Argali Raj Kulo irrigation system (Jethi Kulo), Argali village Panchayat, southern Nepal

Library on Governance in Social-Ecological Systems

Resource System: Watershed and associated topography
Resource Units: Freshwater
Location: Argali village Panchayat, Palpa district, Lumbini zone, Nepal

The resource appropriated from Argali Raj Kulo Irrigation (Jethi Kulo) is water for irrigating fields in the Argali Village Panchayat in Palpa District in the Lumbini Zone of southern Nepal. The irrigation system consists of a network of canals that receives its water supply from the Kurung Khola stream via another canal. There are strategic points within the resource where the main flow of the water can be controlled, but not considerable variation over space in the availability of water within the resource. There is considerable and mildly predictable variation in the flow of water within a single year.

This case study is part of the original Common-Pool Resource (CPR) database. A summary of the original CPR coding conducted in the 1980s by Edella Schlager and Shui Yan Tang at Indiana University may be found under the CPR tab in the Institutional Analysis section below.

Document
CPR

The resource appropriated from Argali Raj Kulo Irrigation (Jethi Kulo) is water (for irrigation). The irrigation system consists of a network of canals inside Argali. The network (resource) receives water from the Kurung Khola (stream) via a canal.

RESOURCE INFO:

The resource appropriated from Argali Raj Kulo Irrigation (Jethi Kulo) is water (for irrigation). It is produced physically and is a renewable moving (fugitive) unit. The irrigation system consists of a network of canals inside Argali. The network (resource) receives water from the Kurung Khola (stream) via a canal.

The boundary of this resource has natural/constructed attributes which do not limit entry. The boundaries of this resource are smaller than the location, and exist in one country, and are not divided among multiple general purpose local jurisdictions at a single level. The boundaries of this resource are independent of a development project designed by non-residents.

There are not distinct and stable micro-environmental or ecological zones within this resource (educated guess).

There are strategic points within the resource where the main flow of the water (for irrigation) can be controlled (inferred). There is not considerable variation over space in the availability of water (for irrigation) within the resource (educated guess). There is considerable, and mildly predictable variation in the flow of water (for irrigation) within a single year (highly confident). The case study did not include information regarding whether or not there is considerable variation in the flow of water (for irrigation) from year to year.

The topography of the resource or the land immediately around the resource is gently undulating (educated guess).

The boundaries of the production resource are totally seperated from the boundaries of the appropriation resource (educated guess). The boundaries of the production resource are totally seperated from the boundaries of the location (educated guess). The boundaries of the distribution resource are not identical to the boundaries of the appropriation resource. The distribution resource is a facility connected to the appropriation resource (educated guess). The boundaries of the production resource are not equivalent to the boundaries of the distribution resource. The production resource is a facility connected to the distribution resource (educated guess).

The headworks (production resource) are operated by the same agency(s) (or the same group(s) of people) as the appropriation resource, and the agency(s) or the group(s) of people are the sole operator(s) of the headworks (inferred). The distribution system is solely operated by the same agency(s) (or the same group(s) of people) as the appropriation resource (inferred). The distribution system is solely operated by the same agency(s) (or the same group(s) of people) as the headworks of the system (inferred).

LOCATION:

The appropriation resources are situated in the village of Argali. The boundaries of the location are the boundaries of a village.. The appropriation resource present in this location consists of irrigation systems: Raj (coding), Maili, Saili, and Khanchi. Regarding the use of the irrigation system, there were few adverse affects throughout the entire period in the relationships among appropriation processes.

The system is located within one country. Within this country, the system's location is not divided among several general purpose local jurisdictions at the same level. A permanent population lives year round in this location (highly confident). There is frequent contact and communication between people in this location and officials in a nearby administrative center (inferred). This location is also characterized by an economy that is stable and tied to other economic networks during the entire time period (educated guess).

