POTENTIALS AND OBSTACLES ON IRRIGATION MANAGEMENT TRANSFER (A CASE STUDY OF FOUR IRRIGATION NETWORKS IN IRAN)

Different studies have been shown that despite relative success in improving irrigation performance, none of these activities were successful in their goals and still there is “performance deficit” in irrigation networks. Studies indicated that the performance deficit is due to an imbalance between the roles of government agencies and irrigators in all levels of irrigation development including design, operation and maintenance, planning and decision making. Irrigation management transfer (IMT) and turnover of the management and authority of public irrigation networks from government to water users associations or other entities is the major trend which is occurring in the context of irrigation management in most of the countries including I.R. of Iran. The objective of this study was to evaluate the current situation of the four irrigation networks of Iran from view-points of the share of government and water users in decision making and irrigation management. The study dealt with the potentials and obstacles for IMT and view-points of the government and water user entities in this regard. Some marginal information regarding the role of existing institution or future established association on water management and water productivity, and farmers’ responses to water scarcity during drought was also obtained. A comprehensive questionnaire was prepared. The questions referred different target groups including farmers, water users, government staff, and the networks managers. The designed questions attempted to receive the motivation and limitations on IMT and view points of the water users and network staffs on water management issues, and their desire expectation from the changes and their anticipation form the future. The selected networks were Droodzan, Esfahan, Dez, and Ghazvin irrigation projects. In the selection it was tried the selected networks to have all the parameters and factors regarding water management and allocation issues. Based on results the potentials and tendency for IMT varies in the different irrigation networks. There is motivation for IMT potentially, but in most cases there are serious hindering factors or obstacles that affected this motivation, among them we can nominate lack of enough mutual confidence between farmers and the network management, lack of enough and or proper laws and regulations, organizations and institutional arrangements, support, and follow ups. In most case the main motivation for IMT from farmers is equity in water allocation. However, the motivation from networks management (local government) is not clear or well defined and general objectives are stated for the motivation. The necessity for rehabilitation and renewal of the system prior to implementation of IMT is mentioned in all cases as important condition for the successful implementation of the program. In this paper the view points of the farmers and the government entities regarding IMT process is provided and the potentials and obstacles for this process is provided and discussed.