Project News

Mr. Hiroaki Takiguchi, a short-term expert of JICA on operation and management (O&M) of Water Users' Organization (WUO), worked for the Project for Strengthening Water Management Transfer (SWMT Project) from January 30 to February 14, 2015.

Originally, Mr. Takiguchi is a Chief of the General Affairs Section in Ryoso Land Improvement District (LID) in Japan, which consists of about 20,000 members in Chiba Prefecture.

In the Ryoso Irrigation Project, water pumped up from Tone River has been distributed to 14 local areas (municipalities) for irrigation. The Ryoso LID has been managing the project activities as a representative organization of local farmers in cooperation with the central government, Japan Water Agency, Chiba Prefecture and municipalities.

By making full use of those experiences and knowledge in the Ryoso LID, Mr. Takiguchi technically supported the SWMT Project in providing for technical guidance on improving O&M of the three Branch Canal Water Users' Associations (BCWUAs) in the pilot sites so that they can implement their field activities in effective and sustainable manners.

Soon after courtesy visits and meetings at the JICA Egypt Office and the project counterparts (CPs) in the Central Department of Irrigation Advisory Service (CDIAS), Mr. Takiguchi visited the three pilot sites with the project experts, explained to the local CPs about Participatory Irrigation Management by the LID, exchanged opinions about the local situations with them and inspected the branch canals.

Based on Mr. Takiguchi's field survey in the pilot sites, he gave to the CPs his technical recommendations which included "Effective water distribution," "Establishment of partnerships among the relevant organizations," "Solid waste management" and "Formats of administrative and financial Records for the BCWUA."

We appreciate that Mr. Takiguchi gave to the project many good and concrete hints to effectively implement water management transfer. Following his activities, we will continuously try to transfer Japanese know-how on water management to the CPs.

Meeting with the CPs at the CDIAS.

Mr. Takiguchi explaining about the Ryoso LID to the local CPs in the pilot site.

Inspection on the Branch Canal in the pilot site.