In a narrow sense, the operation of the irrigation network is setting the doors to the building of water (dams, buildings for, etc.) to tap water from the water source, drain into the irrigation network, enter the water kepetak rice fields, as well as throwing kelebihari water to the exhaust duct. In a broad sense, the operation is the efforts to utilize irrigation infrastructure (irrigation) optimally.
According to the PP 20 of 2006 on Irrigation in article 1, operation of irrigation networks is an attempt to regulate water in the irrigation network which covers the supply, the distribution, administration, use and disposal including the activities of opening the door shut irrigation, plan layout planting, arrange group systems, plan division water, calibration, data collection, monitoring and evaluation.
Operating activities include:
Data Collection
The data must be collected for the purposes of operating properly and sustainability, including the data:
1) Data on hydrology, among others, water flow data available,
2) Data Agroclimatology include crop water requirements; and
3) Data types of crops, sorts, and their area.
Irrigation Water Supply
Provision of irrigation and water management begins and water available to meet the needs of plant derived and:
1) The rainwater that fell in the area concerned; and
2) Water irrigation and water resources (rivers, reservoirs, springs, groundwater pumping).
Irrigation water supply is intended to support the productivity of land in order to increase agricultural production by taking into account maximal other interests. Provision of water to meet daily basic needs and irrigation for the agricultural community within the existing irrigation systems is a top priority in the provision of water resources for all needs. Irrigation water needs in Indonesia are generally taken from water sources such as rivers that are not supported by the reservoir, covering an estimated ± 89% of the total irrigated area, while the new reservoir is supported approximately ± 11% and the total irrigated area.
Because the amount of water available in the river is always changing from time to time, it is necessary to determine the amount of water flow is available, which is expected to be definitely be used as a basis for planning to organize water sharing plans and determine the layout plan of planting. The flow of water available can not be manipulated in a sense saved first, but all the activities relating to utilize irrigation water must adjust to debit available, good use of time and amount.
Time availability also tends shorter as a result of forest destruction of water catchment areas upstream, opposite number exceeds the required availability, where floods and can not be used. The annual plan of irrigation water supply at each irrigation area prepared by the department of the district / city or provincial government departments in charge of irrigation in accordance with its authority based on the proposed water user farmer associations (P3A) and or other irrigation water users. The annual plan of irrigation water supply should be discussed and agreed upon in the commission of irrigation.
Preparation of Plans and Planting pattern
Cropping patterns cropping plan is a description of various types of plants to be cultivated in an irrigated field in a year. Factors affecting cropping patterns, among others, (1) Availability of water in one year, (2) infrastructure available in those lands, (3) Type of local land, (4) general condition of the area, eg puddle, (5) the habits and skills of local farmers.
Determination of the pattern of cropping is required for efforts to increase food production.
The pattern of planting different crops are cultivated in a unit area in one growing season. Being the cropping pattern is the arrangement of the plants cultivated in a unit area in one year. The prevailing pattern of cropping in each region will be different from other regions, due to the characteristics of each region is also different.