Abstract:
Irrigation by floating pumps has been practiced in Bangladesh since 1961-62. A pilot
project comprising twenty-six floating pump was taken up in 1988-89. Until 1990-91
the responsibilities of commissioning, operation and maintenance of pumping unit
including construction of channel upto secondary level lied with Bangladesh
Agricultural Development Corporation (BADC). Farmers was charged a specific
water rate per unit area. Subsequently, the beneficiaries participation were
encouraged and the responsibilities of operation and maintenance of pumping unit and
construction of field channels were transferred to farmers group. BADC looks after
seasonal maintenance and provided necessary mechanic and operator services. It also
moni tors the performances of schemes. Farmers group pay service charges for
floating pumps.
This study has been undertaken to conduct a time series analysis of the performance
parameters and assess the impact of change in management. A case study was also
. carried out on six selected schemes to get an insight into the operation and
maintenance issues at the field level. Four parameters namely area irrigated, irrigation
cost, number of farmers benefitted, and yield have been chosen to assess the impact.
The time series analysis indicated that the area irrigated per unit of discharge
increased by 92% and the irrigation cost per hectare decreased by 12% due to change
in management. Under the changed management noating pumps were operated by
the scheme managers who tried to maximize the use of facilities. The total number of
direct beneficiaries were found to be increase but the number of farmers benefitted per
hectare was decreased by 9%. This is because the same farmers increased this
irrigated area under changed management. The yield was found to be increased by
9% which may be attributed to improved water management. The results of case
study indicated that the two tier i.e. Central Level and Block Level management
systems exists in each of the six schemes. So, the overall management of scheme was
shared by two levels. It improved the services to the farmers. However, the farmers
have been reported to be deprived because they had to pay 2 to 4 times higher
irrigation charges to scheme managers. Profit is shared among the members of
Central Management Committee resulting in the emergence of local level waterlords.
