Theo policy of providing free-of-charge irrigation for farmers nationwide in conformity to Decree No. 115 by Prime Minister has been being put into practice from 2008 to 2010. The policy has brought many positive effects and raised a lot of problems as well, says central ministries and local governments.
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Cay Gai dam was being built at Cat Tai commune, Phu Cat district. Photo: Nguyen Han. |
* A practical policy
The central government provided the local governments with 7,138 billion VND from budget to fund the abolishment of irrigation fee program in 2008-2010. The amount for 2011 is about 5,000 billion VND.
The policy actually meets the farmers’ needs, helping them to cut production costs and raise incomes. Irrigation management companies who directly received the fund enjoyed more favourable conditions to carry out their structural reforms, pay higher salaries and other allowances for their workers. So, the workers commit more to their jobs.
The free irrigation program also helps the local governments to maintain, repair and upgrade irrigation works; partly contribute to production efficiency enhancement, effective performance of crop structure transformation, value addition of agriculture-forestry-fishery production.
Binh Dinh province has been funded an average total of 83.75 billion VND per year since 2009. 60-70% of the fund was used to repair and upgrade irrigation network all over the province. Hence, the irrigation works are now stronger, serving better for the agricultural production. 105,120 hectares of crops are ensured to get irrigation water and yield high. The provincial irrigation management companies have more sources to cover management fees and salary payment for their workers, cut labour force (irrigation fee collectors) and enhance their irrigation management.
* Shortcomings
Required irrigation fees in Decree No. 115 have become outdated. The irrigation management and operation costs are high in reality while the irrigation fees are low, leading to the low auxiliary fund. Turnovers of the irrigation management companies aren’t enough to cover the repair and maintenance costs.
In addition, water charges to aquiculture and non-agriculture production are too high (8-10% value of farming-fish output), discouraging the aquaculture as well as comprehensive exploitation of the irrigation works. It is also difficult to collect such charges in reality because the irrigation management companies don’t know about the true outputs of aquatic products.
Another problem is that prices of power, materials and labour are increasing high. Thus, the irrigation fees can’t cover the energy costs.
The Decree 115 should be modified more to adapt the reality, suggest the local governments.
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