Operational Plans and Performance in the Phitsanulok Irrigation System, Thailand

Authors: M. Mainuddin ^a; R. Loof ^a;C. L. Abernethy ^a

Affiliation:

Water Engineering and Management Program, School of Civil Engineering, Asian Institute of Technology, PO Box 4, Klong Luang, Pathumthani 12120, Thailand.

DOI: 10.1080/07900620050059205

Publication Frequency: 4 issues per year

Published in: International Journal of Water Resources Development, Volume 16, Issue 3 September 2000 , pages 321 - 342

Subjects: Development Geography; Development Studies; Environment & Resources; Environment & the Developing World; Agriculture & Environmental Sciences: Environmental Geography; Human Geography: Environmental Geography; Environmental Law - Law; Environmental Management; Hydrogeology & Groundwater; Earth Sciences: Hydrology; Physical Geography: Hydrology; River Management; Surface Hydrology; Water Quality;

Number of References: 8

Formats available: PDF (English)

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Abstract Key performance aspects of a 92 000 ha rice irrigation system in central Thailand are reviewed, with reference to water-distribution performance, agricultural performance and plan-implementation performance. Farmers have invested heavily in recent years in pumps, principally for access to shallow groundwater. This allows independent agricultural decision making by farm households. It is shown that tail-end farmers, who have the highest intensity of pumps, achieve the best agricultural performance. The performance in terms of canal water distribution and plan implementation is erratic. Absence of appropriate water-measurement facilities, insufficient information flows concerning water quantities and wide variations of farmer strategies seem to be significant reasons for these difficulties.