Abstract:
Minor irrigation systems are the life blood of the dry zone agriculture in Sri Lanka. These
systems satisfy the water needs of humans, animals as well as the environment. As
agriculture is the central water user of these systems, a proper water management in
agriculture is imperative. Despite of gender differences the majority of the people in the
dry zone engage in irrigated agriculture. Beside that, women playa pivotal role in water
resource management. They work as water collectors, storekeepers and controllers for
water use and sanitation. Thus, they are considered as the best primary water managers in
household usage as well as in irrigated and rain fed agriculture. However, there is a norm
that irrigated agriculture in Sri Lanka is lead by the men and women are often considered
as helpers of their husbands. However the studies on gender participation and water
management are rarely found in Sri Lanka according to the reports of World Water
Assessment Programme (WW AP).Thus, there is a need to identify the gender vise
contribution in irrigation water management and bring those to planners and policy
makers.
