China - PIM Reforms

Participatory Irrigation Management in China

China has 402 large irrigation districts (consist of an area of more than 20,000 ha), 5,600 medium irrigation districts (consist of an area of between 660 ha and 20,000 ha) and approximately 10 million small irrigation districts (area less than 660 ha). Currently the main canals in large irrigation districts are constructed by the government and run by professional management agencies that are subordinate to the government. The sub lateral canals are constructed by village collectives and farmers, and operated by townships and villages.

While playing their important role in the promotion and assurance of agriculture production, Irrigation Districts face three main problems:

1. Infrastructure. Most canals lack adequate water measurement. Some of the canals remain unlined. This is the result of the limited capacity of the local community. Townships, village collectives, and farmers who lack the adequate capacities (technical and financial) delay the completion of the distribution network. The sections for which they are responsible remain yet to be constructed.

2. Improper management system and lack of initiatives in operation mechanism. Operation and maintenance funds are inadequate. Beneficiaries of irrigation in China pay too little for the water they use. The water fee in most of the irrigation districts is only 1/3 to 2/3 of the actual cost of supplying water. In addition, the water fees are not fully collected.

3. Shortage of water resources. In northern areas the conflicts between industry and agriculture as well as between cities and countryside for water resources are prominent. Irrigation efficiencies are quite low at 0.4-0.5 in many irrigation districts. Wasting of water is very common.

This is proposed to be remedied by:
" encouraging involvement of water users in cost recovery and management of irrigation systems,
" promoting water-savings through better practices and technology to improve water use efficiency,
" clarifying rights and responsibilities of water user associations. WUAs should take on more responsibilities progressively over time.

Issues:

1. Understanding the concept of "PIM." Participatory Irrigation Management is not new in China, but has been practiced passively in the past. The goal of the PIM in China is to make the water user associations owners of irrigation districts. Clear water rights and property rights need to be defined.

2. Promote "PIM" Gradually. PIM in China needs to be gradual and flexible by building up capacity and developing an appropriate legal framework.

3. Continued Government Support. While the role of the government would diminish, its role would be critical in the control and allocation of water resources, capacity building, monitoring, and evaluation in addition to providing appropriate WUA support through subsidies.

4. Achieving good O&M. While international experience has shown that O&M has improved with the involvement of water user associations, there is a strong case for professional management of irrigation systems with new roles for WUAs to take over management. The water charges should be collected in full at an appropriate level to ensure good quality in O&M.

5. WUA's legal status. Most WUAs in China are informal and do not have a legally recognized status. WUAs need to be registered as legal entities under an appropriate legal framework with required regulation to supplement and coordinate.

Based on a presentation by Mr. Feng Guangzhi, Director, China Irrigation District Association

For more information on the irrigation management models used in China please refer to "Six Irrigation Management Models from Guanzhong" (INPIM Newsletter No. 11, March 2001, page 8)