Abstract:
Participatory Irrigation management (PIM), a co-management phase of Irrigation
Management Transfer (IMT), is a form of collective action that ensures effective
irrigation water management through farmer participation. Many scholars in Sri
Lanka show an optimistic view of the outcome of PIM in irrigation water supply;
meanwhile, few scholars reveal that increasing tail-end farmers’ participation in
PIM is the most significant challenge for achieving PIM policy objectives. However,
to a lesser degree, scholars have evaluated determinants affecting farmers’
participation in irrigation water management. This study used primary data from
482 tail-end farmers in the Walawe irrigation scheme, Sri Lanka, where PIM is
being implemented. The authors contoured a stepwise logistic regression model to
determine spatial and non-spatial factors influencing tail-end farmers’
participation in collective action. The results of the regression analysis reveal
accessibility to extension services, head farmers’ time spent on farming, branch
canal’s distance to plot location, provision of fertilizer subsidies, head farmer
occupation status, field canal water dependency, cropping pattern, family-support
time, and perception towards water adequacy for agriculture as the best predictive
factors affecting tail-end farmers’ participation in collective action. Another
noteworthy finding is the significant effect of access to extension services and
fertilizer subsidy provisions on tail-end farmers’ participation in collective action.
Authors suggest that the Irrigation Agency officers incentivize farmers by
providing awareness, assistance, and focused group training in resource
conserving, modern technology, and dryland farming. Similarly, PIM policy should
focus on capacity building of ground-level Irrigation Agency officers to extend their
adversary services. The government should extend the capacity of fertilizer subsidy
programmes from paddy farmers to other field crop cultivators, as many tail-end
farmers are engaged in mixed cropping.
