Water Resources Management of Subak Irrigation System in Bali

Abstract

s. Management of water for irrigation in Bali has been exist since the IX century, which is known as Subak. Subak is traditional irrigation system and it is closely associated with the principle of TriHitaKarana. The elements and facilities of subak include: irrigation networks, organizational structures and regulation. Distribution of water uses a comparison unit called ayahan. One unit of ayahan entitled to one tektek or one kecoran which is a unit of water flowing through the cross section of traditional spillway on a countinuous basis. If water availability is limited, then water supply is managed by rotation basis called pergiliran or nyorog system that based on different planting time. The principle of nyorog is the upstream section get water first (called ngulu), the midstream obtain water after the upstream had finished cultivating of soil (called maongin), and the downstream called ngasep. In rainy season, rice planting is simultaneously done in all area of subak, which is called kertamasa. Meanwhile in dry season called gadon, rice planting is scheduled by principles of nyorog or rotation. The arrangements of water resources and the settings of cropping pattern is stated in regulation (awig awig). Water distribution were managed ​​by the administrators of subak within the territory, or through an agreement between the territories’ administrators. The Sedahan and Sedahan Agung, whom in charge as subak’s adviser have very important role in the coordination on management and use of water. Recently they are facing uncertainty in existence, and causing lost of coordination in resolving various problems. In the future, the functioning of the Sedahan and Sedahan Agung is needed.

Efforts to preserve the sustainability of subak irrigation system in Denpasar city, Bali Province, Indonesia

“…Sometimes a single tektek uses long ranges of thumb tip with fingertips (called kilan) [14]. Tektek system [14,16]. In the subak system, the emphasis is justice in obtaining water.…”

Challenges to the Conservation of Subak System as World Cultural Heritage in Bali

“…The position of Sedahan and Sedahan Agung (grand Sedahan) is no longer appointed as government officials to supervise and mentor Subak. Historically, Sedahan and Sedahan Agung already had a long track record in protecting the existence and sustainability of Subak in Bali [11,20].…”

“…Subak organizations schedule the cropping patterns in detail, through time limit for starting to sow the seeds (ngurit) and starting to plant the rice (nandur) up to the deadline. Furthermore, the type of rice that may be planted is also scheduled, such as rice with a long lifespan/Balinese rice (called tebak/tebek taun) or rice with a short lifespan (tebak/tebek cicih) [20,22]. Setting the cropping pattern is manifested in the regulation (awig-awig) or by agreement (perarem) over the Subak member meeting (paruman).…”

“…This meeting is carried out before rice planting is undertaken. If it is violated, then the farmers concerned will be subject to sanctions, such as fines in accordance with the stipulation in awig-awig or in perarem [20]. In terms of organising water in Subak, water management is made by the leaders of Subak in the region or between regions through an agreement.…”

“…Besides water scarcity, a crop failure might also be caused by various types of rice crop pests, such as rats, leafhoppers, etc.. Thus, it boils down to an income reduction of farmers which is already very little due to the ownership of paddy field that is no more than 0.5 hectares on average per farmer [18,20]. In anticipating this situation, there is an initiative from the government to help farmers in some areas to provide water pumps in an effort to use ground water as a source of irrigation water for Subak, but since the cost of its operation and maintenance is imposed on the farmers, it is considered very burdensome.…”