THE EFFECT OF IRRIGATION SOCIALIZATION ON WOMEN IN
INDONESIA
Dra. Rumuniati Subari (Indonesia)
ABSTRACT
Since 2001, an irrigation project has conducted research in several provinces and thenprovided necessary information from a gender perspective. Until now, there have been 5
provinces involved East Java, Central Java, West Java, Special District of Jogjakarta,
and South Sulawesi. Although there are unique provinces in their own way, theyrefused at first to involve women in the irrigation project. As an example, in Situbondo
regency, they initially rejected the idea of involving women in irrigation activities,
which they considered uncommon and "illegal". Finally accepted them and joined theprogram. The Bupati's wife, also chief of the local women association of Situbondo,
supported the program enthusiastically. She even recommended that sub-district andvillage heads as well as their wives involvement in irrigation socialization program in
their districts. In Pehngaron, Mojokerto regency, the Farmer Association of Water-users
has achieved great progress by winning in the 2002 national irrigation contest. In EastJava and West Java, irrigation from a gender perspective is finally well addressed. Thechange is that those women are partially involved in organization management andirrigation activities. Finally, they are aware that irrigation is not only men's
responsibility but also women's.
THE EFFECT OF IRRIGATION SOCIALIZATIONON WOMEN IN INDONESIA
The implementation of the irrigation project in Indonesia has somewhat changed
gender behavior. This is interesting because irrigation, which used to be men's job, now
has become one of women's jobs.
Since 2001, the irrigation project has conducted research in several provinces, followedby the provision of necessary information from a gender perspective. The opening of newareas for industrial factories and settlement caused a decrease in the water-supply, i.e.
±30%. So the new constitution USSDA No.7.2004 not only regulates irrigation problems
but it also handles more complex ones, such as, water resources, water supply and thedistribution of drinking water.
Until now, there have been five provinces --East Java, Central Java, West Java,
Special District of Jogjakarta and South Sulawesi used as samples for thedissemination of information related to irrigation problems and activities. Theseprovinces each have their own unique points. However, at first, all of them refused toinvolve women in the irrigation project.
Although the Situbondo regency first rejected the idea of involving women in
irrigation activities, which they considered uncommon and "illegal", they finally allowed
women to join the program. The Bupati's wife, being the chief of the local women's
association of Situbondo, also supported the program enthusiastically. She evenrecommended that sub-district heads, village heads and their wives become involved
and push irrigation program in their districts. The sudden change is very obvious. After
receiving the necessary information, women started hoeing and irrigating their own rice
fields. They also became partially involved in organization management.
In Pehngaron, Mojokerto regency, the Farmer Association of Water-Users hasachieved great progress by winning in the 2002 national irrigation contest. One change,
which is really felt, is that women are now partially involved in organization
management and irrigation activities. And they are fully aware that there should be no
garbage disposal into irrigation canals.
In the Central Java province, namely, Magelang and Tumenggung regencies have agreater chance for a better future because cooperation between local government staff
and farmers is good. Gender presence in the irrigation area is well responded to. The
latest development shows women's involvement has changed from±5% to 23.8%. In
addition, there are five women who are involved in management. The activities sharedby women are --irrigating their rice fields, controlling and maintaining irrigations andpreparing food for workers in the fields.
In West Java, the case is similar to that in Central Java, namely in Majalengka andTasikmalaya regencies where women have been involved in irrigation activities. Yet,this has not been publicly admitted. After growing rice, and while wating for the harvest,
their husbands usually go to city to work. It is during this time that the wives take careof the fields: weeding and irrigating. It is clear then that women share their husbands'
jobs in the fields. The women's participation related to irrigation activities is:
distributing water in field beds (13.7%); cleaning garbage in the canals (11.8%); paying
contribution for P3A (27.5%); irrigating the fields(5.9%) and attending meetings (5.9%).
The picture is different in South Sulawesi, i.e. the Goa and Pinrang regencies.

Whereas in the beginning they were only involved in preparing food for the family
workers, women in these areas are now involved actively in many aspects of life
including the irrigation program. They play a role in managing and organizing(+8.33%); maintaining the drainage system (16.87%); collecting contributions (37.5%)
and delegating authority in P3A (8.33%). However, the presence of a gender perspectivein the irrigation process receives a good response both from the local government as well
as farmers. The women's role in seeding and harvesting as compared to men is 50%-50%.
In the special district of Yogyakarta, involving women in irrigation activities isdifficult, because they consider that (1) the business of irrigation is susceptible toconflicts and women are considered to be unable to solve the problems, (2) women arealready burdened with domestic activities. However, men and women famers should
realize that irrigation is their responsibility.