Water Management for Agriculture of Mae Taeng Irrigation Water User Association, Chiang Mai Province

Abstract

The study of water management for agriculture of Mae Taeng Irrigation Water User Association, Chiang Mai Province aims to 1) study the condition of water management for agriculture of Mae Taeng Irrigation Water User Association 2) evaluate the efficiency of water management for agriculture of Mae Taeng Irrigation Water User Association 3) find appropriate approaches for water management for agriculture of Mae Taeng Irrigation Water User Association and 4) evaluate the success of participatory water management for agriculture of of Mae Taeng Irrigation Water User Association. This study employed mix-method research that data for analysis were collected by questionnaires and group interview. From the general water management information of 24 committee members, it was found that most committee members were male with 57.17 years old of average age. They had primary school education level. The water management was performed by assigning areas and water allocation hours based on water supplies. The schedule was set up and informed to members. The survey of members’ requirements has been done. The member agrees upon the water allocation schedule before allocating water. The water allocation plan calendar was prepared before cropping season. There were meetings for water allocation agreement and the rice field inspector informs the member to control water allocation. From the general water management information of 312 members, most members were male with 55.73 years old of average age. They were agriculturalists and receive water based on the allocation schedule. The criteria of water allocation was that the members living at the end of canal receive water first. The allocation management was performed by letting water flowing into the plant plots or rice field as required by the members. After that, the water flowing was blocked and flown to other areas. When the water allocation canal was damaged, the members inform the rice field inspector to coordinated with the association committee to fixed problems. The ditch was clear to received water allocated in every season. The rice field inspector informs information of water management. For the evaluation of the efficiency of agricultural water management of the association based on 4M’s, it was found that for money, the association income was from water bill collections obtained from the members and supported from government units. Money was spent for activities and the remaining would be saving. For men, the association had committee members to operate in all positions. The committee had capability to work very well. They had knowledge and understanding about water management at a high level. The members also had knowledge and understanding about water management at a high level. And, the members participated in water management in many aspects that overall they participated at a high level. For material, the association had office equipment being ready for used. car and personal phone were used for communication during water allocation. For management based on POSDCoRB, the association had clear and good administration format and system. For the appropriate approach for agricultural water management of Mae Taeng Irrigation Water User Association, the water management operation of the association in each process begins with targeting water allocation areas, informing the association committee about crops being grown, having a meeting for water allocation agreement, setting water allocation and maintenance plans, allocating water as planned, having a meeting for amending the plan, measuring water allocation volume during water allocation hours, and analyzing water management pattern of the association to search for appropriate approaches of the efficient water management. For success evaluation of agricultural water management of Mae Taeng Irrigation Water User Association, it was found that the members fully received water as scheduled. However, some time the members received water in delay. The association could allocated water to its members from 2554 B.E.to 2555 B.E. during rainy season at the amount of 123,038 million cubic meters and during dry season at the amount of 45,314 million cubic meters. From the studied of members’ comments on the performance of the Mae Taeng Irrigation Water User Association committee, it was found that the members agree that the association committee had good performance for water management. From the agricultural water management of Mae Taeng Irrigation Water User Association, it was found that the members had clear processes of water management format. They segregate duties allowing most members to received sufficient water. When there were problems that the members did not received sufficient water some time, the committee would handle the problems by allocating water appropriately to each area and aligning with the water allocation schedule. However, the members had to strictly follow regulations and water usage agreement of the association to reduce the problems. Thus, the water management performed by the association was efficient.