Policy effectiveness : effective governance and management of community irrigation and community enterprises in Thailand | |
| Author | Saowalak Kosanlawit |
| Call Number | AIT Diss. no.AB-17-01 |
| Subject(s) | Community development--Thailand--Governance policy Irrigation--Thailand--Management Agriculture and state--Thailand |
| Note | A dissertation submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in AgriBusiness Management |
| Publisher | Asian Institute of Technology |
| Abstract | This research investigates the relationship between equitable water allocation, participation in the local irrigation operation, and improved economic well-being. The study area consisted of the rice-growing districts of Doi Saket and Mae On in Thailand’s northern province Chiang Mai, where locals have adopted a participatory farmer-managed irrigation system. The samples were 150 small-scale rice farmers who were divided into four groups by their membership: community irrigation (CI); community irrigation and enterprise (CIE); and farmland location (head-end or tail-end of the irrigation canal). The findings revealed a strong relationship between the three variables. Specifically, despite less advantageous farmland locations, the tail-end CI farmers outperformed in the dry-season and annual paddy yields per household. The higher paddy yields translated into higher household earnings. The improved economic well-being of the tail-end CI farmers could be attributed to their active participation in the local irrigation operation. Another contributing factor was equitable water allocation, which is the product of the farmers’ active participation as their irrigation demands and concerns are constantly acknowledged and addressed. Importantly, the findings verified the effectiveness and usability of the participatory irrigation system in tackling the problem of inequitable water allocation between the head-end and tail-end farmers. Moreover, the participatory irrigation scheme was readily implementable since it required no additional investment, only active local participation. Identifying the factors that contribute to effective water management by local leaders can make a valuable contribution in determining where the added efforts are needed. The implication of this study for local level participation to be more effective is organization of joint participatory training of the FMIS and AMIS farmer leaders facilitated by local agencies and irrigation officials, which eventually ensure that indigenous level management is integrated in such trainings. To argue that CIE activities are likely to lead to collaborative cost reduction by applying the active strategy alliance for obtaining more profit. The community enterprise membership provides the CIE farmers with access to other marketing channels and new markets. The small community enterprises run by a large group of knowledgeable owners are more successful than those endowed with a smaller stock of human capital. |
| Year | 2017 |
| Type | Dissertation |
| School | School of Environment, Resources, and Development |
| Department | Department of Food, Agriculture and Natural Resources (Former title: Department of Food Agriculture, and BioResources (DFAB)) |
| Academic Program/FoS | Agribusiness Management (AB) |
| Chairperson(s) | Shivakoti, Ganesh P.;Soni, Peeyush (Co-Chairperson) |
| Examination Committee(s) | Anal, Anil Kumar;Grunbuhel, Clemens |
| Scholarship Donor(s) | Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives (MOAC), Thailand |
| Degree | Thesis (Ph.D.) - Asian Institute of Technology, 2017 |