The latitude of this location is 27.51'N, and its longitude is 83.33'E. The elevation of this location is 650 meters (highly confident). The highest elevation is 0. The lowest elevation of this location is 0. The region's average annual rainfall is 1477 milimeters. The region's average annual evapotranspiration is 987 milimeters. The distribution of rainfall and evapotranspiration per month is as follows:

January precipitation: 22, evapotraspiration: 50

February precipitation: 0, evapotraspiration: 72

March precipitation: 30, evapotraspiration: 75

April precipitation: 25, evapotraspiration: 120

May precipitation: 150, evapotraspiration: 85

June precipitation: 75, evapotraspiration: 175

July precipitation: 350, evapotraspiration: 85

August precipitation: 270, evapotraspiration: 80

September precipitation: 270, evapotraspiration: 70

October precipitation: 5, evapotraspiration: 65

November precipitation: 5, evapotraspiration: 45

December precipitation: 5, evapotraspiration: 65

RESOURCE:

The resource appropriated from Argali Raj Kulo Irrigation (Jethi Kulo) is water (for irrigation). The irrigation system consists of a network of canals inside Argali. The network (resource) receives water from the Kurung Khola (stream) via a canal.

OPERATIONAL LEVEL:

TYPE OF SITUATION

The processes described in the related documents are primarily related to appropriation, production, distribution and use. The formal owner(s) of the resource discussed in this study are local appropriators. The set of individuals who have rights to withdraw from this resource is well-defined. As of the beginning of this period, the owners are exercising (or attempting to exercise de jure) and effective in gaining closed access to this resource. Since the beginning of this period, the appropriators are exercising (or attempting to exercise de jure) effective closed access to this resource.

EVENTS MARKING THE BEGINNING ACTION SITUATION

It is estimated that the operational level coded on this form ended in 1982. The estimated duration of the patterns that are described in this form is 11 to 25 years. Throughout the duration there were no changes made in operational, collective, or consititutional rules. There was a planned change in resource size and structure. There was no new technology introduced to the system over the duration of the patterns coded on this form. There was no substantial external change in the value of the units appropriated. The quantity of units available did not change due to a change in appropriation patterns of other appropriators' withdrawals from the same production or distribution resource. There were no new groups starting to withdraw units from the appropriation resource. There was no recorded change to one or more variables internal to the operational level. The variables that changed were 2. The author does not begin the description of this case at this point in history.

CONDITIONS AT THE BEGINNING AND END OF PERIOD COVERED BY THIS FORM*

For biological resources at the beginning of this period, the balance between the quantity of units withdrawn and the number of units available was a moderate shortage (educated guess). For biological resources at the end of this period, the balance between the quantity of units withdrawn and the number of units available was moderately abundant (confident). For physical resources at the beginning of this period, the balance between the quantity of units withdrawn and the quantity of units needed, given the usual patterns of use for these units was a moderate shortage (educated guess). For physical resources at the end of the period the balance between the quantity of units withdrawn and the quantity of units needed, given the usual patterns of use for these units, was moderately abundant (confident).

The following includes the available statistics on the use of this resource at the beginning of the time period, followed by the end of the time period:

Tons of fish harvested per year at the end of the period: 480000 (highly confident)

Square meters of fields irrigated at the end of the period: 940000 (ambiguous)

*In fisheries and other biological systems, this is the maximum sustainable number of units. In irrigation, this refers to the optimal water requirements of the crops in the established fields served by this system.

At the beginning of the period, the units were predominantly used to produce other units.

At the end of the period, the units were predominantly used to produce other units.

