Impact of Participatory Irrigation Management on water availability and agricultural productivity

Abstract

Agriculture sector is the keystone of the economy of Pakistan. It contributes about 19 percent to GDP, accounts for 60 percent of its exports, and provides employment opportunities to 42.3 percent of total labor force. Increasing population is putting pressure on the agriculture sector to fulfill their basic needs related to food and fiber. Water is a key input in development of agriculture and food security in Pakistan. The per capita water availability in Pakistan is 1100 m3, below 1000 m3 water availability means water stress condition. Every coming day is putting pressure on the irrigation sector due to increase of water demand, low water supply, low irrigation efficiency, mismanagement and increasing demand of food items. Participatory Irrigation Management (PIM) involves the farmers in operation and management (O&M) of irrigation system. These reforms in Pakistan are facing various challenges to achieve its objectives due to conflicts between Farmer Organizations (FOs) and Provincial Irrigation Authorities, although farmers both at head and tail reaches of study areas are in favor of these reforms. The success rate of this reform varies from place to place. This study was carried out in 2 distributaries of LCC (West) Circle, Faisalabad-Pakistan i.e. Maduana (under irrigation Department) and Nasrana (under Punjab Irrigation and Drainage Authority). Data were collected from 120 farmers, 60 from each distributary through random sampling technique. This study evaluated the motives of farmers to pay irrigation fees and participation in irrigation infrastructure improvement and assessed the impact of irrigation reforms on agricultural productivity and water availability. Results showed that farmers situated on distributary under reformed area were having timely and greater water availability across seasons, having more productivity, were paying more water charges and taking part in the rehabilitation of irrigation infrastructure.