Abstract:
Minor Irrigation Systems (MISs) are administered by the Department of
Agrarian Development, and primarily maintained by Farmer Organizations (FOs).
Under a diminishing performance context of FOs, this study evaluates the governance
issues affecting the effectiveness of FOs for maintaining MISs in the Siwalakulama
cascade system, Galenbindunuwewa, Sri Lanka, based on governance principles: Par-
ticipation, Responsiveness, Accountability, and Transparency. Data were collected
from a randomly selected sample of 82 farmers representing seven FOs of the Siwa-
lakulama cascade system through a pre-tested questionnaire survey and focus group
discussions. Results of descriptive data analysis revealed poor farmer participation as
a key issue for maintaining MISs (79%) due to a higher number of part-time farmers
and farming became a secondary income source (86%). FOs’ were less responsive
(76%) for MIS maintenance requirements as well as for addressing the needs of the
member farmers. The lack of transparency (74%) of operations and decisions, focus
less equitability for members of FOs (83%), poor handling of FO funds (77%), lack
of financial records keeping (74%), and improper audits (75%) were the most reason-
able factors for poor transparency among FOs. Lack of accountability (71%) was due
to leadership issues (77%), leaders’ decision-making errors (73%), low level of ac-
countability for maintaining irrigation infrastructure (79%) on the role of FO officers
and members for MIS maintenance were among the key governance issues identified.
Findings conclude that the FOs are less effective in maintaining MISs with respect to
governance issues. Improvement in governance aspects considering socioeconomic,
demographic, and climatic changes in village-based agricultural communities is rec-
ommended to improve the effectiveness of FO for maintaining MISs
