A Review Of Alternative Strategies For Improving Farmer Managed Irrigation Systems In Sri Lanka

Farmer managed irrigation systems ; Performance evaluation ; Performance indexes ; Irrigation management ; Case studies ; Water distribution ; Social aspects ; Water users' associations ; Tube wells / Indonesia / Pakistan / Bolivia / Israel / Mexico / Peru / Venezuela / Andean Region / Philippines / Nepal / Sri Lanka / India / Egypt / Portugal / Tanzania / Argentina / China / Bangladesh

Research results: performances assessment; Research results: design and operation of irrigation systems; Research results: policy, institutions, and management; Research results: health and environment; Training and institutional strengthening; Conclusions: outputs, impacts, and future directions.

This paper reports on a detailed sociological study carried out as the NGO (or change agent) was completing three-year projects in two sites, Nagadeepa and Pimburettewa. The study describes the change agent's strategy, and analyzes its impact and the perceptions of farmers and government officials regarding its impact. The case study is placed in a wider context, in terms of both the participatory management policy of the Government of Sri Lanka, and the lessons learned that are relevant for NGOs working in other countries as well.