TOWARDS EFFECTIVE WATER MANAGEMENT: PROBING DETERMINANTS OF TAIL-END FARMERS’ PARTICIPATION IN IRRIGATION MANAGEMENT IN SRI LANKA

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.