As of the beginning of the period, the quality of the units being withdrawn from the resource was passable (educated guess). As of the end of the period, the quality of the units being withdrawn from the resource was passable (educated guess). At the beginning of the period of the study, there were no problems of pollution in this or other resources, due to the way units are being appropriated (ambiguous). At the end of the period of the study, there were no problems of pollution in this or other resources due to the way units are being appropriated (inferred). As of the beginning of the period, the extent of technical externalities resulting from the appropriation activities of participants from this resource was not indicated. As of the end of the period, the extent of technical externalities resulting from the appropriation activities of participants from this resource was quite low (inferred). At the beginning of this study, the interference between the appropriation technology for this resource and the appropriation processes for other resources in this location was not recorded in the case information. At the end of this study, the interference between the appropriation technology for this resource and the appropriation processes for other resources in this location had no effect on the appropriation resources (educated guess). At the beginning of this study the appropriation resource was experiencing some deterioration due to insufficient maintenance (educated guess). At the end of this study the appropriation resource was well maintained, and in excellent working order (inferred). At the beginning of this period the appropriators shared levels of trust that are not indicated in the case study. At the end of the period the appropriators shared moderate to high levels of mutual trust (e.g. oral promises given high credence) (inferred). ## Unknown markup: Start ##By the end of this period no change had occurred in the property rights regime related to the appropriation resource (highly confident).

INFORMATION LEVELS

There is no information in the study to indicate the availability of maps or charts of the appropration resource for use by the appropriators. Maps and/or charts of the production and distribution resources are not documented as being available, or unavailable in this case study. The appropriators of this resource can be seen by each other while withdrawing units from the resource (educated guess). No appropriators are in radio communication with each other while appropriating from the resource (educated guess). There are actions being taken, by appropriators or officials, to generate information about the condition of the resource (highly confident). There are always records of the withdrawals from this resource kept in a systematic way (highly confident). There are not records of the physical factors which directly affected the resource kept in a systematic way (ambiguous). There are always records of the appropriators' contribution to the maintenance of the resource kept in a systematic way (highly confident). Records are kept in a language accessible to most of the appropriators (inferred). These records are available for inspection by appropriators (inferred). There are arenas being used for the exchange of information about conditions of the resource (inferred). Appropriators get together to discuss mutual problems of the resource weekly (educated guess). The appropriators have an intimate knowledge of the characteristics of this resource (inferred).

POTENTIAL ACTIONS AND LEVELS OF CONTROL

There are no specialized staff or workers to undertake maintenance (highly confident). The quality or quantity of the units available to the appropriators are not adversely affected by the strategies of prior appropriators, because there are no prior appropriators (inferred). There are not problems of pollution resulting from activities of others who are not appropriators of this resource or inhabitants of this location (e.g. acid rain, sewage disposal) (educated guess). The study does not indicate whether or not there was an insurance mechanism available to the appropriators related to variability of income from the resource.

PATTERNS OF INTERACTION

Differences between subgroups relating to gender identification does not exist (inferred). Differences between subgroups relating to ethnic identification does not affect communication (educated guess). Differences between subgroups relating to clan identification does not affect communication (educated guess). Differences between subgroups relating to racial identification does not exist (inferred). Differences between subgroups relating to caste identification does not affect communication (educated guess). Differences between subgroups relating to religious identification does not affect communication (educated guess). Differences between subgroups relating to languages spoken does not exist (inferred). Differences between subgroups relating to general cultural views of the resource system and its use does not exist (inferred). Differences between subgroups relating to any problems that affect communication does not exist (inferred).

The general manner in which appropriators related to one another during this study is a relatively positive, reciprocal manner -- the presumption was made that long-term relationships are involved and positive actions are undertaken without a specific expectation of return (inferred). If someone violated the rules-in-use related to the appropriation process from this resource, it is very likely that he/she would encounter social sanctions imposed by other appropriators (who are not filling posititions as official monitors) (inferred). If someone violates the rules-in-use related to the appropriation process from this resource, it is likely that he/she would encounter physical sanctions by other appropriators (who are not filling posititions as official monitors) (educated guess). If someone violates the rules-in-use related to the appropriation process from this resource, it is very likely that an official monitor or guard would move to impose sanctions (highly confident). There is a considerable range of sanctions imposed depending on rule infractions and in regard to social, physical, and official sanctions (inferred).

