Community empowerment and the Management of Irrigation Water for Agricultural Activities in the Service Area of RSP12 Pio Sub-district, Bungboon District, Sisaket Province

Abstract

This research aims to 1. study community power to manage water in irrigation systems for agricultural activities; and 2. study the process of allocation of water usage in the irrigation system to be effective by collecting data on community conditions before setting up RSP12 pumping station under Lower Moon River Water Supply and Maintenance Project; data of agricultural land use; field works;  and surveying the actual area to study the general condition of the community area that is the water delivery zone of the canal together with the observation of water usage behavior throughout the season. The author observed community empowerment behaviors of members who participating in the focus group and key informant by organizing a small group forum and divided members into two groups such as water user group committee and water user group. This is to check and verify the validity of the data by using the discussion group questionnaires - semi-structured interviews with separating data under the principle of participation.

The author found that

1. Community power can work towards the goal of water management for agricultural activities which can be considered such success starting from jointly donating land to be able to dig canals to cover their own areas and neighboring areas the villagers held several meetings, each session was given to senior relatives of residents to explain land owners to understand the importance and the benefits that will increase the worth of their own land by using the knowledge of the past to explain the history of the community to know the roots of the community that has endured drought problems in the past as the point of discussion and repetition of opinions that led to reconciliation and began to unite a strong community.

1. The group process in allocating the use of water for the irrigation system which was effective in terms of both consumption and agricultural activities by establishing a committee to promote the introduction of irrigation technology into cultivation including reducing production costs and solving water resource conflicts.