Water Users' Organization for Institutional Reform in Pakistan's Irrigation Sector

Abstract

Irrigation water demand has increased in many countries due to agricultural development and population growth. Present water-use institutions in Pakistan are not able to maintain discipline when users face the need for more water. This results in inequity in irrigation water distribution, a major problem for the farmers. In 1998, the Pakistani government started an institutional reform in the irrigation sector. A key to success in this reform is participatory irrigation management through farmer organizations. This report discusses the past and present experiences of farmer organizations. Particular emphasis is on the recent efforts to form a water users' organization and the role of collective action in the reform. The conditions of user governance of irrigation water are discussed, which include social empowerment, autonomy, and sustainability of the water users' organizations.