Performance assessment of farmer managed irrigation system in water productivity and irrigation management plays a vital role in improving the performance of existing projects and assist planners and engineers in designing sustainable irrigation systems. This study w a s attempted to conduct assessment of selected farmer managed irrigation systems in Dhading District viz. Bishaltar Irrigation Project (BIP) and Parewatar Majhitar Irrigation Project (PMIP) which were both first constructed in late 1980s under ADB funded Irrigation Sector Project and had recently undergone rehabilitation under KFAID funded Irrigation System Improvement Projecte and GoN funded Medium Irrigation Project. Performance of the physical infrastructures, institutional performance of Water User Association (WUA), performance on water use activities, control structure activities and organizational activities were assessed along with agricultural production, serviceability and benefits to the farmers. The primary data were collected through household questionnaire survey of the farmers, focus group discussion among the WUA committee members and farmers, key informant interview with WUA personnel and officers from Water Resources and Irrigation Development Division Office. System walkthrough was carried out to access physical conditions of infrastructure. Secondary data were collected through project related documents, reports, websites, publications and journal articles. In addition, relevant literatures and essential documents were reviewed that was useful for the study. It was found that majority of the physical structures associated with the system were in good conditions and functioning satisfactorily but both the systems yet need construction works in headworks and branch canals as all necessary improvement works could not be completed in the rehabilitation project. BIP canal is still facing problems of siltation in the canal due to lack of desilting basin, and PMIP canal system has major seepage loss in branch canal. It was found that both the irrigation system was able to serve the farmers with adequate, reliable, equitable and timely irrigation water supply except for the situations of water scarcity during spring. It was found that WUAs in both systems are effective in decision making, conflict resolution, making rules and regulation for water distribution and coordinating with farmers but had not generated operation and maintenance fund and mechanism for collection of irrigation service fee. The canal efficiency has been increased but the willingness of the farmers in operation and maintenance has decreased in comparison to scenario before rehabilitation. It was found that the average level of crop yield increased and cropping intensity also increased substantially. However, the agriculture input facilities, extension services and market facilities are not sufficient for the farmers.

Keywords

Back to list