M-POWER Research FellowsM-POWER Research Fellows

LOCAL PARTICIPATION IN LOCAL PARTICIPATION IN AGRICULTURAL WATER MANAGEMENT IN AGRICULTURAL WATER MANAGEMENT IN

RED RIVER DELTA OF VIETNAMRED RIVER DELTA OF VIETNAM– – A Case Study in Que Vo district, Bac Ninh province –A Case Study in Que Vo district, Bac Ninh province –

NGUYEN MAU DUNGHANOI UNIVERSITY OF AGRICULTURE, VIETNAM

HANOI, 19 NOV 2013

1. Justification of the research1. Justification of the research

Improved AWM is very important in RRD Improved AWM is very important in RRD (50% of labor force, (50% of labor force, 70% of pop. living in rural, main income from agri...)70% of pop. living in rural, main income from agri...)

Inefficiencies in AWM in RRD Inefficiencies in AWM in RRD (uneven distribution of water across (uneven distribution of water across system and farm HHs, inappropriate timing, loss of water…)system and farm HHs, inappropriate timing, loss of water…)

Local participation in AWM is recently seen as a crucial Local participation in AWM is recently seen as a crucial prerequisite for the conservation and sustainable use of prerequisite for the conservation and sustainable use of scarce water resources; as a key driver of increased scarce water resources; as a key driver of increased efficiency in AWM efficiency in AWM (N., and A. Neef, 2004; Hetland, 2008).(N., and A. Neef, 2004; Hetland, 2008).

Few researches on I&D system management, but nearly no Few researches on I&D system management, but nearly no research on local participation in AWM in RRD of research on local participation in AWM in RRD of Vietnam. Vietnam.

2. Research Question?2. Research Question?

• What is current institutional arrangement for AWM in RRD of Vietnam?

• How or in which ways do local people currently participate in AWM in RRD?

• What factors do affect to the local participation in AWM in RRD?

• What should be done to enhance the relevant local participation for better AWM and better efficient use of AWM in RRD?

3. Research methodology3. Research methodology

Local participation

in AWM

Activities to participate: - In formulating I&D plan - In leading water - in controlling water - in improving canal system - in paying I&D service

Participation levels or how: - Passive - Giving information - Consultative - Giving material and labor - Functional participation

Factors affecting on participation in AWM

- Farmers’ awareness- Economic condition of farm household

- Institutions & arrangements- Geographical conditions

Local Participants:- Farmers- Communities- I&D team- Local Authority

Implications for enhancing the local participation in AWM

3.1. Analytical Framework

3. Research Methodology3. Research Methodology Site selection: Site selection: Que Vo districtQue Vo district Secondary dataSecondary data Data on agri.land, crop system, situation of I&D system (local canals,

pumping stations, dykes), organizational system of AWM, its functions or responsibilities… :gathered from DARD, Extension Service Center, I&D Company.

Primary dataPrimary data

- Survey of 90 farm households in 3 selected communes using - Survey of 90 farm households in 3 selected communes using questionnaires: questionnaires: HH profile, crop production in HH, participation of HH in HH profile, crop production in HH, participation of HH in AWM, implication for better AWM through HH participation. AWM, implication for better AWM through HH participation.

- Focus group discussion:- Focus group discussion: With HH and local staff, I&D team staffWith HH and local staff, I&D team staff

Analysis Procedures:Analysis Procedures: Descriptive statistics, Comparative AnalysisDescriptive statistics, Comparative Analysis

4.Result and Discussion4.Result and Discussion

4.1. Institutional Arrangement in AWM in Que Vo district 4.1. Institutional Arrangement in AWM in Que Vo district

4.2. Local participation in AWM in Que Vo district4.2. Local participation in AWM in Que Vo district 4.3. Factors affecting the local participation in AWM4.3. Factors affecting the local participation in AWM

4.4. Suggestions for enhancing local participation and better 4.4. Suggestions for enhancing local participation and better AWM AWM

4.1. Institutional Arrangement in AWM in Que Vo district4.1. Institutional Arrangement in AWM in Que Vo district

+ 25 Pumping stations in QV+ For level of canals: 1-4 (level 1 is big and level 4 is small canal)+ 2 types of canals by purpose: irrigation and drainage - Irrigation: 140 km of canal 1&2 (57km solid), 313 km of canal 3&4 (60km solid) - Drainage: 96km of canal 1&2; 178km of canal 3&4 (37.5 km solid)

a. I&D system in QV

Table 4.3: Areas to be well irrigated and drained in 2011 and 2012 in Que Vo (ha)

Crop season 2011 2012 Share in 2012 (%)

1. Spring season 6,987 7,249 88.9

2. Autumn season 6,913 6,996 85.8

3. Winter season 2,371 2,174 53.4%

4.1. Institutional Arrangement in AWM…4.1. Institutional Arrangement in AWM…

- QVIDE (with 25 stations) pumps the water from rivers to canal level 1-2

- I&D teams manage the water in canal 3-4 (open/close water gate to get water from canal 1or 2).

