetlands. The evaluation of this impact is the subject for a long-term study that is presently being carried out by the International Water Management Institute (IWMI). In this study, the pre- development environmental conditions in the area are being investigated and the changes caused by the new irrigation system will be monitored in the future. Part of this study is a hydrological assessment of the coastal lagoon (Karagan Lewaya) and its small catchment to the south of the evelopment area. The lagoon is likely to receive high quantities of drainage flows from the future scheme. This could deteriorate its water quality and hence affect the suitability of the lagoon as a habitat for migratory birds and might lead to flooding of adjacent settlements.

This working paper gives an overview of the available global datasets on irrigated areas and an evaluation of their strengths and weaknesses. From these analyses an outline on how to develop a global irrigated area map, based on a generic methodology, is be presented. Some examples are given for the area covering India, Pakistan and Sri Lanka. These countries offer a broad range of irrigated areas in different environmental settings, ranging from deserts to humid tropics

The study was on the performance of the decision support system for agrotechnology transfer (DSSAT) and the soil water atmosphere plant (SWAP) under an acid sulphate soil. The comparison of these models was done as a prerequisite to the selection of an appropriate model, which is capable of simulating water management scenarios, water balance and crop growth, to be coupled with an adaptive optimization algorithm that can be used to explore water management options

This paper on Water for Rural Development is divided into two parts. The first part outlines the most important issues from IWMIapos;s point of view on water for rural development, with a focus on developing countries. This part identifies, discusses and provides recommendations for key areas for interventions in water resources development and management in the context of rural development. The second part of the document provides analyses of present and future water resources in the World Bankapos;s defined regions.

This report is based on the Taiwanapos;s irrigation systems.The first part of this report gives a brief introduction to the Taiwan irrigation systems. Based on the visit and discussions by two IWMI staff members from 25 September to 4 October 2000 with the Association Managers, staff of the Agricultural Engineering Research Centre (AERC) and staff of the Council of Agriculture (COA), certain issues were identified in the two systems, which are detailed. In the second part, the results of analyses of the performance of these two irrgation systems of Taiwan are compared with a irrgation system from Sri Lanka.

This working paper contains the proceedings of the workshop that was organized on 14 March 2001 in Hanoi, gathering experts from the various disciplines such as health, environment,water resources management, irrigation, agriculture, soil sciences, water quality, etc. to discuss the findings of 16 papers on different aspects of wastewater reuse. The proceedings of this workshop are presented here in summary form, which we hope will provide a birdapos;s-eye view of the current knowledge in Vietnam on this subject to a wide spectrum of interested persons.

This working paper contains the proceedings of the workshop on “Malaria risk mapping in Sri Lanka—implications for its use in control” that was held on May 25, 2001 at IWMI Headquarters in Colombo, which was a follow up to the workshop conducted on March 29, 2001 in Embilipitiya (Klinkenberg 2001). The workshop in Embilipitiya was organized at the local level to discuss the results of the malaria risk mapping work carried out by IWMI in the Uda Walawe region of Sri Lanka. Participants at this workshop were local health staff involved in malaria control work in the area and officials from the Land Use Planning Offices and Divisional Secretariats.

The literature review on quot;Institutional arrangements for land drainage in developing countriesquot; provides an overview over irrigation and drainage development, drainage problems and, in particular, displays the institutional arrangements in selected countries (Egypt, India, Peru, the Philippines and South Africa). India, the Philippines and South Africa are countries where IWMI is interested in carrying out research on the relationship between the effectiveness of institutions and performance; Egypt has developed institutions capable of addressing drainage needs; Peru is in the process of establishing Autonomous Hydrological Basin Authorities for catchment-wide management of water resources including drainage.

This paper presents a Benchmark Basin initiative which was proposed in IWMIapos;s Strategic Plan 2001-2005 as an approach to understand and beneficially influence water resources development in selected basins in a variety of agro-ecological zones.The initial task represented by this workshop is to conduct a dialogue among partners and stakeholders in the Ruhuna Basin,Sri Lanka. A major objective is to identify these issues and research and also development activities considered to be of highest priority to partners and stakeholders.

