Evaluation Report on The Establishment of Community-Based Irrigation Management and Its Effects to Users in Krapeu Troam, Oudong District, Kampong Speu Province Cambodia Chan Danith Planning, M & E Adviser Partnership for Local Governance UNDP-UNOPS Cambodia February 2004 Table of Contents Page Table of Contents....................................................................................................... 2 Acknowledgment ....................................................................................................... 3 Abbreviations and Acronyms..................................................................................... 4 List of Table and Figure............................................................................................. 4 1. Introduction .............................................................................................................. 5 2. Evolution of the Irrigation System ........................................................................... 5 3. WUFC Committee Structure ..................................................................................... 6 4. Study Areas and Research Framework ..................................................................... 6 5. Evaluation Team, Trainings and Arrangements....................................................... 7 6. Findings ..................................................................................................................... 9 6.1 Respondent Information and Physical Characteristics ............................................ 9 6.2 The Establishment of WUFC..................................................................................... 9 6.3 Effects of Community Management.......................................................................... 12 6.4 Commitment of Users in Community Involvement.................................................. 15 7. Emerging Issues and Prospects for Irrigation Management.................................... 16 8. Conclusions............................................................................................................... 16 Annex: Photo Documents ......................................................................................... 17 2 Acknowledgement The author would like to express considerable appreciation to evaluation team, Mr Sim Bun Thoeun Vice chief of Provincial Department of Commerce; Mr. You Chantha-Vice Chief of Extension Unit, Provincial Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries; Mrs. Kao Sakorn- staff of Provincial Department of Women and Veteran Affairs; Mr. Koy Sonin- Vice Chief of Provincial Department of Environment ; Mr. Bin Samban staff of Provincial Department of Land Title, Urbanization, and Construction; Mrs. Long Bun Nareth Technical Support Unit/Seila; Mr. Choeug Choeun-Staff of Contract Administration Unit/ Seila for their hard works during data collection at the field. Without much efforts, the data will never wholly completed for producing this report. Thanks are forwarded to Mr. Nop Prin-Vice chief of Clean Water and Sanitation Office and Mr. Hy Rithy-Vice Chief of PDWRM for their assistances including transport arrangement, project documents, and field facilitation. Also the author would like to express his heartfelt thanks to provincial and district staffs of PDWRM for their prior field arrangements and organizing village and commune meeting that allowing the team having opportunities to meet and discuss. One again, author thanks to commune councils of Prah Srae and Veal Pong and villagers for helping during field works. 3 Abbreviations and Acronyms WUFC Water Use Farmer Community PDWRM Provincial Department of Water Resource and Meteorology MWRM Ministry of Water Resource and Meteorology Seila Cambodian term referred to “Fundamental Stone” PLG Partnership for Local Governance PDC Provincial Department of Commerce PDAFF Provincial Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries PDE Provincial Department of Environment PDLUC Provincial Department of Land Title, Urbanization and Construction TSS Technical Support Staff (Seila Program) CAU Contract and Administration Unit (Seila Program) N Frequency List of Table and Figure Table 1. Reasons of Involvement in WUFC Table 2. Satisfaction Level of Committee Table 3. Satisfaction Level of Election Results Table 4. Satisfaction Level of Elected Committee in Election Table 5. Rice Yield Comparison Table 6. Commitment in Water System Repair Involvement Table 7. Willingness of Water Fee Payment Figure 1. Map of the Study Area Figure 2. Age of Respondents Figure 3. Land Size and Irrigation Capacity Figure 4. Distance of Rice Field Figure 5. Duration of Water Deficit Figure 6. Gender Decision in Membership Involvement Figure 7. Characteristics of Membership Involvement Figure 8. Rice Land Size and Yield 2002 Figure 9. Rice Land Size and Yield 2003 4 1. Introduction Cambodia is a country in Southeast Asia, Indochina sub-continent. The country enriches of water resource both fresh and marine. Mekong River connects to far China’s Great Tibet Plateau and meets Tonle Sap Great Lake in the center of the country. Water system spreads differently and diversely through many streams along sides of the rivers and the Great Lake. Water flow fluctuation is based on capacity of the rains in the seasons, upstream velocity and weather; therefore, water allocations differ from time to time. In Kampong Speu, Krapeu Troam dam system was repaired in 2003 and formed as Water Use Farmer Committee. The purposes of system are to promote living condition of farmers through doubling rice production per year1 by increasing rice yield from 1.5 to 2.5 tones per hectare; and to supply drinking water for human and animals. The water system is able to irrigate wet rice cultivation in two communes. The formation of community was done through various steps including surveying arable area, water system, electing committee; and developing community statutes. The statutes are followed a circular2 01 S.R. of the Royal Government of Cambodia dated on 11 January 1999 on the Policy Implementation of Sustainability of Irrigation System and Prakas3 No 306 of the Ministry of Water Resource and Meteorology (MWRM) dated on 20 July 2002 on an Official Use Documents to Establish and Develop Water Use Farmer Community. The water system has drawn farmer interests involvin in irrigation activities for rice production. However, it is still the onset of the project which has faced so many barriers for running the system. These include inadequate canals and sub-canals which are not able to fulfill the needs of farmers; inadequacy of water gates construction within the system leading constraints to regulate water flow in time. Moreover, the newly elected committee has limited capacity in management that would possibly face difficulties. The paper evaluates the establishment patterns of community; then examines the effects of irrigation system to users before and after project; underlines level of commitment of water user based management; and finally seeks out problems encountered during implementation. This report provides basis facts of PDWRM in implementing community-based irrigation management project under Seila support. This report is part of field exercise of project evaluation for provincial line departments under Seila’s Provincial Investment Fund, especially benefited to its M & E focal points. 2. Evolution of the Irrigation System Krapeu Troam dam system is in Veal Pong commune, Oudong district, Kompong Speu province. It receives water from Krain Ponley stream. The dam system bordering Kampong Chhnang province in the north; the south bordering to Trach Tong commune & Vaing Chas commune in the eastern part, and Veal Pong commune to the west of Kampong Speu. The dam is about 55 kilometers southern of Kampong Speu provincial town. Total population benefits from the system is 5,818 equals to 1,655 households in 22 villages, with total irrigating rice land 584 ha. Reportedly both communes experienced in floods and draught for many years. The dam system built in 1977 during Pol Pot regime. Water can supply in two districts, Samaki Meanchey of Kampong Chhnang province, and Oudong District of Kampong Speu. 1 Program Objective of PDWRM 2003 2 Ministry of Water Resource and Meteorology, 2000. Circular No. 01 on policy implementation of sustainability of irrigation system, funded by FAO, PRASAC, ADB, AFD, APS 3 Ministry of Water Resource and Meteorology, 2000. Circular No. 01 on policy implementation of sustainability of irrigation system, funded by FAO, PRASAC, ADB, AFD, APS 5 In Oudong, the dam system is capable to irrigate into two communes, Veal Pong and Prash Srae with totally 712 ha of rice land. 571 ha of which are for rainy rice, and 150 ha are for dry rice. During year 2000, Krapeu Troam suffered flood causing damage to some places such as the dam body, water gates and canals. The stream bank erosions increase sedimentation in the stream gradually. In 2003, PDWRM in cooperation with local authorities conducted surveys for project rehabilitation including repairing 2,700 meters of two main canals and 12 sub canals, under food for work project sponsored by the Prime Minister. Subsequently, PDWRM under Seila’s Program support was formed a community entitles Water Use Farmer Community by electing committee, sub groups and groups and, drafting statute. So far the statute is passed by local community. In the future once it will be passed by district governor, and will be signed by PDWR, then finally by the