Impact evaluation of Bone - Bone irrigation system in Luwu, South Sulawesi, Indonesia

Special evaluation covers the period 1980-81 and is based on comparisons of pre- and postproject conditions of irrigated and unirrigated areas. of irrigated and unirrigated areas. The Bone-Bone irrigation system has significantly increased rice production, land productivity, farm and household income, employment, level of consumption, and marketable rice surpluses. Rice yield has increased by 121%-212% due to double cropping, and net farm income in irrigated areas is almost twice that of unirrigated areas. In some irrigated areas, household income has increased even faster than net farm income. Total costs have tended to rise faster than gross farm income due to higher applications of chemicals, more use of animal labor, more hired labor, and higher land taxes. There is a substantial difference in income distribution before and after irrigation, with 54% of farmers having achieved higher income status. Labor utilization has also increased significantly (37-42%), although the increase is not proportional to the crop yield, due to increased animal labor. Marketable surpluses have increased by 32%-100%. On the other hand, irrigation did not significantly increase labor or capital productivity or farm size distribution (although, apropos to the latter, future farm consolidation is likely). It is recommended to: (1) extend the irrigation system to Sidomukti; (2) establish a uniform planting time for rice varieties with different maturation dates; (3) adopt mechanization or increase use of draft animals to overcome labor shortages during land preparation; (4) form a water user organization for effective water management during fluctuations in supply; and (5) provide facilities for reducing postharvest losses and providing postharvest training.