This paper presents an approach for analyzing the socioeconomic, health, and environmental aspects of urban wastewater use in peri-urban agriculture, using typical characteristics of a major city in a developing country. Peri-urban area of Faisalabad is chosen to represent this context.

The study examines some of the major components of water cycle in the Upper Indus Basin (UIB) to look for evidence of climate change. An analysis of hydrometeorological data has been performed for UIB. An Additive Decomposition Model was used for analyzing the time series data from ten meteorological stations in the Mangla (Jhelum River) and the Tarbela (Indus River) catchments and the long-term flow data for the three major rivers, the Indus, Jhelum and Chenab. The model decomposes a time series into trend, cyclical or periodic, autoregressive and irregular components. Furthermore, spectral analysis is done in order to display these components of the time series and examine the results of the removal of the components. This approach makes use of the fact that a change in climate, if it has occurred, will have a magnified effect on hydrologic time series. By detecting trends in such series, it should be possible to work backwards and identify the causative climatic change. In case of flow data for the three rivers, which was available for a longer period than the meteorological data, the ‘F’ and ‘t’ tests for stability of variance and mean, respectively, were also performed. The annual cycle dominated all the temperature series i.e., large periodic components, and none explained by the periodic component and a dominant random component. In case of stream- flow data, the annual temperature cycle was dominant and no trend components were found in any of the flow series. The F-test and the t-test indicated the variances and means for different sub- periods of each flow series to be stable at 5% level of significance. The analysis of time series of river flows and associated climatic data did not find any pattern of trends likely to be caused by ‘greenhouse warming’ in the Upper Indus Basin.

Proceedings of a workshop held in Embilipitiya, Sri Lanka, 29th March 2001. Presents preliminary findings on malaria patterns and possible risk factors and describes the progress of IWMI research towards developing a risk map for Sri Lanka. It also contains presentations by Regional Malaria Officers, and other officials involved in malaria control, on areas of high malaria risk within their districts.

A global estimate of the potential for rain-fed agriculture could provide an answer to the question quot;How much irrigation is required?quot; Global studies done to date have relied on course resolution climate data (0.5-1 degree arc). In this study a high-resolution climate dataset (10-minute arc) was combined with a soil water storage capacity map and a dynamic water and crop model to estimate the potential for rain-fed agriculture. The methodology applied here, based ona high-resolution climate dataset, allows analyses on a global scale without losing the smaller regional-scale issues.

This paper reviews the conditions and progress towards empowerment of farmer organizations under the Farmer-Managed Irrigated Agriculture Project in the Sindh Province of Pakistan. It discusses the conditions necessary to achieve the goal of an empowered and vitalized farmer organization, the issue of legal status, skill-building activities to build the capacity of the members to manage their own affairs, and institutional issues.

The study is reported in two Working Papers. Working Paper 17 reports the findings of the HIM exercise. This paper contains the policies, legislation and organizations relevant for understanding of the HIM for the Olifants river basin. It also includes the historical development of the institutional framework in the basin, as this history has left a profound imprint on the South African society at large and is still dictating, in many cases, the interactions between the different organizations. This background on previous and current institutions and policies at the different government levels is used to shed light on the current relationships between different organizations in the basin. Although focusing on the Olifants, the description provided is applicable to the rest of South Africa in broad terms.

Volume 1 of the study on Hydro-Institutional Mapping of the Olifants River Basin. This study aims to give an overview of water users and influences on water use by institutions in the Steelpoort river basin, a sub-basin of the Olifants. Describes a general methodology and framework for setting out the HIM for a river basin and presents findings from case studies in the basin. The hydro-institutional interactions among all types of water users in a South African river basin are also described.

