JICA Economic Development Department
Toward Sustainable Irrigated Agriculture through JICA's Participatory Irrigation Management (PIM) Project

The JICA-Net multimedia-based learning material, "Sustainable Irrigated Agriculture -Participatory Irrigation Management initiatives-" (YouTube) (external link), is prepared for government staffs in developing countries who will participate in JICA Knowledge Co-Creation Programs for irrigation and water management. This material aims for understanding of the basis of JICA's Participatory Irrigation Management (PIM) Project, which has implemented in developing countries based on Japanese experiences and knowledge before coming to Japan.

Looking at the current situation of irrigation globally, especially in countries and regions facing ongoing population increases, most of the governments have underlined the construction and improvement of irrigation facilities and its systems to ensure food security and economic development. However, these governments are often confronting several issues in terms of maintenance, operation and management of irrigation facilities due to financial burden of maintenance of facilities, lack of skills of maintenance, and difficulties of management and coordination among stakeholders, and so on.

Moreover, there are countries that need urgent responses to salinity land degradation and groundwater depletion caused by improper utilization of irrigation water. In addition, adaptation measures against climate change such as drought and flood has become urgent issues. It is essential to make an action properly in accordance with each country's circumstances and developmental stages.

Japan's sustainable water management system is known as a model for participatory irrigation management, or PIM, this system is expanding worldwide.

For that reason, JICA undertakes the technical cooperation of PIM being incorporated Japan's experiences and knowledge, which root in Japan's long history of efforts for stable food supply. Ensuring food production is one of the important foundation of Japanese economic development.

By dispatching Japanese experts to JICA's PIM Project in developing countries f for support strengthen and systematized irrigation management, examples with results of improved irrigation facilities, better management and sustainable water utilization have been increasing globally.

This material will provide useful information for those who involve in irrigation water management to learn how to form, expand and manage irrigated agriculture.

The material introduces the system of Japanese PIM and the examples of JICA's PIM Project in developing countries.

The material introduces the current Japanese systems and roles of Japanese Water Users' Organization, called Land Improvement Districts (LIDs), which are the core groups of realizing sustainable irrigated agriculture in Japan.

Firstly, the material explains the history and experiences of Japan's irrigated agriculture development, which has carried out with the PIM concept. Next, it introduces the current Japanese systems and roles of Japanese Water Users' Organization, called Land Improvement Districts (LIDs), which are the associations of the local farmers and the core groups of realizing sustainable irrigated agriculture in Japan.

PIM, "Participatory Irrigation Management", literally means that farmers participate in irrigation water management, but it is not just to participation.

In Japan, participatory water management has developed step by step, with encouraging farmers to enjoy the benefits of participation by improving the surrounding environment through community-based water management, the introduction and development of civil engineering technology, the establishment of legal systems and securing project budgets by the government, and so on.

JICA Knowledge Co-Creation Programs introducing held in Hokkaido, Japan

On the other hand, since participatory water management is an initiative that has matured over many years in Japan, its introduction into developing countries has not been easy, however JICA’ efforts are being made through continuous trial and error at each project site.

The second half of the material, about international cooperation, shows examples of JICA’s PIM Project in Egypt and Tanzania, where the results come out gradually, and JICA Knowledge Co-Creation Programs introducing held in Hokkaido, Japan.

Viewers are able to find the importance of not Japan’s approach in the projects just as it is but adapting it in accordance with the circumstances of each country. This is also the key for sustainable irrigated agriculture.

Spread Japan's PIM over the world

As already mentioned, the material basically intends that government staffs in developing countries, it could be also useful for people in the world including JICA staffs who are involved in those projects in developing countries and interest in how to form and manage PIM projects.

We expect that this material would be utilized in a occasion of trainings, meetings with counterparts, and self-learning respectfully. We hope that the material promotes an understanding of both PIM in Japan, which forms the basis of JICA's PIM Project and JICA's PIM Project, and helps developing countries to develop for sustainable irrigated agriculture.

MATSUBARA Yusuke
Team 4, Agricultural and Rural Development Group 2
JICA Economic Development Department

*The Material(s) mainly applied

Sustainable Irrigated Agriculture - Participatory Irrigation Management initiatives -

This video features Japan's farmer-led water management system as part of the history and one of the institutions which are the basis of JICA's international cooperation. This system was historically established for the foundation for Japan's sustainable irrigated agriculture. In this video, its history and water associations, called "Land Improvement Districts (LIDs)", are introduced along with opinions regarding JICA's Initiatives from government staff in developing countries. Japan's LIDs are known as a model for "Participatory Irrigation Management (PIM)" which is expanding worldwide.

In Japan, agriculture has developed around wet rice farming since ancient times. A network of irrigation facilities and farmer-led water management systems has enabled sustainable irrigated agriculture. In particular, Japan is characterized by the organizations, institutions, and operation of Land Improvement Districts (LIDs), which mainly run this system based on relevant legislation and policies.

This video features this system, known as a model for "Participatory Irrigation Management (PIM)", with real activities of LIDs and farmers. It also features JICA's Initiatives such as technical cooperation projects and the Knowledge Co-Creation Program with opinions from government staff and trainees in developing countries who actually experienced those initiatives.

The main purpose of this video is to provide a deeper understanding on the basis of PIM for government staff and farmers who work in JICA projects or trainees who participate in training courses in Japan.

• YouTube (external link)