Many of the early WUAs had fundamental weaknesses and did not make a clear distinction between the three main WUA bodies – the General Assembly, the Management Board, and the Executive staff – and their respective roles. In some cases, members of the Management Board were also paid Executive staff. Mixing governance with management creates a clear conflict of interest. Many of the newly formed WUAs were only marginally participatory organizations. Sustainable WUAs must have an organizational structure that clearly separates governance from management. Improved legislation to define roles and responsibilities for all stakeholders associated with WUAs will be necessary to help guide and regulate effective, demand-driven approaches to irrigation water management.
WUADP is providing training and technical assistance to support WUAs and government agencies with the tasks and duties regarding WUA organization, management, financial administration, and O&M of the irrigation system. Training will help support WUAs to find new approaches to O&M and financial administration to achieve more cost-effective irrigation. It is also addressing ways to help farmers become better organized to formulate cropping and irrigation plans and monitor implementation.
One of the major responsibilities in irrigated farming is the assessment of crop water requirements and irrigation scheduling within the entire river valley. However, the current responsibility of WUAs is limited to local management of on-farm irrigation equipment. Broader decisions on other farming operations rest with farmers working individually or through an Agricultural Association. In parallel to and often independently of WUAs, the strengthening of Agricultural Associations is also developing in Romania under Law No. 36/1991. Many farmers have already recognized that land consolidation is critical if they want to increase their yields and pay for irrigation O&M costs. Fragmentation of farmland restricts the ability to use the irrigation system effectively as well as the available agricultural equipment and machinery for cultivation and harvest. Consolidation and joint management through forming agricultural associations will help achieve more efficient commercial farming operations that can generate sufficient income to cover the costs of irrigation.
In the pilot areas, there are a relatively large number of agricultural associations compared to WUAs. WUADP is therefore working to strengthen agricultural associations because the ability of WUAs to implement a cropping pattern that yields market returns, covers the cost of irrigation, and increases farmer incomes will be key to their long-term success.