Water managed by its users
WUA members briefed on water management techniques and agro-engineering — micro-irrigation, sprinklers, fertigation and other water harvesting methods.
WUA capacity building for participatory irrigation management
A consultancy under the Government of Tamil Nadu’s TNIAMWARM project — Coodu Trust engaged by the Executive Engineer, WRO/PWD, Upper Vaippar Basin, Rajapalayam, to strengthen Water Users Associations in the Arjuna nadhi, Nichaba nadhi and Kalingalar sub-basins.
₹1.11 cr
Contract value
30
Months of assignment
630
Staff-months deployed
3
River sub-basins
The project
Preparing farmers to manage their own irrigation systems
Project mission
Build institutional capacity of Water Users Associations (WUAs) to ensure successful and sustainable implementation of Participatory Irrigation Management, empowering farmers to operate and maintain water resources efficiently, equitably, and sustainably.
The Tamil Nadu Irrigated Agriculture Modernization and Water–Bodies Restoration and Management (TNIAMWARM) Project is implemented by the Government of Tamil Nadu with a loan from the World Bank (IBRD/IDA). Coodu Trust’s part in it was a discrete consultancy: capacity building of Water Users Associations for Participatory Irrigation Management in the sub-basins of Arjuna nadhi, Nichaba nadhi and Kalingalar, lying in the districts of Virudhunagar and Tirunelveli. The client was the Executive Engineer, WRO/PWD, Upper Vaippar Basin, Rajapalayam.
The assignment was valued at ₹1,11,30,000, ran for 30 months from 5 November 2011 and carried 630 staff-months of effort. It was the “software” component complementing the “hardware” of canal and water-body restoration. Awareness work covered the project’s expected outputs and the TNFMIS Act — the legal framework for participatory irrigation management — and drew women members into WUA activities, while specialised training reached the WUA managing committees and their four sub-committees. In 2015–16, 92 Water User Association members in Virudhunagar received post-project management training.
- Awareness creation
- Water management technology
- Organic farming
- Institutional governance
Why this work matters
The challenge on the ground — and our answer
The challenge
Restored infrastructure without institutions to run it
Restoring canals and water bodies is only the “hardware” — without capable, self-governing farmer institutions, irrigation systems risk falling back into neglect once the project team leaves.
Our response
The “software” of participatory management
Awareness on the TNFMIS Act plus governance, financial management and O&M training for WUA managing committees and four functional sub-committees — capped by post-project management training for 92 members in 2015–2016.
The challenge
Water used inefficiently, productivity held back
Farmers managing irrigation without modern water management and production techniques cannot get the most from every drop of water — or from every field it reaches.
Our response
Technical training on water and agro-engineering
Awareness among WUA members of water management techniques and agro-engineering technologies — micro-irrigation, sprinklers, fertigation and other water harvesting methods — alongside improved production technologies.
At a glance
The essentials
- Scheme
- TNIAMWARMTamil Nadu Irrigated Agriculture Modernization and Water-Bodies Restoration and Management Project — World Bank (IBRD/IDA) funded
- Period
- 2011–201630-month assignment from 5 November 2011, with post-project management training recorded in 2015–16
- Coverage
- 3 sub-basinsArjuna nadhi, Nichaba nadhi and Kalingalar, lying in the districts of Virudhunagar and Tirunelveli
- Contract
- ₹1,11,30,00030 months and 630 staff-months; project director S. Jagadeesan, with nine coordinators and eight team leaders
- Client & our role
- ConsultantThe Executive Engineer, WRO/PWD, Upper Vaippar Basin, Rajapalayam, Virudhunagar — in collaboration with the World Bank and PWD/WRO Virudhunagar
- Part of
- TNIAMWARM “software” componentInstitutional development complementing infrastructure restoration, under the TNFMIS Act framework
Outcomes
What the project changed
Women brought into WUA governance
A named objective of the consultancy: creating awareness among women members and inducing their effective participation in WUA activities.
Strengthened institutions
Capacity building for every member of the WUA managing committees and their four sub-committees, with 92 members trained in post-project management in 2015–16.
Get involved
Support water resource management
Join us in strengthening farmer institutions that manage water efficiently, equitably and sustainably — so irrigation systems keep working long after the project ends.