Power Dynamics and Participatory Irrigation Water Management: Impacts on Farmer Satisfaction in Central Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Pakistan

This research aimed to assess collective and participatory irrigation water management in relation to farmers' satisfaction with water distribution in central Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan. The study randomly selected 466 farmers using a multistage stratified random sampling technique, collecting data through interviews. Chi-square and Kendall’s Tau-c tests and order logistic regression analysis were applied. Results revealed a significant and positive association between farmers' satisfaction and the village-level organizations managing irrigation (P = 0.000; Tc = 0.180), membership of these organization (P = 0.000; Tc = 0.174), planning of water management (P = 0.000; Tc = 0.169), collective participation in water management (P = 0.000; Tc = 0.176), rotational irrigation timeframe (P = 0.000; Tc = 0.092), and collectively planned water management activities (P = 0.004; Tc = 0.112). Similarly, by keeping farmers participate in irrigation management to a lesser extent as base category, the positive co-efficient indicates that the log odds for satisfaction with water distribution increases among farmer’s participate in irrigation management to a greater extent (co-efficient = 1.681, OR = 5.37, P = 0.000) and farmers somewhat participate in irrigation management (co-efficient = 0.735, OR = 2.09, P = 0.003). The study concluded that community-driven efforts, once central to irrigation management, are now limited to seasonal maintenance of channels. Both irrigation authorities and influential farmers resist forming specific farmer organizations for water management. The study recommends establishing inclusive village-level irrigation committees to plan and implement strategies, ensuring representation for marginalized farmers to reduce dissatisfaction with water distribution.