POSITIONS AND PARTICIPANTS

At the end of the period studied the position of non-appropriator (individuals prevented from using the resource) did exist. At the beginning of the period there was a general estimate of 201-500 appropriators (educated guess). The "official" position of monitor (apart from the willingness of all appropriators to monitor) does exist, and appropriators are selected by one another for this position (educated guess).

The appropriators monitor the appropriation activities of each other apart from the monitoring of any "official" guards (inferred). The general estimate for the number of official monitors on duty at one time during peak hours was not included in this case study. None of the monitors were full-time (educated guess).

NUMBER AND RELATIONSHIPS AMONG SUBGROUPS

There will be 2 subgroup form(s) completed in relation to this operational level form. The ID number(s) of the subgroup(s) coded are as follows: 13.1 - 14.1 - 0 - 0

Subgroups 13.1 and 14.1 differ in legal rights to appropriate units, in withdrawal rates from the resource, in exposure to variations in supply, in levels of dependency on the units withdrawn from this resource, and in the way they use the appropriation units.

EVALUATION OF RESULTS

There are appropriators who were consistently disadvantaged in this period (inferred). The relatively worst off appropriators have not been cut out of their benefits from this resource or substantially harmed (educated guess). By the end of the period studied the distance between those who were the least advantaged and those who were the most advantaged could be characterized as remaining relatively constant over time (educated guess).

AUTHOR'S EVALUATION AND CAUSAL ASSUMPTIONS

In this coding form the author focuses on the readers' concept of results and the evaluation of results (inferred).

The author concluded that the system has not done well in efficiency of water uses, incentives to develop a bigger water flow and more irragable lands, or equity (whether the poor have chances to get water). This analysis was based on the transferability of water rights, independent of landholdings. The author evaluated this system to be of low efficiency. (An efficient use of water would be using the least amount of water to cultivate as great amount of crops as possible.).

SUBGROUP:

Participants:

This appropriation group are the members of the Raj Kulo irrigation organization - those operating land which receives a water allocation from the Raj Kulo for the monsoon rice. The criteria for who is a member is well defined (highly confident). At the start of this group the membership was estimated to be 101-200. This group ended with a membership of 159.

The following statements characterize the composition of this subgroup's population with respect to variables that may affect the capacity to communicate effectively:

Gender identification causes no difference in composition (inferred). Difference in composition with regard to ethnic or cultural identification does not affect communication (educated guess). The difference in composition with regard to clan identification does not affect communication (educated guess). Racial identification causes no difference in composition (inferred). The difference in composition of the group with regard to caste does not affect communication (educated guess). Most members of this subgroup are of the cast Brahmins. The difference in composition with regard to religious identification does not affect communication (educated guess). There is no difference in composition with regard to languages spoken (inferred).

.

Legal Rights:

Members of this subgroup have de jure rights of access (highly confident). The right to withdraw is held by this subgroup de jure (highly confident). Rights to participate in management of this resource is held de jure (highly confident). Exclusion from use of the entire resource is exercised de jure (inferred). The separable right of transfer to the flow of units from this resource is not held either by de jure nor de facto (highly confident). The separable rights to exercise transfer to shares of this appropriation resource, or closely related production and/or distribution resources are neither held de jure nor de facto (highly confident). Transferring shares of major appropriation equipment which are necessary to engage in appropriation is not exercised either je jure nor de facto## Unknown column: EQUIPSHAR ##.

Stakes and Resources:

Around 91%-100% of members reside in or adjacent to this resource (confident). Most people in this subgroup are very dependent (i.e. most of the family income) on this resource (inferred). Given the economy of the location, the average annual family income (including all non-monetary forms of income) is considered high (educated guess). The variance of the average annual family income across families is low (ambiguous). Over time the variance in average annual family income is low (inferred). Capital is owned by 91%-100% of this subgroup (educated guess).

