Subak, An irrigation and agriculture organization at the

farmers' level

( With a Bendung Cangi )

Hasnah Yunita

Abstracts

Distribution of water between Subak from upstream to downstream with the final disposal to
the sea until it the Tanah Lot. The source of water in the Cangi Weir comes from a river or
river bed, while the irrigation area is only for the Subak. Irrigation water from mountain to
the 4th irrigation area to irrigate 8 subak and then into the sea. the water channel starts from
the tunnel to the primary channel and then the secondary channel to the tertiary channel in the
rice field. Cangi's obstacle is the lack of water, especially during the long dry season.

Keywords : Irrigation, Irrigate, Subak, Agriculture

Introduction

Weir named Cangi weir is it in the village of Kawung, Mengwi. Total area covered by Cangi
dam is 872 hectares which irrigates 8 subaks, Subak Lepuk, Pacung Babakan, South Cangi /
pupu dalam, etc. Organization at the farmers' level can live and deveiop, among others, when
there is an awareness of the serious need of its members to achieve by group activities and
also there cxist aids and services from the government policies to create a good climate in
developing this organization. The role of the government in relation to subak can be : (1) a
direct aid in the from of fipance or matcrial aid in irrigation structure rehabilitation or to build
the dam itself, supervising agriculture, (2) coordination inter subak and between subak and
the government, and (3) using subak for a successful goverment programs, the agricultural
extension and the tax collection. It seems here that Subak has a very close relationsbip with
the local government agencies, especially the irrigation and the agricultural agencies. In the
increasing food production program through the bimas, the goveroment officials in Bali tcnd
to use the subak than otber institutions, The role of the irrigation section of the public work
(PU) are important too in the irrigation constructioD, the technical assistant to subak, and
techoical training. Io the Kabupaten level there is a Board of irrigation (Panitia Pengairan),
leaded by Bupati ( the chief of kabupaten ), with members of Sedahan Agung, the head of
Agricultural Service, the head of irrigation sectio of public work, the bead of agrarian office,
the head of Community Development Service and the head of the police. The jobs of this
board are : to facilitate the coordination in using water, in cropping pattern, security and
maintaining irrigation structures and the netstream flow canats, and to facilitate the
coordipation among government agencies, that the Gubernur be able to aid with policies and
finance from the development budget allocation.

Materials and Methods

This research was conducted for 1 day on 29 November 2019 in Cangi weir, Kawung
Village, Mengwi, Bali, Indonesia. The author uses a direct observation system to the field so
that the data obtained is accurate and facts. conducted by open discussion techniques or direct
interviews with administrators from Cangi weir. the tools used are voice recorders
(handphone) and writing instruments.

Result and Discussion

Subak is one of the social groupings those exist in Balinese commuaity. The Hindu rcligion
that is widely adopted by most people of Bali to be a traditioo in the Balinese peoplc. The
Balinese villages area socio - economic and territotial uoit based on traditional custom and
holly religious ceremonies. From tbe 73,375 hectares of sawah in Bali, most (71,600 ha) are
irrigated with the itrigation system arranged by farmers. A small unit of an irrigation area
originated from a single water canal is managed by a traditional organization of subak that
also deals with agricultare, socio-economic aspect and religious ceremonies. The subak has
cxisted since centuries ago. It might be founded because of tbe same need and the will to
solve the problems together in a group activities based on mutual belp and agreements.
Members of a subak are pcople rclated to sawah, although there are some differences among
them, every member has his own right and duties . So far activities are ruoning very well,
also in making the government program to be successful. The close relationship with the
local government agencies and the support services have made all the successful story of
subak.

It seems here that subak is a very successful orgaoization at the farmer level based on several
bases:

1. the conciousness on the same need of irrigation water

In fact a subak is a bottom-up organization, that the members and the Ieaders know very well
why they joint in it, pay fees and what can be expected. So the strongly rooted subak is a very
beneficial for development efforts. With some aids at the key points those seriously needed,
this existing organization can be improved and made more useful toward tbe development as
a whole.

Conclussion and sugestions

The author concludes from the results of this observation that the subak irrigation system in
Mengwi is going well and arranged in such a way, with an even distribution of water each
season, especially the dry season. lack of water discharge becomes its own constraints that
interfere with planting. The author suggests for farmers not to be lazy to work even though
the average older farmer is more, millennial farmers must be able to develop agriculture to be
advanced and superior from the perspective of all communities.

References

Teken, 1.B. Subak, Organisasi Pengairan Pedesaan di Bali. Institute Pertanian Bogor &
Universitas Udayana Denpasar 1973.
Observasi only personaly. 2019.