Based on a project in which IWMI assessed the training needs of the farmers under the Farmer Managed Irrigated Agriculture (FMIA), the study highlights the importance of training in areas such as; effective communication strategies and conflict resolution, equitable water distribution, optimum use of water, financial management and developing a business plan.

Examines the gendered organization of irrigated farming and identifies processes of inclusion and exclusion of women irrigators and women leaders in water users committees. The research evaluates the success of efforts by the newly formed Water Users Association to include women. Recommendations based on the findings are made to address the problems faced by the women irrigators and leaders in the West Gandak scheme.

This study highlights the gender aspects of a community-based irrigation program supported by the NGO, Sadguru. It focuses on the intra-household organization of irrigated agriculture, the gender dimensions of scheme-level irrigation management, and Sadguruapos;s efforts to strengthen womenapos;s participation in irrigation cooperatives.

Documents a quot;best practicequot; - a successful gender-balanced irrigation intervention in which women were given control over an irrigation technology. The study evaluates the approach taken by the implementing NGO, the Aga Khan Rural Support Programme, in terms of its replicability in other areas where women share in farm activities and decision making.

Analyses the participation of female farmers in the farmer organizations (FO) of minor irrigation systems and identifies factors that hamper the participation of women in decision-making processes with regard to land, cultivation and irrigation. The paper argues that participation does not necessarily result in equity and that other forms of equity interact with gender inequity in the FOs.

Provides a socioeconomic analysis of Minor Irrigation (MI) investments in North Bengal. The study addresses the following questions: whether there is justification and rationale for MI subsidies in North Bengal; whether the North Bengal Terai Development Projectapos;s current subsidy policy achieves the Projectapos;s MI objectives in an efficient, sustainable and livelihood intensive manner, and if there is scope for modifying the current policies for better impact.

This report is intended to serve as reference and guide for researchers and policy makers linked to water resources development in Turkey and elsewhere. The topics covered include: recent developments in the water sector, the epidemiology and control of malaria and schistosomiasis, the use and effects of pesticides in irrigated agriculture, water quality issues and standards and the relationship between irrigation and wetlands.

As a consequence of green revolution in 1960s, though irrigated areas and agriculture production has increased considerably, yields are still less as compared to various countries of the world. Furthermore, huge spatial variation in cropping pattern and productivity of land and water within irrigated agriculture of Pakistan has become a chronic issue. There are various reasons causing low production. These include farmersapos; investment potential, physical environments, market mechanism and availability of water, which is the most precious input in farming. The role of irrigation water resources and its management is extremely important. The sustainability of agriculture can be largely insured through proper and better management of water resources. Indus Basin Irrigation System (IBIS) is basically supply-based by its design which means water is not supplied according to crop requirement. Low gross production is an inherent limitation of this supply-based system. The research activity aims to see the spatial variation in production across canal commands using gross production indicators i.e. Gross Value of Production (GVP) per unit of land and GVP per unit of water. Give of major network of 12, inter-linked and a total of 23 canals out of 45 canals of IBIS. The analysis is performed at the canal command level.

Addresses remodeling of outlets to achieve equitable water distribution where studies have shown considerable inequity. Recommendations are made for the implementation of remodeling that involve the farmer organizations. This process is to be undertaken jointly with the area water board staff.

This study looks into the unsatisfactory indications canal and structure dimensions and levels of water distribution equity. These changes result in conditions that do not permit regime to be established and result in high variation between the head and the tail of the distribution.

The concept of equity of water distribution is widely used in assessment of irrigation water management performance; but in reality there is considerable confusion between the concepts of equity and equality. This research forms part of a larger study of Farmer Managed Irrigation in Sind Province.

Presents a framework for institutional analysis, focusing on the three main pillars of institutions - laws, policies and administration. The report provides a brief set of guidelines, supported by an outline of some issues, constraints and prospects for institutional change.; Also published in Bruns, B.; Bandaragoda, D. J.; Samad, M. (Eds.), Integrated water-resources management in a river basin context: Institutional strategies for improving the productivity of agricultural water management. Proceedings of the Regional Workshop, Malang, Indonesia, January 15-19, 2001. Colombo, Sri Lanka: IWMI. pp.3-18.

