Enhancing the Capacity of Local Administrative Organizations and Communities for Efficient Water Management in Agriculture within the Nam Kam Royal Irrigation Project

Abstract

This research aimed to study the processes, mechanisms, and challenges of water management for agriculture and to develop collaborative measures between local administrative organizations and communities to enhance water management efficiency in the Nam Kam Royal Irrigation Project area, Na Kae District, Nakhon Phanom Province. A mixed-methods approach was used, collecting data from 153 farmer water users through questionnaires, which were analyzed using statistical techniques, and from 30 key informants through semi-structured interviews, focus group discussions, and small group meetings, analyzed by content analysis. The study found that the water management process for agriculture includes planning, organizing, directing, controlling, and evaluating. Four main issues in water management were identified: water users and user groups, local administrative organizations and personnel, area and canal conditions, and data and technology. Effective collaborative measures between local administrative organizations and communities to enhance water management efficiency include short-term measures such as: 1) knowledge transfer from experienced individuals; 2) raising awareness of the value of water resources; 3) selecting committees; 4) establishing irrigation water management group regulations; 5) jointly developing branch canals, and 6) creating development plans to improve the water delivery system.  Long-term measures, requiring cooperation from all relevant sectors, include: 1) developing joint water management plans; 2) managing information systems; 3) promoting low-water-use crops to farmers; 4) empowering water user farmers; 5) forming official water user groups, and 6) developing digital technology systems to enhance water management efficiency.