Abstract
Scarcity of water is the main problem of agriculture and other livelihoods of Hakwatuna Oya watershed in Deduru Oya basin which leads to conflicts among different water users and uses. With this background, a study was conducted to find water conflicts and factors leading to such conflicts among different water users and uses in Hakwatuna Oya watershed. Various field research methodologies including field surveys, focus group discussions, and interviews with farmers, officials and community leaders were used to gather information. In addition, documentary evidence, such as minutes of the monthly Project Management Committee meetings during 2012 Maha to 2014 Yala seasons were perused to study the conflicts within the irrigation command. Conflicts between head-end and tail-end farmers, farmers and officers, farmers of irrigation command area and in the catchment, farmers of irrigation command area and fisherman and farmers of irrigation command and outside of the command area were found during the study. Conflicts arise mainly due to water scarcity, and number of conflicts is comparatively higher during Yala (dry) season. Illegal water tapping is the most common reason for conflicts among farmers. Poor attitudes of farmers, weakness of existing land and water rights, non-implementation of existing law primarily due to political interference, encroachments and inadequate institutional arrangement for water resource management are found to be contributing factors to water conflicts. The socio-economic and cultural factors, such as gender and religion also play roles in existing water conflicts.
Highlights
Water plays a pivotal role in economic activity and in human well-being due to the importance of water in production such as irrigation and in domestic use (Crow and Sultana, 2002)
Key informant discussion was held with Residential Project Manager (RPM), who is directly involved with farmer organizations to identify the nature of conflicts in Hakwatuna Oya irrigation scheme
The results show that, water conflicts exist within the irrigation command as well in the catchment of Hakwatuna Oya watershed
Summary
Water plays a pivotal role in economic activity and in human well-being due to the importance of water in production such as irrigation and in domestic use (Crow and Sultana, 2002). Irrigated agriculture is the main consumer of fresh water. Irrigation schemes are not isolated but part of a whole basin with other water users. A “water short” basin tends to have more conflicts if water is not properly allocated among different users (Lecler, 2004). Water flows in natural basins by gravity and those who live upstream could technically control the flow of water. This can be the basis for water conflicts (Gasteyer, 2009). It has been reported that water conflicts are results of competition for water resources mainly during the dry season (Gichuki, 2002; Kulkarni, 2011)
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