These notes present the impressions gathered by a team of Indian and Pakistani economists on contemporary issues in irrigation management in these two countries. The authors suggest that the two countries can learn important lessons by comparing notes on several issues: [a] what would work best in ensuring equitable access to irrigation - physical rehabilitation being tried out in Pakistan Punjab with the help of the army under the military rule offers interesting possibilities in terms of scale and impact as does the Andhra Pradesh model of irrigation reform, [b] the experience in both countries so far defies the uncritically accepted premise that under farmer-management, irrigation systems will be more equitable, [c] why farmers in Pakistan Punjab have to use 16-20 horsepower (hp) diesel engines to pump groundwater from 25-40 feet while north Indian farmers have been doing the same with 5 hp engines—if it is because of compulsion of habit, appropriate policies can save Pakistan substantial diesel fuel per year, [d] India needs to ask why diesel engines in Lahore cost only 40-50 percent of the retail price they command in Lucknow or Ludhiana—we suggest allowing free imports of Chinese pumps will do away with the need for pump subsidies that keep diesel engines over-priced in India, [e] both Pakistan and India need to pay serious attention to promoting simple pump modifications that can increase fuel efficiency of their pumps by 40-70 percent, [f] India and Pakistan need to compare notes on their rich experience of electricity pricing policies to achieve viability of electricity supply to farmers and to achieve important goals of groundwater management and policy.

Report 1 documents key data affecting crop budgets and water supply costs in several Olifants Basin irrigation schemes. The data will be used to develop an irrigation water-pricing model to describe supply-side and demand side forces. Report 2 investigates the management and operations of these schemes. It compares farming and irrigation practices in several different types of schemes - a government-run scheme, a private commercial scheme and two small irrigation schemes managed by black farmers.

This report describes the hydrological aspects of a CGIAR project to model the effects of water flows on aquatic resource production in the Mekong Basin. The project was carried out by the International Centre for Living Aquatic Resources Management (ICLARM, Penang, Malaysia) and the International Water Management Institute (IWMI, Colombo, Sri Lanka) in cooperation with the Mekong River Commission (MRC, Phnom Penh, Cambodia) together with other institutes and national and regional agencies working in the riparian countries of Cambodia, Lao PDR, Thailand and Vietnam. The project commenced in January 2000 and finished in December 2000. The land cover analysis for the Tonle Sap area was carried out, and the data on existing and proposed dams were collated, by Dilkushi De Alwis, IWMI, Colombo.

This report investigates how much water is required to maintain the freshwater reed beds that are the main shelter and breeding place for threatened bird species. The ability of Gediz basin to fulfill this requirement and the effects of this requirement on irrigated agriculture, the major competitor for water in the Gediz basin were subsequently examined.

Analysis of the spatial and temporal relationship between malaria incidence and selected water-related environmental parameters . The analysis is based upon the use of secondary information. GIS was used to generate input into statistical analysis and to map out the parameters for a visual analysis. The paper discusses the quality of the data used and the possibilities for using GIS in healthrelated research.

The increasing international awareness about the strengths of participatory approaches and methods for research and development has led international development banks, NGOs, donors and research and training institutes to adopt Participatory Rural Appraisal (PRA) and other participatory approaches to implement new projects and programs. At IIMI, PRA approaches and methods have alsoapos;been incorporated in a number of research activities. The present Working Paper explores the opportunities of PRA in irrigation management research through an analysis of selected case studies in which IIMI attempted to practice the PRA approach.

