Science and Technology Adaptation for Community Water Resource Management Network
03/04/2020
Hydro – Informatics Institute (HII) has been implementing the Science and Technology Adaptation for Community Water Resource Management following His Majesty the King’s Initiative since 2003. The project started with 2 communities and now expanded to cover 60 core communities. These communities are now self-dependent and well-prepared for the climate extreme crisis. This network is now the good practices of “Community Water Resource Management Network following His Majesty the King’s Initiative by Science and Technology” and has already expanded the concept to cover 1,573 villages in Thailand.
HII and Community Network apply His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej’s Initiative regarding water management, and Science and Technology adaptation as the tools on self-survey. The survey include the integration of data, creating local map, water diagram, water balance and water development plan. Then, local people should link the data and water diagram to the local area to thoroughly understand local context and appropriate solution. HII has acted as the partner and advisor to transfer technology for practical work, facilitate the process, and associate with related agencies including, government, private, and public sectors.
This initiative encouraged participatory from all relevant agencies in area development. It built the sense of ownership for local people and achieve self-reliant concept. This development resulted in a concrete and continuous development plan and leads to the stability and security of soil – water – forest resources and the way of life.
Science and Technology Adaptation for Community Water Resource Management Network
HII has implemented Science and Technology Adaptation for Community Water Resource Management Network with 60 core communities and currently expanded to other 1,513 villages. At present, the key of developing 1,573 villages network is local villagers. The villagers will learn to develop their skills to solve the existing problems and enable efficient community water resource management. This will lead to the development of water structure for agriculture and consumption, flood and drought mitigation with government and local sectors, water management in normal and crisis situation, security of water and food for agriculture and consumption. This model can be the good practices for community water resource management and development by local people.
Achievement
The achievement from the adaptation of Science and Technology for Community Water Resource Management can be summarized into 3 parts: Water, Food, and Energy, as follows,
Water
- 60 core communities collected water resource information, water map, water diagram, which will be used for water management analysis and planning and creating a management guideline and community and local level
- Security of water can decrease flood and drought risk for 63,716 households, 488 sq.km. Increase the volume of alternative water storage for 11 MCM. (million cubic meters), and increase agriculture product in dry season for 18,418 households, 733 million Baht, 2,560 sq.km. of agricultural area. Store extra water, 54 MCM., for agriculture during rain recession or dry season.
Good Practices
Dong Khilek Community, Mueang District, Prachin Buri Province – The community surveyed their area to collect geography data and create water resource information. They had finally discovered that the rainfall in the area is sufficient, but the water shortage problem was from the lack of reservoir. As a result, the community has dredged farm ponds in their area and reserves water for agriculture. The farmers shift their cultivation pattern from ornamental plant to integrated agriculture. Moreover, farmers have grown vegetables and other foods with proper water management in farm to have sufficient water capital and yearlong cultivation. At present, Dong Khilek community has 1,112 farm ponds, 121,600 cubic meters of additional water storages, and sustainably secure water and food in their area.
Farm pond with integrated farming is stable in water and food
Canal in Nong No Community, Chaiyaphum Province, Water Management for agriculture. Profit area 1,800 farms
Bang Sai Nuan Reservoir, Tab Christ Community, Surat Thani Province. Capacity 2.2 million cubic meters for agriculture for 5.76 sq.km.
Food
The community has food security and appropriate plan of water usage. The outcome is in accordance with the shift of agricultural pattern (integrated agriculture), and adjust their crop calendar to be adapted to climate change. The community has agriculture product all year round; decrease household expenses approximately 36,900 Baht/year/household and increase income approximately 156,300 Baht/year/household (data from 15% of overall participating households), and added value from forest product approximately 2,190,000 Baht/year (data from 5 community forests, 0.5 sq.km.)
The New Theory Farm, Saladin Community, Khrong Maha Sawat Sub-district, Phutthamonthon District, Nakhon Pathom Province
The product from community farm to agriculture goods market, Huai Pla Lod Community, Dan Mae Lamao Sub-district, Mae Sod District, Tak Province
Energy
Science, Technology and Innovation implementation has increased Community Water Resource Management efficiency and reduced their dependency to the large water resource and save energy, such as
- Reduce electric power for water pumping system from Prachin Buri tributary to Dong Khilek Community, Mueang District, Prachin Buri Province. This method save 50% cost of electric power, 24,000 Baht/year for consumption water of 300 households
- Reduce electric power for pumping system from Chi River, Nong No Community, Nong Phai Sub-district, Kaeng Khro District, Chaiyaphum Province by using solar power which resulted in the saving of 5,400 Baht/year when compare with the previous small benzene motor pumping system
Floating Solar Cell for water consumption, Dong Khilek Community, Prachin Buri Province
Solar Cell for Water for Agriculture, Nong No Community, Chaiyaphum Province
