Associations d'irrigants dans le sud-ouest de la France et leurs relations avec la CACG

Irrigator associations in south-west France and their relations with CACG

CACG, Compagnie d'aménagement des côteaux de Gascogne

Abstract

For 37 years, CACG, a French Regional Development Agency, has been assigned the development of the rural world of south-west France, particulars by means of irrigation. For the first 10 years, CACG set up large collective irrigation networks under State Commission. At the beginning of the 70s, in order to satisfy farmers' desire to take an active part in managing the irrigation networks and to reduce the financial involvement of the State, CACG launched a new policy of small-scale irrigation projects self-managed by irrigator Associations. Today, CACG manages 40 State Commissionned networks (67 000 ha) and has contributed to the creation of 85 irrigalor association networks (43 000 ha).

Irrigators are responsible for operating the networks and CACG offers assistance in setting up the networks and support the associations in terms of management and maintenance. The success of this participatory water managements is based on the small size of each association (one or two rural communities) and the fact that the whole investment phase is taken in charge by CACG. Further more, the maintenance and monitoring contracts between the agency and the associations distinct clearly the responsibilities. The main thing is to develop a "self management without abandonment" practice.