Since time immemorial, people in South Asia have collected rainfall runoff in small storage reservoirs (called tanks) for later use in agricultural production, for domestic use and watering of livestock. A unique feature of the tanks in Sri Lanka is that often several of the tanks are linked together through a canal. The resulting cascade of tanks should then be managed as one system. The Thirappane cascade, which is the topic of this study, falls within the catchment area of a much bigger reservoir, Nachchaduwa. The latter was built around 900 AD, and restored in 1906, when many of the tanks still in use now were surveyed and restored to use. Cascade management, however, was not always carried out properly and restoration work not done, that the skills to do so were lost. The management of these interconnected tanks presents many interesting questions, the answers to which hitherto have not been fully explored. The effectiveness of storage-based irrigation systems was such that over time more and more people were attracted to the command areas of the tanks and many of the systems became unsustainable due to overcrowding. The objective of this study was a limited one, i.e., to explore through simple water balance modelling several improved management options for a particular set of tanks in the Thirappane Cascade and to examine how the tank cascade can be stabilized through structural modifications. The water balance model developed for this purpose has deliberately been kept simple, requiring only data that can be easily collected in the field.

This working paper is the outcome of a data collection process initiated under the advice of Dr. Shigeo Yashima of the International Irrigation Management Institute (IIMI). The objective of this data collection process was to make a preliminary assessment of irrigation performance in Sri Lanka using irrigation systems with different backgrounds to identify areas for further research.

The impact of information techniques in all economic activities has been tremendous during the past decade. However, the potential of the multiple management methods and technologies derived from this field has not been fully realized in the irrigation sector. One area of application of information techniques concern the design and installation of Decision Support Systems (DSS). This area, used for the particular activities relating to the management of water in irrigation schemes, constitutes the theoretical background of this paper

This paper presents the results of a study on water markets in the Fordwah/Eastern Sadiqia Area, Punjab, Pakistan. The study stresses and quantifies the importance of water markets in the area. A first attempt is made to evaluate the the impact of water marketson the quality of irrigation services.

Study of three traditional farmer-developed and -managed irrigation systems in the Chitral region of Pakistan which adds to the existing inventory of information available about indigenous irrigation institutions , technologies, performance, and development needs .

The Directorate of Land Reclamation (DLR), which was set up in 1945, is a special unit of Punjabapos;s Irrigation and Power Department for undertaking research and field operations to combat the problem of salinity. Approaching the end of five decades of existence, the directorate is yet to demonstrate its effectiveness in its assigned task; its inability to fully cope with the conditions of a fast changing irrigation environment makes this rather an illusive goal.; In the selection of lands for reclamation, the Directorate is heavily dependent on the visual salinity survey (Thur Girdawari) carried out every year by the Irrigation Departmentapos;s field staff. This visual survey appears to be a quick and cost-effective method of assessing surface salinity, but its exclusive use as the criterion for selection of affected land is a questionable approach. According to original departmental procedure, reclamation activities were confined to only two of the five classes of soil identified by the visual salinity survey, but the current practice of including all the types of salt-affected soils in reclamation operations has made the selection process more subjective. Surprisingly, the DLR is not using its existing laboratory facilities optimally to better identify the salt-affected lands. Soil testing in visually identified lands could also help define the reclamation operations more scientifically in addition to improving the selection methods being used.; While formal procedure requires the Directorate to communicate to farmers the details of planned reclamation schemes, farmer awareness of the reclamation program seems to be poor and only a few farmers in the study area readily acknowledge agency assistance in obtaining relevant information. In practice, the proposals for reclamation schemes are often initiated by some influential farmers.; It is a requirement that the amount of water made available for reclamation be over and above the design supply of a given distributary, and special reclamation outlets can be given from a distributary only on the basis that its tail will not suffer. However, the study shows no evidence to show that extra water was made available during the operation of reclamation outlets; further, tail-end shortages were observed in all the distributaries under the study.; In a context where the tendency is to give scant consideration to irrigation rules and procedures, it is unlikely that the Directorate of Land Reclamation in its present form and status will succeed in implementing an extensive program of reclamation operations. For the Directorate to be effective in its legitimate functions and to make it an operationally viable and socially acceptable organizational unit, adequate policy and institutional support seem to be necessary.