Potential Actions and Levels of Control:

Considering that there are multiple subgroups using this resource, most of the appropriators withdraw units where the flow of units first enters into the resource (i.e. headenders) (inferred). A noticeable impact on the balance of the quantity of units withdrawn and the number of units available in this resource would occur in a drastic reduction of this subgroup's appropriation activities (inferred). Keeping in mind the physically available levels of withdrawal that are possible from this resource, the following shows the extent to which rules concerning different aspects of withdrawal constrain appropriation: technological rules lightly constrain (educated guess), time limits which limit the range of choice lightly constrain (educated guess), quantity limits which limit the range of choice lightly constrain (educated guess), and marginal units or units obtained by increasing levels of appropriation have a low value immediate return (educated guess).

Technology:

The appropriative power of the technology used does not threaten the balance between units withdrawn and units available even if no new users are added (inferred).

Strategies Adopted:

At the end of the period the rate of unit withdrawals was constant (educated guess). In irrigation, appropriation resources (at the beginning of the period) produce mostly paddy rice, and also grains other than paddy rice, legumes, and non-tree fruits and vegetables. In irrigation, the appropriation resources (at the end of the period) produce mainly paddy rice, and also grains other than paddy rice, legumes, and non-tree fruits and vegetables. During this time period members have invested resources, such as their own labor, in maintaining or improving the structure of the appropriation resource (highly confident). Investment into constructing or improving production or distribution works for maintaining or improving their resource has been made by members (highly confident). Resources have been expended (including time) to avoid actions that would harm the structure of the appropriation resource (inferred). The maintenance or improvement work is either dependent or contingent on the quantity of units appropriated (highly confident). At least one member has assumed entrepreneurial activity in trying to achieve coordinated strategies in relationship to both withdrawal and investment (highly confident). In characterizing the usual behavior of the members of this subgroup with respect to local operation level rules-in-use (other than in extreme shortage), it can be said that almost all of the members follow the rules set in place (inferred). The level of infraction of members who are not rule followers is generally small (inferred). Action in both the collective choice arena and constitutional-choice arena has been proposed to alter the operational or collective-choice rules affecting the appropriation from this resource (educated guess).

Subgroup Results:

This subgroup appropriates 91%-100% of its total appropriated units at the end of this period (educated guess). By the end of this time period the appropriates from this resource have remained approximately constant (educated guess). The absolute quantity of appropriation units obtained by this group has remained constant (educated guess).

SUBGROUP:

Participants:

These members are not members of the Raj Kulo organization, but are farmers that acquire water from the Raj Kulo during the wheat season and for maize planting in exchange for working on the system. The criteria for who is a member is not well defined (inferred). At the start of this group the membership was estimated to be 51-100. This group ended with a estimated membership of 51-100..

The following statements characterize the composition of this subgroup's population with respect to variables that may affect the capacity to communicate effectively:

Gender identification causes no difference in composition (inferred). Difference in composition with regard to ethnic or cultural identification does not affect communication (educated guess). The difference in composition with regard to clan identification does not affect communication (educated guess). Racial identification causes no difference in composition (inferred). The difference in composition of the group with regard to caste does not affect communication (educated guess). The difference in composition with regard to religious identification does not affect communication (educated guess). There is no difference in composition with regard to languages spoken (inferred).

.

Legal Rights:

Members of this subgroup have de jure rights of access (inferred). The right to withdraw is held by this subgroup de jure (inferred). Rights to participate in management of this resource are not held either de facto nor de jure (highly confident). Exlusion from use of the entire resource is not exercised either de facto nor de jure (highly confident). Members of this subgroup cannot exercise the right to decide who can be excluded from particular zones within the resource either de facto nor de jure. (highly confident). The separable right of transfer to the flow of units from this resource is not held either by de jure nor de facto (highly confident). The separable rights to exercise transfer to shares of this appropriation resource, or closely related production and/or distribution resources are neither held de jure nor de facto (highly confident). Transferring shares of major appropriation equipment which are necessary to engage in appropriation is not exercised either je jure nor de facto## Unknown column: EQUIPSHAR ##.

