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It is conventionally stated that organized action is impossible in large-scale irrigation schemes in North Africa, at a time of profound changes in these schemes (decline of central coordination modes, appearance of new actors, diminishing role of the State), and of negative experiences with state-created cooperatives and water users' associations. We believe, on the contrary, that organized action plays a central role in these changes. We analyze the process by which formal and informal cooperative practices of irrigators are crafted, stabilized and coordinated in large-scale irrigation schemes in Morocco and Algeria. There exists a wide range of organized action, often informal but enabling farmers to adapt progressively to change. These practices concern land and water management, purchase of inputs and marketing, as well as local development. In agriculture and social development, these cooperative practices are increasingly institutionalized. The paper shows that organized action enables irrigators to reinforce their autonomy and to renegotiate their dependence with respect to the State. Given the vigour of organized action in irrigation schemes, we recommend that its contribution to the formulation of public policies be analysed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]