Irrigation Systems as Multiple-Use Commons: Experience from Kirindi Oya, Sri Lanka

Abstract

"Irrigation systems are often recognized as common pool resources supplying water for agricultural production, but their role in supplying water for other uses, notably fishing, homestead gardens, domestic water supply, and micro-enterprises is often overlooked. The importance of non-agricultural uses of irrigation water in livelihood strategies has implications for irrigation management and water rights, especially as increasing scarcity challenges existing water allocation mechanisms. This paper identifies the multiple uses of water in the Kirindi Oya irrigation system in Sri Lanka, examines who the users are likely to be, and explores implications for water rights and management policies.

"There are important gender, class, and residential differences among the different water users. In addition to the cultivators of irrigated paddy fields, other households use the irrigation system water for fishing, harvesting lotus, livestock, and other enterprises. Even within irrigated farming households, men have more control over paddy crops in the main fields, whereas homestead gardens are women's domain. Because the irrigation system provides water for a variety of birds and animals, even wildlife and non-resident environmental groups can be considered stakeholders.

"Current policies for supply in Sri Lanka, as in many countries, emphasize increasing user involvement in both irrigation and domestic water. While government agencies have had primary responsibility, institutions such as Farmers' Organizations are being promoted. These have the potential to serve as user platforms for negotiating water allocation among irrigated farmers. However, the user organizations mirror the sectoral responsibility of the government agencies--either irrigation or domestic water supply. Their membership and structure do not take into account the multiple uses or users of water. Developing platforms that accommodate different user groups remains a major challenge for improving the overall productivity, as well as equity, of water use."