Impact Of Management Interventions On The Performance Of Five Irrigation Schemes In Sri Lanka

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.

Describes the application of a standard methodology developed by IWMI to assess the impact of irrigation management transfer on the performance of irrigation schemes. Includes detailed analysis of the effects of participatory management on the performance of irrigation schemes in Sri Lanka.

Background on the gal oya left bank system and its rehabilitation; The intervention impact assessment model; Results from the impact assessment analysis; Comparison wuth other studies and observations; Evaluation of the importance of exogenous variables; Evaluation of the impacts of rehabilitation.

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.