SEDERHANA EVALUATION; IRS INCREASED PRODUCTION THROUGH BETTER WATER MANAGEMENT

THE IRS PROGRAM INCLUDES HUNDREDS OF SMALL-SCALE IRRIGATION/RECLAMATION SUBPROJECTS SCATTERED THROUGHOUT INDONESIA DESIGNED FOR QUICK INCREASES IN RICE PRODUCTION. THE 3-MAN EVALUATION TEAM VISITED 60 SUBPROJECTS, INTERVIEWED FARMERS AND IOCAL OFFICIALS, HELD DISCUSSIONS WITH GOI AND USAID OFFICIALS, AND UTILIZED PROFRAM DOCUMENTATION. THE EVALUATORS CONCLUDE THAT IRS IS PROVING TO BE A WORTHWHILE AND EFFECTIVE PROGRAM FOR PROMOTING RICE PRODUCTION. BY LATE 1977, IRS HAD EXPANDED IRRIGATED RICE HECTARAGE BY 18,000 HA. IRS HAD ALSO ENHANCED INCOME FOR SEVERAL HUNDRED THOUSAND SMALL FARM FAMILIES. THE COST-BENEFIT ANALYSIS SECTION OF THE REPORT CONCLUDES THAT IRS IS ON ITS WAY TOWARDS COVERING THE SOCIAL OPPORTUNITY COSTS OF BOTH CAPITAL AND LABOR. PROGRESS TOWARDS STRENGHTENING GOI AND VILLAGE INSTITUTIONS RESPONSIBLE FOR IMPLEMENTING IRS, WHILE READILY OBSERVABLE, APPEARS TO HAVE BEEN SLOWER THAN PROJECTED. HENCE, TARGET HECTARAGE FOR THE GOI 1977/78 FISCAL YEAR WAS REDUCED TO 21,000 HA, DOWN FROM 49,000 HA DURING 1976/77. IRS OFFICIALS HAVE, HOWEVER, ACCUMULATED MUCH BENEFICIAL EXPERIENCE. EVALUATORS FEIT THAT FAR TOO SMALL A PORTION OF THE US TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE HAS BEEN DEVOTED TO STRENGTHENING THE IRS TRAINING INSTITUTIONS.IMPROVED TRAINING FOR IRS AFTER SHOULD BE FIRST PRIORITY FOR EXPANDED TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE. GOI HAS NOT YET INSTITUTIONALIZED OPERATION AND MAINTENANCE (O&M). NEVERTHELESS, THE LACK OF O&M BY THE IRRIGATION SERVICE HAS PROVIDED INCENTIVE FOR LOCAL COMMUNITY INITIATIVES. O&M OF MAJOR WORKS BEYOND THE CONTROL OF THE FARMERS SHOULD BE INSTITUTIONALIZED BY GOI. EVALUATORS RECOMMEND THAT DESIGN CONTRACTORS BE REQUIRED TO RETURN TO THE FIELD WITH THEIR PRELIMINARY LAYOUTS TO GET FEEDBACK FROM LOCAL ENGINEERS. THIS WOULD IMPROVE THE FUNCTIONALITY OF THE FINAL DESIGNS AND SSVE CONSIDERABLE GOI STAFF TIME NOW DEVOTED TO CORRECTING CONTRACTOR MISTAKES. IT IS ALSO DEEMED IMPERATIVE THAT ENGINEERS ACQUIRE A WORKING KNOWLEDGE OF INDONESIAN BEFORE ARRIVING.