Lothar farmer-managed irrigation system, Chitwan district, Nepal

Library on Governance in Social-Ecological Systems

Resource System: Watershed and associated topography
Resource Units: Freshwater
Location: Pipal Panchayat, Chitwan District, Nepal

Lothar is a farmer-managed irrigation system in the Chitwan district, about 30 kilometres east of the city of Bharatpur in Nepal. The resource unit is water for irrigation. The system comprises of a main canal, an approach canal, six branch canals, and field channels. Individual farmers are responsible for maintaining field channels and tertiary canals. During the time of the original case, which spans from 1985 to 1986, there was no history of conflicts in the irrigation system.

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 Lothar Irrigation System is water for irrigation. This study focuses on an irrigation system that is comprised of a the main canal, including approach canal, six branch canals, and field channels exist. In addition, approach road and forest are adjacent to the system.

RESOURCE INFO:

The resource appropriated from Lothar Irrigation System is water for irrigation. It is produced physically and is a renewable moving (fugitive) unit. This study focuses on an irrigation system that is comprised of a the main canal, including approach canal, six branch canals, and field channels exist. In addition, approach road and forest are adjacent to the system.

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 .

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 (inferred). There is considerable, and mildly predictable variation in the flow of water for irrigation within a single year (inferred). There is not considerable variation in the flow of water for irrigation from year to year (educated guess).

The topography of the resource or the land immediately around the resource is relatively flat (inferred).

The boundaries of the production resource do not coincide with the boundaries of the appropriation resource. The production resource is a facility connected to the appropriation resource (highly confident). The boundaries of the production resource are not equivalent to the boundaries of the location, but lie within the boundaries of the location (highly confident). 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 (highly confident). 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 (highly confident).

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 (highly confident). The distribution system is solely operated by the same agency(s) (or the same group(s) of people) as the appropriation resource (highly confident). The distribution system is solely operated by the same agency(s) (or the same group(s) of people) as the headworks of the system (highly confident).

LOCATION:

The appropriation resources are situated in Piple village panchayat. The boundaries of the location are the boundaries of piple village panchayat. The appropriation resource present in this location consists of the Lothar Irrigation System, consisting of the main canal and 6 branch canals (coding). Also present are the Approach canal in Lothar and Rapti Floodplain. Regarding the use of the irrigation system, there were sometimes complementary effects, and sometimes conflictual effects 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 (inferred). 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 changing and tied to other economic networks during most of the time period (ambiguous).

The latitude of this location is 27.39N, and its longitude is 84.28E. The elevation of this location is -1 meters. The highest elevation is -1. The lowest elevation of this location is -1. The region's average annual rainfall is unknown. The region's average annual evapotranspiration is unknown. The distribution of rainfall and evapotranspiration per month is as follows:

January precipitation: unknown, evapotraspiration: unknown

February precipitation: unknown, evapotraspiration: unknown

March precipitation: unknown, evapotraspiration: unknown

April precipitation: unknown, evapotraspiration: unknown

May precipitation: unknown, evapotraspiration: unknown

June precipitation: unknown, evapotraspiration: unknown

July precipitation: unknown, evapotraspiration: unknown

August precipitation: unknown, evapotraspiration: unknown

September precipitation: unknown, evapotraspiration: unknown

October precipitation: unknown, evapotraspiration: unknown

November precipitation: unknown, evapotraspiration: unknown

December precipitation: unknown, evapotraspiration: unknown

RESOURCE:

The resource appropriated from Lothar Irrigation System is water for irrigation. This study focuses on an irrigation system that is comprised of a the main canal, including approach canal, six branch canals, and field channels exist. In addition, approach road and forest are adjacent to the system.

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 0. 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 begins the description of this case at this point in history. The author begins at this point in history because 5.

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 moderately abundant (highly confident). 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 (highly 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 moderately abundant (highly confident). 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 (highly 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: 10000000

Square meters of fields irrigated at the beginning of the period: 8000000

Square meters of fields irrigated at the end of the period: 1000000

*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 (inferred). As of the end of the period, the quality of the units being withdrawn from the resource was passable (inferred). 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 (inferred). 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 quite low (highly confident). 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 (highly confident). At the beginning of this study, holding all inputs constant the same or greater amounts of resource units were not withdrawn with fewer appropriator teams and/or equipment, and there was no rent dissipation (educated guess). At the end of this study, holding all inputs constant the same or greater amounts of resource units were not withdrawn with fewer appropriator teams and/or equipment, and there was no rent dissipation (educated guess). At the beginning of this study the appropriation resource was experiencing some deterioration due to insufficient maintenance (inferred). At the end of this study the appropriation resource was experiencing some deterioration due to insufficient maintenance (inferred). At the beginning of this period the appropriators shared moderate to high levels of mutual trust (e.g. oral promises given high credence) (inferred). 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 (inferred). At the end of this period the owners were exercising, or attempting to exercise, de jure and effective closed access to this resource (inferred). At the end of the period the appropriators were exercising, or attempting to exercise, de jure and effective closed access to this resource (inferred).

INFORMATION LEVELS

There are readily available maps or charts of the appropriation resource for use by the appropriators (inferred). Maps and/or charts of the production and distribution resources are available to appropriators (educated guess). The appropriators of this resource can be seen by each other while withdrawing and delivering units (confident). 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 (inferred). There are not records of the withdrawals from this resource kept in a systematic way (ambiguous). There was no information in the study about whether or not there are records of the physical factors which directly affected the resource kept in a systematic way. There are not records of the appropriators' contributions to monitoring of 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 (educated guess). Records are kept in a language accessible to most of the appropriators (inferred). The keepers of these records are officials at some level (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 annually (confident). The appropriators have an intimate knowledge of the characteristics of this resource (highly confident).