- Farm HH lead the water to their fields (open gate or pump); maintain the field bank to keep water

- QVIDE sign I&D contract with coops (represent for farm HHs)

4.2.1. In formulating irrigation plan4.2.1. In formulating irrigation plan

- Preliminary plan (before crop): based on crop calendar proposed by QV DARD: No of time of water pumping, timing and duration (no. of days) of each time during crop season - Adjusted plan (during crop season): on request of agri.coops (based on I&D team and HHs).- Farmer participation: (1) require water provision through I&D team/cooperative. (2) Require better plan during biannual meeting

4.2. Local participation in AWM4.2. Local participation in AWM

4.2.1. In formulating irrigation plan4.2.1. In formulating irrigation plan

4.2.2. In leading/lifting water to the fields 4.2.2. In leading/lifting water to the fields

1. Information on timing of water pumping: QVIDE coops/ I&D team farm HH2. I&D team will be ready for opening/closing water gate3. Farm HH will lead the water to their fields by opening the field bank. In some cases, farmer have to lift water to the field (by pump or bucket) when water could not flow by itself

4.2.2. In keeping water in the fields4.2.2. In keeping water in the fields

Farmers have responsibility to keep water in the fields: - Improve the earth-bank to ensure the water could not leak out - Create the border-edge between plots to keep water in their own

fields - Often visit their fields to know if the water in the fields is fine

4.2.3. In maintaining/upgrading canals4.2.3. In maintaining/upgrading canals

- QV District People Committee: annually organize Irrigation month (15 Nov – 15 Dec when dried season) for (1) cleaning out the canal; (2) improving the canal banks; and (3) deepening the canal-bed where exists the sediment.

- QVIDE and QV-DARD set up the plan for upgrading canal level 1&2

- Agri. Coop set up the plan for upgrading canal level 3&4.

4.2.4. In maintaining/upgrading canals4.2.4. In maintaining/upgrading canals

Result in the district in 2012:- Around 100 thousand working days of local people be mobilized during Irrigation Months

- 45.750 m3 of mud was taken out from the canal bed - Water hyacinth and lotus were cleared out from 71 thousand m2 in the canals

4.2.5. 4.2.5. Local contribution for irrigation servicesLocal contribution for irrigation services

- The contribution is to pay for I&D team member salary

- Average salary for one member is 1 ton of paddy per crop

Summary of the local participation in AWM

ActivitiesActivities FarmersFarmers I&D teamI&D team Coop.Coop. CommuneCommune

1. Formulating preliminary plan1. Formulating preliminary plan ++ ++ ++ ++++

2. Adjusting the irrigation plan2. Adjusting the irrigation plan ++++ ++++++ ++++++ ++

3. Leading/lifting water to fields3. Leading/lifting water to fields ++++++ ++ ++ ++

4. Keeping water in fields4. Keeping water in fields ++++++ ++ ++ ++

5. Maintaining/upgrading canals5. Maintaining/upgrading canals ++++++ ++++ ++++++ ++

6. Payment for I&D service6. Payment for I&D service ++++ ++ ++

7. Formulating the I&D team7. Formulating the I&D team ++++++ ++++++ ++

Level of active: (+++++) very active; (+) little active

4.3. Factors affecting local participation in AWM

Awareness of the local people on AWMAwareness of the local people on AWM• Exemption for irrigation fee since 2008: several farmers think it is not Exemption for irrigation fee since 2008: several farmers think it is not

necessary to save water because water will be freely provided when needed necessary to save water because water will be freely provided when needed less participation in keeping water in the fields.less participation in keeping water in the fields.

Socio-economic condition of the farm householdsSocio-economic condition of the farm households• farmers with main income from crop participated more actively farmers with main income from crop participated more actively

Topography and location of crop plots Topography and location of crop plots • Field with high topography need more participationField with high topography need more participation

Organizational structure and mechanism of mobilizing local Organizational structure and mechanism of mobilizing local participationparticipation• Keep organizing Irrigation month; Keep organizing Irrigation month;

• Contributing money if HH could not participate in Contributing money if HH could not participate in

4.4. Recommendation for better local participation in AWM

Raising farmers’ awareness of agri-water savingRaising farmers’ awareness of agri-water saving• Water shortage situation; farmers’ responsibility in water saving; and way to save Water shortage situation; farmers’ responsibility in water saving; and way to save

agri.water.agri.water. Organizing the training course for I&D team memberOrganizing the training course for I&D team member

• When to open/close water gates to save water; which canal should be maintained/ When to open/close water gates to save water; which canal should be maintained/ upgraded…upgraded…

Assigning the canal maintenance to farm HHsAssigning the canal maintenance to farm HHs• each HH should be responsible for maintaining the canal section that attached to the field each HH should be responsible for maintaining the canal section that attached to the field

of that HH: Clear the grasses; take out water hyacinth, upgrade canal banks; take out of that HH: Clear the grasses; take out water hyacinth, upgrade canal banks; take out mudmud; ;

Encourage farmers to participate more in upgrading I&D Encourage farmers to participate more in upgrading I&D infrastructureinfrastructure• Keep organizing Irrigation month; Keep organizing Irrigation month; • Require some contribution if HH do not participate inRequire some contribution if HH do not participate in

More consultations in formulating the irrigation planMore consultations in formulating the irrigation plan• With cooperative staff, I&D teamWith cooperative staff, I&D team

Thanks for your attention!Thanks for your attention!