FARMERS’ IRRIGATION BEHAVIOR UNDER IMPROVED AND UNIMPROVED IRRIGATION SYSTEMS IN BEHERA GOVERNORATE السلوک الأروائي للمزارعين وأوضاعهم الاجتماعيه والاقتصاديه تحت نظم الري المطور وغير المطور بمحافظة البحيرة.

This study aims to compare some aspects of the efficiency and effectiveness of the irrigation process under the two conditions of the improved and unimproved irrigation systems. The study was conducted in Behera governorate where the Irrigation Improvement Projects (IIPs) have been applied in the domain area of El-Mahmoudia main canal. Three branch canals from the area covered by IIPs and another branch canal located in the areas not covered by IIPs were selected to represent the current situation of irrigation systems in both areas (improved and unimproved). Three mesqas were randomly selected from each branch canal taking into account the different locations of mesqas on the branch canals (Up-stream/Mid-stream/Down-stream).
A sample of 186 Water Users (WUs) was selected (125 from improved mesqas and 61 from unimproved ones) from all selected mesqas taking into consideration the location of water users (WUs) on each mesqa (Up-stream/Mid-stream/Down-stream). Data were collected through personal interviews by using two questionnaires (one for the farmers in the improved mesqas and one for unimproved mesqas).
Results revealed that: about 46.4% and 34.4% of the respondents in the improved and unimproved respectively reported that conflicts on irrigation water have “increased”, while 76.2% and 29.3% respectively indicated that such conflicts were “always” solved. Surprisingly, 75.2% and 88.5% respectively reported that they “used” laser land leveling. Period used for irrigation was reported “less than before” by 52% and 27.9% respectively. The cost of irrigation was reported as “less than before” by 39.2% and 1.6% respectively. Quantity of irrigation water was considered “sufficient” by 60.85% and 11.5% respectively, while Differences were significant in the cases of conflicts resolutions, time needed for irrigation, costs of irrigation, and sufficiency of irrigation water.
As a conclusion of these results, improvement of the local irrigation management with its two physical and organizational components would help enhancing equity in distribution of irrigation water among the users and thus effectiveness of the local irrigation system.