POTENTIAL ACTIONS AND LEVELS OF CONTROL

There are appropriators that made up a 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). There does not appear to be an insurance mechanism available to the appropriators related to variability of income from the resource (educated guess).

PATTERNS OF INTERACTION

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 (highly confident). The documents present evidence of specific types of cooperative activities between the appropriators related primarily to other local resources (educated guess). If someone violated the rules-in-use related to the appropriation process from this resource, it is very unlikely that he/she would encounter social sanctions imposed by other appropriators (who are not filling posititions as official monitors) (highly confident). If someone violates the rules-in-use related to the appropriation process from this resource, it is very unlikely that he/she would encounter physical sanctions by other appropriators (who are not filling posititions as official monitors) (highly confident). If someone violates the rules-in-use related to the appropriation process from this resource, it is likely that an official monitor or guard would move to impose sanctions (educated guess). There is a moderate 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 not exist (inferred). At the beginning of the period there was a general estimate of 201-500 appropriators (confident). There was a general estimate of 201-500 appropriators at the end of the period (highly confident). 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 (inferred). This position monitors rules devised by local collective choice processes (column 3 of the rules form) and rules-in-use.

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 6-10 (inferred). Official monitors are paid in commodities and in money. Most of the monitors were full-time (inferred).

NUMBER AND RELATIONSHIPS AMONG SUBGROUPS

There will be 1 subgroup form(s) completed in relation to this operational level form. The ID number(s) of the subgroup(s) coded are as follows: 106.1 - -2 - -2 - -2

EVALUATION OF RESULTS

There are no 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).

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).

Lothar has a well-organized irrigation committee whose rules are equitable and apparently followed by all members. Because of the time and effort required to maintain the intake and approach canal, the command area and distribution system have been neglected. Farmers perceive the water in the irrigation system as adequate, reliable, and equitable. The concern on the positive management of command area and distribution system as well as on drainage and wild animals is a key to improve efficiency.. The author discusses withdrawals per unit of effort based on -2

SUBGROUP:

Participants:

This appropriation group are all irrigators who use the water from appropriation resource. The criteria for who is a member is well defined (highly confident). Membership at the start of this group numbered 350 (inferred). This group ended with a membership of 350 (highly confident). An estimated 91%-100% of this group is literate in a language that records or publications about this resource and/or location (or other similar resources) is kept (educated guess).

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

The difference in composition with regard to gender identification does not affect communication (educated guess). The difference in composition of the group with regard to caste does not affect communication (highly confident). Most members of this subgroup are of the cast Brahmins or Chhetris. The difference in composition with regard to religious identification does not affect communication (educated guess). Most members of this subgroup are religiously identified as Hindu. The difference in composition with regard to the languages spoken does not affect communication (inferred). The language spoken by most members of the subgroup is Nepali.

.

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 is held de jure (highly confident). Exclusion from use of the entire resource is exercised de jure (inferred). 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. (educated guess). The separable right of transfer to the flow of units from this resource is not held either by de jure nor de facto (educated guess). 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 (educated guess). 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:

The length of time this subgroup has regularly appropriated from this resource is 11 through 25 years (highly confident). Around 91%-100% of members reside in or adjacent to this resource (educated guess). Most people in this subgroup are very dependent (i.e. most of the family income) on this resource (highly confident). Less than 10% of this subgroup work a substantial amount of time in activities not associated with appropriation from this resource (inferred). The proportion of this subgroup that currently appropriates similar units from other resources is 91%-100% (confident). Given the economy of the location, the average annual family income (including all non-monetary forms of income) is considered average (educated guess). The variance of the average annual family income across families is low (inferred). Over time the variance in average annual family income is low (inferred). Capital is owned by 76%-90% of this subgroup (highly confident). Low cost alternatives for the supply unit are available (inferred).

Potential Actions and Levels of Control:

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 cause unknown contraints, time limits which limit the range of choice lightly constrain (inferred), quantity limits which limit the range of choice lightly constrain (inferred), and marginal units or units obtained by increasing levels of appropriation have a moderate value immediate return (educated guess).

Technology:

The most recent technological change experienced by this subgroup was 11-25 years ago. Considering other technologies that have not changed, this technology has been in use for 51-75 years. 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 beginning of the period the rate of unit withdrawals was constant (educated guess). 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, non-tree fruits and vegetables, edible oils, and a non-listed product. In irrigation, the appropriation resources (at the end of the period) produce mainly paddy rice, and also grains other than paddy rice, non-tree fruits and vegetables, edible oils, and a non-listed product. 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 neither dependent nor contingent on the quantity of units appropriated (highly confident). Members have access to an alternative source of supply (highly confident). Members of this group have increased their use of alternative sources of supply of this unit (inferred). At least one member has assumed entrepreneurial activity in trying to achieve coordinated strategies in relationship to both withdrawal and investment (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 most of the members follow the rules (highly confident). The level of infraction of members who are not rule followers is generally small (inferred). 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 91%-100% of its total appropriated units at the end of this period (highly confident). By the end of this time period the appropriates from this resource have remained approximately constant (highly confident). The absolute quantity of appropriation units obtained by this group has remained constant (inferred).