The objective of establishing irrigation infrastructure is to enhance agricultural production of the equipped land. To achieve this then farmers required to fully utilize the irrigation infrastructure and achieve over 100% cropping intensity.
Irrigation management entails operating the system to draw water from the source and convey through the irrigation network to the irrigation land. It also entails adopting proper crop husbandry under agri-business practices that will culminate at marketing of farm produce. Management of irrigation also entails maintenance of the irrigation system to sustain efficient water supply.
At the heart of irrigation management is the farmers and their organizations. The main organizations include Irrigation Water Users Associations (IWUAs) for operation and maintenance, Advisory on land administration (public schemes), Cooperative societies for sourcing of inputs and marketing for produce. The Authority supports in formation of the farmers organizations and building their capacity on governance and agri-business. Currently, the Authority is jointly managing the public irrigation schemes together with the farmers. Farmers pay operation and maintenance fees for operation and maintenance of primary and secondary irrigation infrastructure.
Figure 2: Growing high-value crops through irrigation
