Bethma System
- In traditional village tank systems, water management was overseen by a manager known as 'Vel Vidane.'
- The Vel Vidane was compensated with a share of the rice harvest, establishing accountability to the entire community, as water allocation was based on tank water availability.
- An interesting aspect of this management system was the practice of 'Bethma,' where land near the water source was temporarily reallocated to ensure everyone could cultivate during periods of water scarcity.
- Farmers had the choice to grow paddy or other crops on the allocated land.
- While land allocation could be proportionate to original ownership, it was more commonly non-proportional, with each landholder receiving one plot assigned by the Vel Vidane.
- Some pressure from the Vel Vidane was necessary, as distributing land proportionally would not benefit smallholders, while distributing it equally would be seen as unfair by large landholders.
- Following the abolition of the Vel Vidane system by the British, water allocation is now carried out either by Farmer Associations (FOs) or by an appointed 'Jalapalaka.'
Above picture shows the general distribution of the paddy fields where the old (core) area can be cultivated during water scarcity periods and is redistributed under Bethma system.
- The practice of Bethma is declining in many areas in recent times.
- The expansion of agro-wells and other groundwater sources has led to the cultivation of additional paddy fields, making it challenging to determine land eligibility for Bethma.
- Some farmers find ways to avoid Bethma by starting the second season early, before a decision is made on land allocation.
- The main reason for avoiding Bethma is the investments made by farmers in terms of fertilizers and weed control on their fields.
- In certain areas, priority is given to those who could not cultivate during the "Maha" season for cultivation during the "Yala" season.
- In the Deduru Oya basin, many farmers are reluctant to participate in the land reallocation scheme during dry periods.