Institutionalizing the Informal: Irrigation and government intervention in Bali

Abstract

Although there is greater acceptance that farmers can manage their irrigation systems efficiently, many irrigation experts believe that a shift from informal to more formal management strategies will lead to even better water-flow management. Stephan and Rachel Lorenzen examine a case in Bali where attempts to introduce formal institutions led to confusion within the farming community. They argue that irrigation improvement projects need to engage with the local context and encourage a minimum of formal organization.