Traditional value and its function in managing modern irrigation system in West Sumatra Indonesia

Indigenous knowledge, which has been created from a long experience of human activities with ecosystem and environment, is essential for the sustainability of natural resources. Due to the advance of the global economy and changes in social structure, indigenous knowledge has mostly disappeared. A modern approach toward managing natural resources, such as Water Users’ Association (“P3A” in Indonesia), has been introduced under government totalitarianism. Yet, institutional problems, such as low participation in maintaining irrigation facilities, have occurred in some regions where traditional values have been excluded from irrigation management. Nevertheless, in some regions where traditional values have survived, P3A could have managed irrigation systems under the new irrigation policy. This study aimed to reassess the indigenous irrigation system based on traditional values in West Sumatra, compare irrigation management in two irrigation institutions in Agam District, and evaluate the persistence of traditional values in the current irrigation system. Using the comparative case study approach, it was found that there are two aspects of persistence in the traditional values in the current P3A system, i.e., Mufakat (consensus) and the roles of an indigenous leader. These values were identified as a “bridging value” between traditional and modern irrigation systems. Based on these findings, this study suggests possible solutions for improving the dysfunction of P3As by recognizing the rights to organize P3A based on Minangkabau traditional value, by implementing Mufakat in the P3A decision-making process, and by creating social capital by farmers themselves under Penghulu (clan leader) encouragement.