Community-based Water Management on Resilience and Adaptation to Agro–Ecological Changes under Irrigation System Development

Abstract

This study aimed to motivate and prepare farmers to implement agricultural system development through water management with community participation. We conducted the study in the Mae Puak Reservoir Project area, Den Chai District, Phrae Province by collecting data from a total sample of 479 people. Most of the samples (94.36%) had less than a bachelor's degree as their educational background and nearly all of the samples (86.64%) are over 40 years old. The farming was an occupation for 16.29% of samples, and more than half of the samples (64.42%) had debt. Almost of the obtained samples preferred to form the water-using group (16 groups). Farmer representatives (28 farmers) from three sub-districts gathered in a group to discuss, criticize, and decide on the future approaches and required sustainable agricultural development in the form of new agricultural ecosystems such as organic farms, agroforestry, new theoretical agriculture and agroecological tourism that capitalized on the assets of the social landscape. They were also motivated and eager to solve the problem of the former agricultural system, which earned low incomes, to improve their quality of life as well as handle debt difficulties caused by crises or threats, such as floods and droughts. The agricultural production management, processing and marketing needed to be adjusted. There was a readiness to accept technology transfer in all 12 concerns (P > 0.05). In addition, the farmer group accepted all 18 new production systems (P > 0.05), indicating awareness and willingness to adapt to the new irrigation system (using water pipes). They agreed with the importance of representatives who have a role in creating success in all 5 groups (local leaders, farmers, farmer leaders, merchants, government officers or civil servants) (P<0.05). Overall, farmers in the area are willing to be part of the water management with a community participation system to improve their agricultural production and enhance the sufficiency economy strategy for economic, social, and environmental sustainability.