This document discusses how gendered local irrigation institutions in Nepal shape access to water, particularly during times of scarcity. It analyzes two farmer managed irrigation systems (AFMIS and GFMIS) and finds that AFMIS, which lacks a formal water users' committee and allocation rules, leads to inequitable access for women and lower castes who must divert water at night. In contrast, GFMIS, which has an inclusive water users' committee and fixed rotation schedule, improves access for all farmers, including women from marginalized groups. The study concludes that formal, inclusive irrigation institutions are important for decreasing the vulnerability of marginalized populations during water shortages.

1. GENDERED LOCAL IRRIGATION
INSTITUTIONS: IMPLICATIONS ON
ACCESS TO WATER IN THE CONTEXT
OF CHANGING WATER AVAILABILITY
SMRITTEE KALA PANTA
12TH JANUARY 2015
UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA
ASIAN INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY

2. INTRODUCTION
• Increasing feminization of agriculture in Nepal
• Changing water availability
• Association of irrigation as male domain
• Gendered irrigation institutions such as WUAs, water rights, water
allocation rules

3. OBJECTIVE
• To illustrate the crucial role of local formal and informal
institutions in shaping water access of women and men farmers of
different castes particularly during water scarce situations

4. DESCRIPTION OF FMIS UNDER STUDY
AFMIS
• Constructed by farmers in 1934
• Perennial rain fed water source
• Command Area- 350 ha
• Wards Covered -5,6,7,8
• Canal Length-4Km
• Increasing competition for irrigation
water
• Unorganized water users and lack of
formal committee
GFMIS
• Constructed under government
investment in 1987
• Perennial rain fed water source
• Command Area- 200 ha
• Wards Covered -1,2,3
• Canal Length-5.5 Km
• Increasing competition for irrigation
water
• Organized water users and formal
committee

6. GENDERED INSTITUTIONAL ARRANGEMENTS OF
AFMIS
Lack of definite organizational structure such as WUA
-VDC chairperson, political leaders, contractors organizing canal
maintenance activities
Formal committee formation in 2003 through political consensus- inactive
after completion of SISP project
Rule making process undeveloped
Informal groups of politically active upper caste men and previous irrigation
leaders after peace treaty
Gender neutral unwritten water right
- user title of land within the reach of canal
- contribution in canal maintenance activities
Rule in practice: whoever diverts the water first, gets the water

7. Gendered access to water in AFMIS
“My husband works in Kathmandu….I myself go to divert water to irrigate our field for rice transplantation in
summer and for potato in the winter. We neighbors go collectively in a group of 4-5 women at night when
others are sleeping. It’s risky to go during night but we have to. We don’t get chance to irrigate during the day
time. 6-7 years ago we didn’t need to struggle so much to get water. There used to be timely rainfall and several
water sources used to emerge locally…Now because of the water shortage we have to quarrel with others to get
water. The person near the source and person with able bodied male members can transplant rice timely and
get good yield while others have to wait for the rain. This is the reason why we could transplant rice in our field
only in July instead of June. It took 20 days instead of 7 days to finish the transplantation due to irregular water
supply”.
Mrs B10’, an upper caste woman irrigator from middle section, 2010
Source: Semi Structured Interviews, 2010

8. Gendered access to water in AFMIS

9. GENDERED INSTITUTIONAL ARRANGEMENTS OF
GFMIS

10. Composition of Executive Committee According to
Caste/Ethnicity and Gender

11. IMPROVED ACCESS TO WATER IN GFMIS
“I have been cultivating garlic for the last 3 years in bari (upland). Other
farmers were getting profit from it long before but I couldn’t take risk as it
needs much water. So I used to cultivate wheat instead which could give yield
even if its rainfed. Now the water is more reliable as we have fixed schedule of
irrigation and I am now benefiting from garlic”. Mrs J12, a woman from
Bhujel (middle) caste
“Now, we don’t need to argue with other irrigators like before. We can get
water by turns” Mrs D9, women irrigator from dalit caste.

12. IMPROVED ACCESS TO WATER IN GFMIS
Rotation schedule followed in winter
 Committee actively involved in allocating and distributing water
- Access to water of women and men residing at different location
improved
- Less dependence of women irrigators
- Access to water still challenge in rainy season
 Forceful assertion of water right ---- assertion on the basis of
contribution

13. CONCLUSION
• Continue to maintain the dominance of men (mostly higher caste and elite)
in irrigation management
• Having water rights does not automatically translate to secure access to water
• Gender inequality more striking in irrigation system with poorly developed
institutional arrangements
• Role of inclusive irrigation institutions in decreasing vulnerability of
marginalized populations in FMISs