What do you know about the water distribution system in the past? Maybe you don’t know that it has a long rich history and follows brilliant mathematic divisions to make sure that everyone gets water equally.
The dependence of Aflaj water in the past, made the Omani people in a constant search for a system that enables every farmer to get his equal share of water in the week. Amazingly, people in al Awabi in South al Batinah Goverornatre still follow the same system until today. They consider this a heritage from their ancestors that must be followed.
Aflaj water rental is an annual tradition that the people are still keen to hold in order to preserve this heritage that confirms their connection to agriculture.
Suleiman Al Kharousi, a member of the Municipal Council in the Wilayat of Al Awabi, indicated that the water of the Al Awabi Falaj is owned by some people who put the excess water for rent to others who do not have any share in the water of the Falaj to irrigate their farms for a full Gregorian year, according to what is followed in this regard. The distribution of falaj water in the past was based on calculations based on the movement of the sun during the day and the stars at night, while it currently depends on the modern hourly time. value ranges from RO (600) to (800).
Al-Kharusi explained that irrigation is carried out for an hour for every four days, and the periods of its distribution depend on its strength and availability, due to the effect of falaj water on the rainfall and the flow of wadis. this entitlement is fixed for a year, and should be approved in written in a special book to be documented.
the people’s interest in the traditional way of distributing water and renting it to farmers reflects their keenness to preserve it and pass it on between generations in order to keep water irrigating farms that extend over large areas and also to preserve their farms due to the great dependence on falaj water for irrigation.
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