Reservoir Resource Management for All Year Round Farming at Koklam Saeng Aram Community, Nongwuaso District, Udon Thani Province

Abstract

Water resources are an important factor in agriculture. If water is available, agriculture can proceed all year round. A good example of this was the efforts of the farmers in the Khok Laeng Sa-aram community, who jointly developed the Huai Khlai Reservoir, which now provides water for agriculture throughout the year. It was the success of this initiative that inspired the researchers to study the water resources management of the Khok Laeng Sa-aram community. Primary data collection was conducted by group farm household interview. Secondary data were collected from documents over the period April to June 2017. The findings to do with the management of water resources were that the community had (a) managed water on a sub-zone basis, (b) matched agricultural production each year to the amount of water in the reservoir, (c) arranged a water supply calendar and kept members informed of the conditions, events and plans, and (d) ensured that all members were fairly supplied with water. Further findings to do with the maintenance of the reservoir and water pipeline system were that (f) the community collected a water service fee according to the location and size of each farm, (g) there were payments made to the caretakers of the water system, and (h) there was a very necessary ongoing management and maintenance program for
the water supply system. Finally, this research and its results can be applied to the development of water infrastructure and the management of water resources in other communities.