Performance Evaluation of Organizational Arrangement in Irrigation Water Management at Serenta Irrigation Scheme, Northern Ethiopia

Abstract

This study was conducted to evaluate the performance of organizational arrangement for irrigation water management in Serenta irrigation scheme. The different indicators considered were Water Users Association (WUA) structure, water allocation and distribution systems, water distribution fairness status, conflict management mechanisms in water use, canals cleaning and maintenance performance and organizational support service on irrigation water management. To evaluate the performance of organizational arrangement of the irrigation water management practices, questionnaire survey data collection method was used. The data generated through the household survey were analyzed using SPSS software. Eighty nine per cent of the respondents responded that the organizational performance of the current water users association in the irrigation scheme was poor. This attributed for unfair water distribution system and conflict on water use. To distribute the water fairly among users and to minimize the water loss, water users association should be strengthened and training on irrigation water management need to be arranged for the farmers. This implies that, presence of strong water users association in particular and presence of well organizational arrangement in irrigation water management is corner stone to build an effective irrigation development.