Stakes and Resources:

Around 91%-100% of members reside in or adjacent to this resource (educated guess). Most people in this subgroup are slightly dependent (i.e. a small part of the family income) on this resource (educated guess). Around 76%-90% of this subgroup work a substantial amount of time in activities not associated with appropriation from this resource. The proportion of this subgroup that currently appropriates similar units from other resources is 76%-90%. Given the economy of the location, the average annual family income (including all non-monetary forms of income) is considered low (educated guess). Alternatives for the supply unit are available at a moderate cost (ambiguous).

Potential Actions and Levels of Control:

Considering that there are multiple subgroups using this resource, most of the appropriators withdraw units after one or more other subgroups have withdrawn (educated guess). A noticeable impact on the balance of the quantity of units withdrawn and the number of units available in this resource would not occur in a drastic reduction of this subgroup's appropriation activities (educated guess). Keeping in mind the physically available levels of withdrawal that are possible from this resource, the following shows the extent to which rules concerning different aspects of withdrawal constrain appropriation: technological rules heavily constrain (inferred), time limits which limit the range of choice heavily constrain (inferred), quantity limits which limit the range of choice heavily constrain (inferred), and marginal units or units obtained by increasing levels of appropriation have a high value immediate return (inferred).

Technology:

The appropriative power of the technology used does not threaten the balance between units withdrawn and units available even if no new users are added (educated guess).

Strategies Adopted:

At the end of the period the rate of unit withdrawals was constant (educated guess). In irrigation, appropriation resources (at the beginning of the period) produce mostly grains other than paddy rice. In irrigation, the appropriation resources (at the end of the period) produce mainly grains other than paddy rice. During this time period members have invested resources, such as their own labor, in maintaining or improving the structure of the appropriation resource (highly confident). Investment into constructing or improving production or distribution works for maintaining or improving their resource has been made by members (inferred). The maintenance or improvement work is either dependent or contingent on the quantity of units appropriated (highly confident). Members have access to an alternative source of supply (ambiguous). In characterizing the usual behavior of the members of this subgroup with respect to local operation level rules-in-use (other than in extreme shortage), it can be said that almost all of the members follow the rules set in place (ambiguous). The level of infraction of members who are not rule followers is generally small (ambiguous). No action has been proposed to alter the operational or collective-choice rules affecting the appropriation from this resource (inferred).

Subgroup Results:

This subgroup appropriates less than 10% of its total appropriated units at the end of this period (ambiguous). By the end of this time period the appropriates from this resource have remained approximately constant (educated guess). The absolute quantity of appropriation units obtained by this group has remained constant (educated guess).

Contributors
Bibliography

Tang SY.

Brady U, Arizona State University.

Yoder R. 1983. The Chherlung Thulo Kulo: A Case Study of a Farmer-Managed Irrigation System. Water Management in Nepal: Proceedings of the Seminar on Water Management Issues.

Martin E, Yoder R. 1986. Institutions for Irrigation Management in Farmer-Managed Systems: Examples from the Hills of Nepal. Research Paper.

Pradhan P. 1988. Pattern of Irrigation Organizations in Nepal: Comparative Study of 21 Farmer-Managed Systems.

Martin E, Yoder R. 1983. Water Allocation and Resource Mobilization for Irrigation: A Comparison of Two Systems in Nepal. Twelfth Annual Conference on South Asia.

Sharma LN, Lhapcu, Richen D, Ugyen, Chophey D, Tempa G, Sonam B, Jiban B. 1989. Report on the Field Visit of Raj Kulo, Argali, Palpa. Report on Training Cum Observation on Rapid Appraisal Methods and Water User Association Activities. :Annex10.

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