MODEL OF REGIONAL POLICY STRATEGY IN SUSTAINABLE IRRIGATION MANAGEMENT

At present, Indonesia’s regional economic growth strategy and related sectoral policies still do not adequately consider sustainable environmental management aspects. The empirical consequences of this condition are the emergence of negative impact in the form of ecosystem degradation due to increasing exploitation of natural resources. In the case of deforestation, excessive soil erosion and degradation of the watershed catchments area could decrease reliable river flours. Unstable landscape and rivers alignment increased risk of catastrophic landslides and, excessive sediment transport reduced irrigation conveyance capacity. All of those contribute to decreased water availability for irrigation and public utility as well as increased public goods losses. In the paddy fields, there is a tendency that productivity of irrigated lands becoming smaller over time. This research aims to develop a strategic regional policy model for rice production through maintaining sustainability of local irrigation systems. The integrated model includes governmental functions as well as social institutions. This research uses the ‘Soft System Methodology for Policy Research’ to analyze current irrigation policies, applied Strategic Assumption and Surfacing and Testing (SAST) and Focus Group Discussion (FGD). Expert Survey was conducted to implement Interpretative Structural Modelling (ISM) technique and was supplemented with farming surveys and field observations. The result of this study is expressed as conceptual model, which is the strategic policy for sustainability in regional irrigation management covering both rice cultivation and watershed areas. The model of sustainability development used Comhar principles which are Good Decision Making, Satisfaction of human needs by the efficient use of the resources, and Equity between countries and regions. The effective application of the model requires better regional regulation and supervision, as well as community participation supported by coordinated efforts of various technical departments in the region. Sources of various funding should be adequately available for infrastructure rehabilitation, re-forestation, irrigation maintenance costs and farm credits. Monitoring and evaluation activities will be carried out by local Irrigation Commission