PERAN SISTEM KELEMBAGAAN SOSIAL DALAM PEMBENTUKAN POLA DISTRIBUSI AIR IRIGASI SWADAYA: ANALISIS SOSIOLOGIS DI DESA MAMA KECAMATAN LOPOK

Abstract

This study examines the role of social institutional systems in shaping communitybased irrigation water distribution patterns in Mama Village, Lopok District, Sumbawa Regency. Irrigation management in rural agricultural communities is not merely a technical issue related to water flow and infrastructure, but also a social process involving local institutions, collective norms, participation, leadership, and social interaction among farmers. The research applies a qualitative descriptive case study approach. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews, nonparticipant observation, and documentation involving irrigation group leaders, farmers, and village government representatives. The study uses the Structuration Theory of Anthony Giddens to analyze the reciprocal relationship between social structure and human agency in irrigation practices. The findings indicate that irrigation water distribution in Mama Village is shaped by formal and informal institutions operating through locally agreed rules, collective deliberation, social sanctions, and shared responsibility. Social institutions function not only as organizational mechanisms but also as mediators of negotiation, cooperation, and conflict management among farmers. Farmers, as social agents, do not merely follow existing rules but actively reproduce, negotiate, and modify them according to ecological conditions, seasonal changes, and local agricultural needs. The study concludes that the sustainability and fairness of community-based irrigation depend significantly on the strength of local social institutions, participation, and adaptive social practices. This research contributes to rural sociology and community-based natural resource governance by emphasizing the importance of institutional dynamics in irrigation management.