Role of Farmer Networks in Irrigation and Water Resource Management'

1
Role of Farmer Networks in Irrigation and Water
Resource Management.

• J. Raymond Peter
• INPIM
• Seventh International Seminar
• on Participatory Irrigation Management,
• June 13-18 Hotel Sheraton, Tirana

2
Outline

• The Challenges
• The Context of Reforms
• Key Issues in PIM
• Networking
• Role of Farmer Networks
• Some Examples

3
The Challenges Farmers Face Today

• Increasing competition for water and land
• Degradation of land and water
• Financial pressures on government to reduce
  spending on management
• Pressures on government to decentralize and
  devolve management responsibility to community
  groups and the private sector
• Low prices for grain crops and reducing subsidies
• Farmers need responsive support services and
  protection from outside interests

4
The Context of Reforms

• Reform Triggers
• Fiscal Crisis
• Donor Mandates sector/ structural
• Collapse of the State
• Transition economies, weak governments
• Popular mandate of political parties
• Market Adjustments and increasing roles for
  Private sector

5
What is PIM

• The participation of users in Irrigation and
  water resource management
• PIM provides a new framework of Governance in
  which users have key role in decision making.
• A partnership with the Government, Agency/sectors
  and the Farmers

6
Key Issues in PIM

• System level Governance
• Local inequalities in power sharing
• Ambiguities of Governments, Policy Makers and
  Agencies

7
Networking

• Help farmers and WUOs
• Foster self help, exchange information
• Improve productivity and work life and share
  resources, Transmit information quicker, build up
  a critical mass
• Need for Strategic Articulation of Demand
• Pressure for system level power sharing and
  policy advocacy

8
Networking but how?

• Network farmers and water user organizations for
  policy advocacy
• Capacity building for equal participation in
  planning and policy formulation
• Build up a critical mass of enlightened farmers
  and WUOs over time (Albania)
• Action research on multi-stakeholder institutions

9
The Potential

• Vibrancy of Water User Organizations and
  Federations
• (Albania, AP, Mexico, Indonesia)
• Increasing awareness among farmers and their
  rights
• New Frontiers in Governance arrangements
• Interplay of multiple actors, sectors, agencies,
  women, Media
• Politicians follow voters..

10
Some examples in the process

• Federregios in Columbia
• Anur Mexico
• National Union of Water User Associations in
  Albania
• The INPIM Initiative - Farmer Networks in South
  India