Synthesis Note for Theme 5: Support Services for Irrigation Systems and Irrigated Agriculture

Theme Co-ordinator: Martin Smith, FAO Land and Water Development Division, Rome

Theme 5 of the Email Conference on IMT examined the type of support services that water users associations and farmers need in particular after IMT to ensure the sustainable performance of the irrigation system and irrigated agriculture

An important step in IMT is the institutional review of the role of the different agencies and services providers before, during and after the IMT process. Such review is closely linked to the design of an effective capacity building and training program of the service providers. Training was considered to play a pivotal role in the IMT process, not always given the attention and resources required.

Developing the capacity of the Water Users Associations in providing an effective service in water delivery, requires in particular in the initial period substantial support to set up the administrative and financial procedures and a continued technical support in the operation and maintenance of the irrigation system. The Irrigation Agency needs to continue its support in monitoring and advising after IMT and to provide technical assistance in the functioning of the irrigation system. Several examples were given in the conference of specially designed training programs to develop the capacity of water users associations in operation and maintenance and to prepare the irrigation agency staff for their new tasks in supporting and training of the WUA's. This includes the development if the necessary training skills to train WUA's, adopting appropriate training approaches (participatory, competence development) and a systematic analysis of the training needs (who, what and how to do it).

Conference participants supported the notion of a strong correlation was demonstrated between the productivity and profitability of irrigated agriculture, and the viability of the water users association and the ability of farmers ability to pay water fees. Support services in IMT should give more attention to support productivity in irrigated agriculture. The Agricultural Extension Agency could play an important role in this, providing advice on better production methods and more profitable crops. The effectiveness of public extension services has been queried and support and funding for agriculture extension has weakened in recent years. Alternative approaches in financing agricultural extension services should be pursued, allowing farmers more choice in training and other services toto be received. More demand driven approaches were suggested through subsidized grants, allowing a choice from among different service providers (government agencies, educational institutes, private sector, NGO's, farmers to farmer training).

The role of Irrigation Advisory Services has been referred to in achieving a more effective use of water at field level that may further contribute to increasing and intensifying agricultural production. Examples of private and public irrigation advisory services have been provided.

The increased role of the Private Sector in service provision was emphasized as governments prove unable to maintain the extended level of support services in the irrigation sector. Several of the services originally provided by the government or parastatal agencies have been privatized. These include input supplies , farm mechanization services, and maintenance services (desilting, canal repair), but also irrigation design and marketing and processing of agricultural produce can often be done more effectively by the private sector.

Agriculture credit plays an important role in intensifying irrigated agriculture. Promotion of Rural Financing Institutions and the establishment of mutual savings and credit organization were options suggested to provide agricultural credit and facilitate the supply of agricultural inputs to farmers.

Several countries have involved NGO's in the promotion and implementation of IMT programs in view of their commitment to and work with local communities. Their role has proved relevant in motivating and enabling farmers to take over irrigation management responsibilities through IMT and in the formation and training of the WUA. NGO's have also been instrumental in facilitating the development of savings and credit associations and promotion of marketing and agri-business initiatives.

Growing competition for water between different sectors has led to the formation of River Basin Water Management Organizations to regulate water management and the basin wide allocation of water to different interest groups within the river basins and catchment units. Although institutional arrangements are often still in formative stages, the role of river basin management organizations in providing support services to irrigation management organizations may become increasingly important and may include legal advice and development and adjudication of water rights within basins.

In many countries the IMT process has been driven and promoted by International Agencies. A range of technical assistance programs has been implemented for IMT, including the formation and training of water users associations. Several examples of IMT pilot programs and training manuals, seminars, workshops and exchange visits have been prepared under such technical assistance programs. External consultants, and international agencies and research institutes have often been brought in, cooperating with the national agencies in the implementation of IMT programs. They have played an important role in introducing participatory training programs.

Many of the contributors to the EMC, indicated that training is a critical aspect of a successful IMT program. Several examples were provided on the role and approach of training of WUA's as an essential element of the IMT program. IMT training covers financial and administrative management as well as technical aspects of operation and maintenance. However, the quality of training varies greatly and it is often reported to be not adequate or ineffective. Many irrigation agencies find themselves responsible placed for the task to develop extensive training programs from scratch without being able to draw on the considerable work done in other countries. An international effort to bring together some of the IMT training programs, including course outlines and examples, would seem invaluable.

1. There is a need to review the role of the different services providers before, during and after the IMT process, in order to ensure that an appropriate strategy for capacity building can be identified in capacity building;
2. Adequate budgets need to be provided for institutional development, capacity building and training for all service providers and farmers;
3. An international effort to compile various training and other support materials for IMT and programs would seem be a valuable contribution to assist IMT planners and trainers training planners worldwide;
4. More emphasis should be paid to involve providers of the agricultural extension services providers in the IMT process as farmers ability and willingness to pay water fees and the success of IMT is directly linked to more productive and profitable agriculture;
5. Innovative approaches should be identified and promoted for pursued in financing agricultural extension services provision and allowing farmers more choice in training and other support services.

Contact: imt-moderator@fao.org