Participatory Local Water Resource Management: A Case Study of Middle Chi Watershed Operation and Maintenance Project in Rot Et Province

Abstract

         The Objectives of the research article were to examine the operation and problems of, and to propose guidelines for improvement for, the Middle Chi Watershed Operation and Maintenance Project under the collaboration between Irrigation Office 6 and local administrative organizations in Roi Et Province. The authors employed a case study design with in-depth interviews of 12 key informants, including Irrigation Office administrators, local administrative organizations chief executives, and water users.

           Findings are as follows. 1) The Irrigation Office and related local agencies provide irrigation service to local residents based on the Irrigation Department’s rules and regulations as well as mutual agreements between the regional and local agencies. 2) Regarding problems and obstacles, the most common problems are under-maintained machinery and limited coverage of water distribution due to lack of performance monitoring.  3) Guidelines for better performance and quality service include : sufficient resource allocation to related regional and local agencies; more participatory governance mechanism; and more inclusive and accessible service provision.