EMPOWERMENT OF WATER USER ASSOCIATION FOR SUSTAINABLE IRRIGATED AGRICULTURE

摘要

Water User Association (WUA) of irrigation has signifi cant play role in operating and maintenance of irrigation system, mainly at tertiary system. Low price of paddy from irrigated land and limited subsidies fund from the government however has implication in decreasing quality of irrigation services. Since WUA has multi-faced dimensions of economic, social, culture, environment, and politics, empowerment of the WUA is strongly needed. The aim of study was focused to answer the complex and convoluted, being bound in many facets of the problem situation, fi nd the best empowerment of the WUA and proposed the best policy action. The irrigation system of Serayu Dam, located in the Serayu-Bogowonto river basin, Central Java, Indonesia was applied as the study. The system has an area of 20.795 ha. Three samples of WUA at three irrigation service areas were chosen. In each sample irrigation service area, collecting data was oriented based on the position of primary, secondary and tertiary canal. Rapid Rural Appraisal (RRA) and Participatory Rural Appraisal (PRA) were applied in data gathering. Analysis was started with an overview of the problems faced by the WUA using element of culture, social, economy, environment and politics. In order to sustain the irrigated agriculture with full support by WUA, pattern of empowerment that would be applied was strongly considered from the overview. From this point, discussion then was directed to build a policy action from the angle of political economy.