Farmer participation and income analysis in small-scale irrigation systems during the Covid-19 pandemic in Lima Puluh Kota District

Abstract The Integrated Participatory Irrigation Development and Management Project (IPDMIP) is critical in increasing agricultural production, national food security, and farmers’ income by encouraging farmers’ participation in small-scale irrigation management. This study aims to assess the impact of the IPDMIP program in Lima Puluh Kota District, focusing on farmers’ income, their participation in managing irrigation networks, and the challenges faced during program implementation. Data were collected through observation, interviews, questionnaires, and archived project records. Thematic analysis was conducted for qualitative data, while descriptive statistics were used for quantitative data. The results showed that the average net income of farmers increased by 10.28% after the implementation of IPDMIP. Farmer participation in maintenance planning increased significantly from 6% to 71%, and participation in maintenance implementation jumped from 20% to 97%. However, Covid-19 restrictions affected participation in capacity-building programs. Despite these challenges, the success of community-based irrigation management is evident, providing benefits to the community by increasing farmer engagement and improving income.