This paper analyzes the tubewell data collected by IIMI-Pakistan over a period of 4 years. While the main emphasis remains on the operation of private tubewells, public tubewells and canal water supplies are included in the analyses to give a more comprehensive picture of the conjunctive use environment, a characteristic of most of the irrigated areas of the Punjab, Pakistan.

IRRIGATION Management Institute (IIMI) and the Tropical Agriculture Research Center (TARC), Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries of Japan, initiated a collaborative study in August 1991. This joint study is focused on small-scale tank irrigation systems which are spread over the Dry Zone of Sri Lanka, and is conducted with the assistance of Sri Lankaapos;s Department of Agrarian Services.

The research activity described in this working paper is a joint effort undertaken by the International Irrigation Management Institute (IIMI) and the Irrigation Department of Sri Lanka. Two of the authors, S. Mohanrajah (Resident Engineer, Irrigation Department) and M. H. Junaid (Additional Engineer, Irrigation Department), were responsible for the management of the Right Bank Main Canal (RBMC) in Kirindi Oya during the season, maha 1991/92. The monitoring network introduced under their supervision, with the active collaboration of the field staff, proved to be of significant benefit for the effective accomplishment of their day-to-day tasks of canal management. This led the authors to the conclusion that disseminating this experience even at an early stage could be of some interest to others seeking the improvement of the management of manually operated irrigation canals. Emphasis has deliberately been put on methods rather than on thorough, a posteriori analysis of data. Thus, ideas suggesting how to use simple flow data to compute indicators and derive management information has been preferred to the in-depth analysis of the data. The authors also hope to convey their intimate conviction of the usefulness of real collaborative action-research between quot;outside catalystsquot; and managers in charge of irrigation systems through this paper.

Part of a thesis titled: quot;An expert system for the diagnosis of tank irrigated systems : a feasibility studyquot;. This working paper is an analysis intended to bring understanding of the system, to provide an evaluation of its performance with reference to some stated objectives and optionally to recommend how the expected objectives can be achieved by removing the bottlenecks in the system.

The Village Tank Rehabilitation Program of the National Freedom From Hunger Campaign (FFHC) Board is assessed in this paper as a parallel study to the Anuradhapura Dry-Zone Agriculture Project (ADZAP) which was carried out by the International Irrigation Management Institute (IIMI) in 1988. Following a nongovernmental approach, the FFHC Board has implemented tank rehabilitation programs in several districts in the island. The Thanthirimale cluster in Anuradhapura District is the largest tank rehabilitation project implemented by the Board. In this study, the Boardapos;s program in Thanthirimale was assessed through a sample survey, following a similar survey methodology used to assess the Tank Rehabilitation Program of ADZAP

This report documents part of an operational experiment in Kalankuttiya Block of Mahaweli System H during the 1987 yala (dry season). The experiment or quot;action researchquot; was conducted by the International Irrigation Management Insti tute (IIMI) in cooperation with the Mahaweli Economic Agency of the Mahaweli Authority of Sri Lanka. The experiment was the outgrowth of studies which focused on constraints to non-rice crops during the dry season. Careful monitoring of irrigation and cropping patterns in selected areas of the system, conducted from yala 1985, had documented three important constraints to di versified crops: 1) inadequate water control at the secondary and tertiary levels of the system, 2) lack of organization for water sharing from the secondary level downward, and 3) poor conununication between farmers and agency staff regarding water delivery schedules

This report is one of several IIMI publications addressing the issue of irrigation management to promote diversified crops during the dry season. As Sri Lanka approaches self-sufficiency in rice production, a target already achieved by some other countries in the region, there is little logic in growing rice using land and water resources which could support higher- value non-rice crops, using less water. Thus, one of the incentives in improving irrigation management is to find ways of stretching water further during the dry season in water-deficit systems, when rice is relatively more expensive to grow than during the wet season, and when other crops which can be grown only during the dry season (when there is less danger of water-logging) offer the farmer and the country a comparative advantage.

