GOVERNMENTAL PRIORITIES IN IRRIGATION PROJECT SELECTION IN INDONESIA

Irrigation development in Indonesia is directed at both traditional ec onomic efficiency objectives and socioeconomic objectives related to s elf-sufficiency in rice production, improved income to individual farm ers, and the transmigration program. The criteria used to select proje cts in the light of these objectives are divided into two distinct cat egories: physical potential and sociological suitability of the projec t area. The sociological suitability is related particularly to the so ciopolitical support for transmigration and regional development and t he readiness or ability of farmers to exploit new technical irrigation schemes. The various features (such as utilization of existing irriga tion schemes in the area, productivity of farmers, irrigation efficien cy, use of new technologic inputs and operation and maintenance activi ties in those existing fields, and the level of existing agricultural support services) that contribute to assessment of physical potential and sociological suitability of irrigation projects are examined in de tail in this paper. Changes in the type and location of the irrigation projects selected for implementation occurring as a result of varying the priorities on each of the objectives are described.