Midterm evaluation of the command water management project

The project has registered considerable success with respect to Stage One activities, but has been far less successful with respect to Stage Two. Specifically, project investment in civil works has generated considerable enthusiasm among line departments and farmers. Although there are no quantitative impact data, government officials and farmers report that these works have improved water availability and generally increased agricultural production. But the project has had only limited success in institutionalizing improved government procedures and capabilities, generating broad-based farmer participation, or improving the appropriateness or availability of nonwater inputs to farmers in project areas. It has not yet demonstrated how it can build upon initial enthusiasm to promote sustained increases in agricultural productivity through improved management of water and nonwater inputs. The project"s shortcomings have come about largely because of organizational and financial constraints to effective project management and meaningful farmer participation; inadequate understanding regarding the project"s stated long-term development objectives; and the comparatively high level of project resources devoted to civil works. Similarly, strengthening of water use associationsr for sustainable civil works activities is constrained by low levels of organizational, technical, and managerial skills; lack of incentives for further cooperative endeavor after completion of watercourse renovation; and the preemptive position of vested interests in rural development initiatives. Given the challenges posed by these constraints, the high level of attention and staff time thus far committed to civil works has cost the project some critical time in identifying and developing interventions to address its stated long-term goals. The limited efforts in farmer organization, water management techniques, technology transfer, input supply, credit, and marketing have yet to produce replicable models for improved management of irrigated agriculture. The result is that both farmers and project staff view civil works as the only continuing activity. (Author abstract)