The International Irrigation Management Institute (IIMI) in cooperation with the Department of Agrarian Services (DAS) conducted a study of 31 ADZAP tank schemes, focusing on the irrigation component of the project. The study was conducted during June-September 1988, and forms part of the Instituteapos;s ongoing research to document alternative strategies for assisting the minor irrigation sector. This report provides an overview of the study and its findings.

This paper presents a set of guidelines for rapid evaluation of an irrigation system, developed by IIMI staff in cooperation with staff from the Regional Development Division and Badulla District office of the Integrated Development Projects. A one-day workshop on rapid assessment methodologies suitable for minor (small-scale) irrigation systems in Sri Lanka was held at IIMI Headquarters in August 1988. Representatives who participated in ongoing projects to improve minor irrigation systems were from the three Sri Lankan agencies, the Irrigation Department, the Department of Agrarian Services, and the Regional Development Division of the Ministry of Plan Implementation, which oversees the district-level Integrated Rural Development Projects.

Field research on water flows and agricultural production in the Kalankuttiya Block of Mahaweli System H was initiated by IIMI staff in mid-1985 during Yala (dry season). The primary focus was to understand the effects of irrigation management practices on crop diversification from rice to quot;other food cropsquot; (OFCs) such as chili, lentil, soybean, and onion. Faced with immanent self-sufficiency in rice production, but continuing large-scale imports of non-rice food crops, the government is trying to promote the cultivation of OFCs, which require intermittent irrigation, in schemes designed primarily for rice cultivation and more or less continuous water flows.

The purpose of this paper is to document the field measurement campaign carried out in the Kirirrli Oya RBMC with a view to calibrating the mathematical model. The preliminary analysis leading to estimates of some of the hydraulic parameters needed by the model is also described.

This paper is a substantially revised version of a draft paper previously circulated to some officials in Sri Lanka. The title of that paper was quot;Testing a New Field Channel Design: A Pilot Project of the Uda Walawe Rehabilitation Project, Sri Lanka. It was reviewed by the International Irrigation Management Institute (IIMI) - Sri Lanka Consultativequot; Consultative Committee at its January 1988 meeting; as the minutes of that meeting indicate, the Committee members recognized- the significance of the main findings of the draft report, and agreed that physical rehabilitation by itself could be counter productive unless supported by proper institutional changes. The paper is based on periodic observations (approximately weekly) of farmersapos; use of a rehabilitated pilot field channel (FC), and interviews with both farmers and field level officials, over two seasons in the Uda Walawe Scheme, Sri Lanka.

Proceedings of a Workshop sponsored jointly by ARTI and IIMI, 11-12 December 1987.

This document is meant to present a framework for analyzing the institutions related to water management in a river basin context. The design of the five-country regional study undertaken by IWMI on “Development of Effective Water Management Institutions” provided a new methodology and a framework for river basin studies. It consists of four key components of diagnostic investigations related to water resources management in a river basin, which are interrelated. These key components are the physical system, water accounting, socioeconomic situation and performance. This study design is given in the Study’s Inception Report of 15 June 1999, and the Methodological Guidelines of 1 October 1999. This document takes one step further, and provides a conceptual framework for analyzing the institutional framework for water resources management in a river basin. The major thrust of this framework for institutional analysis is that the four key areas of diagnostic studies in a river basin are shown to be closely linked to the institutional frame work for integrated water resources management in the context of a river basin.

The International Irrigation Management Institute (IIMI) began research projects in Dewahuwa Tank and Mahaweli 11-2 during the Yala season (May-Aug.) of 1985. The research focussed initially on agricultural economics (e.g., farmersapos; use of agricultural inputs and returns from different crops) and on irrigation engineering (water distribution and flow rates). In the second season (Maha 1985/86) of research a social science component was added to address issues of farmersapos; management decisions and the institutional arrangements by which farmers and agency officials operate and maintain the irrigation works. This report summarizes the research results of the social science component for the Maha season, from October 1985 to April 1986.