Transferring Irrigation Management Responsibility in Asia: Results of a Workshop

Abstract

"Transferring the responsibility for managing irrigation systems from governments to farmers' associations or other private sector organizations is being widely advocated as a solution to problems of poor irrigation management and inadequate performance. It is argued that managing organizations in the private sector have stronger incentives for achieving performance standards and can operate more efficiently than government agencies. Transfer programs are currently being develope4 or are underway in most Asian countries; however experiences and progress vary widely.

"This report summarizes the results of a joint FAO/IIMI workshop held in Bangkok and Chiang Mai, Thailand in September 1995 on irrigation management transfer (IMT) in Asia. The workshop was a follow-on to the major international conference on irrigation management transfer organized by the International Irrigation Management Institute (IIMI) in Wuhan, China in September 1994 (Johnson et al. 1995), and was designed to provide opportunity for more intensive regional interaction on IMT issues. Objectives were: * to give participants a clear and detailed understanding of the various forms of IMT and the process of introducing IMT; * to enhance understanding among participants about IMT efforts currently underway in Asia, * to provide workshop sponsors with an understanding of the research and support needs of countries practicing IMT in Asia."