Irrigation water management has significant economic implications in developing countries like Malaysia. While the structural infrastructure has been created with a huge financial investment in these countries, it is vital that appropriate non-structural measures are to be adopted for efficient water management. Scientific policies of operation of irrigation systems need to be developed with the aid of mathematical tools and implemented in practice. In this new technological and information age, water is becoming a source of conflict between domestic, industrial and agricultural use. The concept of Participatory Irrigation Management (PIM) has been recognized all over the world as a tool for improving irrigation management along with sustainability of the system. Irrigation systems need to be restructured to make water management efficient. A 3-tier architecture framework was carefully studied and implemented to create the WebPIM model. WebPIM lays a platform for allowing public participation in disputes and resolving decision-making processes in conflicting situations, especially in cases, involving many stakeholders. WebPIM is an internet-based model that is created to benefit the users in the water management sectors in order to support decision makers on the issues concerned to irrigation water management. In developing countries the institutional mechanisms of filling the digital gap between the urban and rural communities are poor. By strengthening the involvement of government departments and private agencies, the database can be very effectively used by all stakeholders at the same time narrowing the digital gap between the urban and rural communities in the development of country.

Irrigated agriculture is the largest consumptive user of water in many developing countries like Malaysia. Irrigation water management, thus, has enormous economic implications for these countries. While the structural infrastructure for irrigation comprising rivers, canal networks, drainage works and delivery systems is created at a huge financial investment, a commensurate effort is also essential on developing scientific water management policies. The concept of Participatory Irrigation Management (PIM) has been recognized all over the world as a tool for improving irrigation management along with sustainability of the system. Irrigation systems need to be restructured to make water management efficient. Developments in systems science, operations research and mathematical modeling for decision making under uncertainty have been usefully exploited for water resource management in many technologically advanced countries. Applications of such mathematical techniques to specify irrigation water management policies in the developing countries at macro as well as micro level and implementing them in practice will lead to significant economic benefits.

Four decades of research on development of mathematical models for water resources management has resulted in a number of useful mathematical tools for decision making. However, the actual implementation of results of the research has been rather slow. Simonovic (1992) has discussed causes and possible remedial measures for closing the gap between theory and practice in reservoir operation decision problems. In this study, an important conclusion drawn is, to achieve the future direction of closing the gap, there must be further implementation of new technologies (like internet) with existing availability of WAP and LAN.

Soil And Water Sciences Journal, Soil Health Management, Tree Plantations, Soil Organic Carbon, Rainfed Ecosystem, Biological Productivity, Soil Salinity Development, Low Productivity System, Traditional Farming System, Water Management, Agroforestry System, Agriculture Diversification, Decision Support System, Pest Management.