Morocco

A national chapter of PIM was officially established on 14 April 1997 in Rabat, through a meeting of its new General Assembly. Of the 48 persons attending the assembly, 10 were WUA leaders. The strong involvement of farmers in the National Chapter demonstrates the interests of farmers in pursuing a close dialogue with the government on irrigation management issues.

For further information, please contact Mr. Ali Moulid, Chef, DGRHA,DDGI/AGR/MAMVA-BP 1069 Rabat, Morocco; Fax: (212-7) 698440.

Pakistan

Participatory Drainage Management 

A 3-week training course on Participatory On-Farm Drainage was held for about 30 mid-level government officers at the On Farm Water Management Training Institute, outside Lahore, Pakistan from March 1-20, 1997. 

The first week focused on organizational, social and institutional aspects of participatory drainage, drawing from case studies of past and current experience in Pakistan, including the Left Bank Outfall Drain Project(LBOD), in Sind, the IIMI Pilot Projects in Punjab and Sind, the FordwahEast Sadiqia, South (FESS) Project and the Pilot Projects of the OFWM III project in Punjab. 

Participatory on-farm drainage is a new concept in Pakistan and the participants -- from the OFWM, Agricultural Extension, and WAPDA (Water andPower Development Authority) agencies -- expressed interest in the different approaches being followed. It is evident more experience needsto be gained before practical and effective models for participatory drainage management emerge.

The course has particular relevance as the country is set to embark on a large National Drainage Program (1997-2003). Pakistani and expatriate experts led the training; Mr Zafarullah, experienced in organizing Drainage Beneficiary Groups in an early pilot project in Punjab, and Mr. Ali Sher Zahid, Project Director of FESS, made presentations. INPIM member, Dr. Allen Jones, Farmers Organizations Specialist for LBOD, helped organize the course and made four presentations during the first week; Mr. T. Bandaragoda (IIMI) and Ms. Caroline Backer(FESS) also gave presentations on their work. Mr. David Birch, Team Leaderof OFWM III, led the second and third weeks focusing on the technical aspects of on-farm drainage.

For further information, please contact Mr. Mushtaq Ahmad Gill, Director General Agriculture (Water Management), 21 Davis Road,Lahore, Pakistan; fax: (94-42)-636-6156

Turkey

Seminar for WUA Secretaries 

A national seminar on "Water Management and Maintenance of Irrigation Schemes" was held in September 23-27, in Izmir Province. The 78 participants comprised general secretaries (equivalent to system managers) of WUA's. This was the first training program at the national level forWUA's that have been recently transferred from the State Hydraulic Works Agency (DSI).

WUA's normally employ young, well educated but inexperienced engineers, as general secretaries, so practical training is important. DSI had arranged several local seminars to train WUA staff, but this was the first one organized at the national level. In the opening session, DSI Director for Izmir Province stated that "the general secretary of the WUA is the most important authority for sustainable water distribution and coordination. Therefore, these keypeople must be trained in technical and managerial skills."

Next, the deputy head of the O&M department addressed the group and noted that "participatory irrigation management has initiated a new period in O&M services by relieving the cost burden for Government while providing better service for farmers and less total O&M cost." Issues raised in the seminar included water delivery service, water consumption and requirements for crops, pumping stations, and maintenanceof irrigation structures. In addition, data collection, and monitoring and evaluation of transferred irrigation schemes were also discussed.

The seminar was very successful and fruitful for participants. DSI will continue to organize the training programs and seminars for DSI staff as well as WUA employees in the future. 

PIM Workshop in Ankara

A national workshop was held in Ankara from January 21-23, 1997, to review PIM activities since the introduction of the Accelerated Transfer Program in 1993. The workshop, organized by DSI, considered the need for improvements in the existing legislation and a new law specifically for WUA's to overcome the difficulties faced by them. Other objectives of the workshop were to assess the maintenance performance of WUA's and rehabilitation needs. 

The 43 participants included 11 WUA chairmen, 8 regional directors, 3 department heads (O&M Design and Construction, Machinery Supply), 1 legal advisor and 19 experts from DSI. The workshop was chaired by Mr. DoganYemisen, Deputy Director General of DSI. The result of the workshop was a draft of new legislation which was then edited by DSI technical and legal authorities. The draft WUA Law was later distributed to the more than 200 WUA's in Turkey for comments. After incorporating the responses from the WUAs, the draft WUA Law will besubmitted to the governmental level. 

For more information, please contact Mr. Hasan Ozlu, Chief, ForeignRelations, DSI Ankara, Turkey. Fax: (90-312) 465-4512. 

Vietnam

The First National Sseminar on Participatory Irrigation Management was held at Vinh City from April 6-11, 1997, attended by 79 participants representing government agencies, NGOs, farmer leaders, and international organizations.

The seminar participants formulated a six-point indicative action plan as follows: 

An awareness campaign should be conducted to inform leaders and decision makers at both central and local levels, of the concepts and purpose of PIM

The government should issue instructions to guide the local agencies towards PIM

Legal provisions need to be enacted to support PIM

Two pilot areas should be selected for implementing PIM

A training program on PIM will be introduced

The government should prepare an overall financial plan for the phased introduction of PIM

A case study of PIM in Vietnam, prepared by Dr. Bryan Bruns as a background document for the seminar, is available through INPIM (see the list of Suggested Readings elsewhere in this newsletter).