IMPACT OF IRRIGATION ON CROP INCOME AND COLLECTIVE WATER MANAGEMENT ACTIVITIES UNDER PYAWT YWAR IRRIGATION PROJECT, MYINMU TOWNSHIP

Irrigation water management is imperative in water scarce areas for livelihoods improvement. This study attempted to examine participation of farmers in collective water management under the Pyawt Ywar irrigation project and to investigate the contribution of canal water to crop income toward rural livelihood improvement in the study area. Using the proportionate stratified random sampling method, total sample farmers of 285 including 208 canal irrigation beneficiaries (95 head-end, 69 middle and 44 tail-end beneficiaries) and 77 non-beneficiaries were chosen from 3 irrigation blocks under Pwat Ywar Irrigation Project area. In data analysis, descriptive statistics, Full Information Maximum Likelihood Estimation of Endogenous Switching Regression (FIML ESR) model and Tobit model were employed. Beneficiaries possessed more acreage of lowland compared to nonbeneficiaries. A large majority (80%) of family members in both farm household groups were farm labour. Annual non-farm income was significantly different between beneficiaries and non-beneficiaries. About half (46%) of beneficiaries have grown crops in three seasons while 41.6% of non-beneficiaries could only grow crops in two seasons (monsoon and winter). Onion was largely produced by nonbeneficiaries as a main cash crop in winter. Monsoon crop income was the major income source for beneficiaries. The involvement of beneficiaries in social organizations was higher than that of non-beneficiary households. According to FIML ESR results, crop income was influenced by market distance, block position, livestock unit and non-farm income, and access to canal irrigation water contributed to enhance crop income. In water management activities, despite beneficiaries actively participated in canal repair, they were involved less in association by management activities. Based on Tobit regression results, participation in collective water management was influenced by irrigation experience, water source, irrigated summer crop income, social organization involvement, attending water-related meetings, conflict involvement, and farmers’ perception on water management such as water distribution fairness, water availability in time and coordination of the water management committee. Farm and non-farm incomes were vital for livelihood improvement of the sample farm households. Access to canal irrigation has resulted in a positive impact on crop income of farmers with the existing use of other water sources. Farmers who had a higher economic incentive through greater investment in summer irrigation were more willing to participate in collective water management activities than those that earned less. Beneficiary households that were more involved in social organizations were more amenable to participate in collective water management activities. The system should be improved by upgrading and expanding the irrigation facilities. The water management committee should emphasize effective coordination and decision making activities with a transparent management system. Irrigation scheme can contribute positive impact on crop income. To fulfil targeted irrigation area of the scheme, appropriate rehabilitation program for irrigation infrastructure is needed. Influencing factors on collective water management are crucial for sustainability of the scheme. Therefore training and motivation programs are needed for implementing irrigation management transfer and participatory irrigation management to reduce public expenditure burden and improve efficiency, equity and sustainability of the scheme. In summary, by improving irrigation schemes and their management Myanmar will be able to create a sustainable agriculture sector, increase rural development and provide a way out of poverty for her farmers