A traditional irrigation system in Bali; a study of its transferability to Flores

Master thesis in development management- University of Agder 2011This thesis explores the autonomous community driven irrigation system in Bali, Indonesia; called subak, and is evaluated in terms of transferability to Flores, Indonesia. Information from this project may be important in the sense of contributing to an increase of crop production which further can contribute to amplified wealth, achieving sustainable utilization of resources, and development of human resources, if the subak system is successfully transferred and adopted. This illustrates the importance of the project in a developmental perspective. In order to obtain my results, I used a qualitative method with a comparative project design. I underwent a fieldwork in two different project locations in Flores; Moni and Lembor, were I executed 25 interviews, while using a secondary data analysis method in order to investigate the subak system. Then I analysed and compared both the empiric and the secondary data. As a result of completing the data collection and analysis, I revealed the subak and Florenese irrigation system have common values which might increase the success rate of a cross-cultural system transfer. The shared values are; cooperation, participation, democracy, and faith, and which the thesis advocates are fundamental for optimum and sustainable resource management. This thesis focuses on how farmers organize the work in their agricultural fields in terms of water user associations (WUAs) and farmer‟s organizations and report of a cultural tradition for cooperation. It also exposes the declining relevance of traditional agricultural ceremonies and adat (tradition), due to external and internal influences. Further, the thesis reveals deficiencies in the Florenese irrigation system, how the subak system may inspire a greater efficiency and sustainable utilization of resources, and how the system in terms of cultural knowledge can be transferred to Flores if the process is inclusive and takes into account the recipient's culture and norms