Participation in the Water Body Irrigation Management in Saline Zone in West Bengal in India

Abstract

This study analyzes farmers’ participation in irrigation management for small scale irrigation through water bodies in a saline zone in India. Principal Component Analysis shows that key decision variables of farmers are (i) strength of decision making body, (ii) water body quality and maintenance, (iii) water sharing fairness and (iv) water sufficiency. Regression analysis indicates that the farmers’ participation increases with variables like membership of water users’ association, proximity to the market, possession of agricultural assets, hired labor in the family, higher shares of aman paddy and vegetable crops, existence of fish cultivation. Four non-cooperative participation games were estimated and the results show that sharing of water body irrigation benefits among the farmers is not harmonious.