The document discusses the challenges and opportunities surrounding hydropower development in the Mekong River basin, emphasizing the need for balanced approaches to benefit local livelihoods. It outlines research initiatives that pilot innovative agriculture techniques, such as short-term crop varieties and integrated rice-fish farming, to enhance productivity and support displaced communities. The findings suggest that strong partnerships, capacity building, and community involvement are crucial for sustainable livelihood enhancements in the context of hydropower development.

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Hydropower development and
livelihoods: A quest for a balanced
approach through research and
partnerships
Sonali Senaratna Sellamuttu, Olivier Joffre, Nguyen
Duy Phuong, Jharendu Pant, Bounthanom Bouaham
and Anousith Keophoxay
Fifth International Conference on Water Resources and Hydropower
Development in Asia, Colombo, Sri Lanka
11-13 March 2014

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A water-secure world
Background
• The Mekong River Basin faces massive development
investment with regard to hydropower.
• Little attention given to how dams can be constructed
and operated in ways that optimize benefits for all
water users, including riparian communities.
• Involuntary displacements mean local people are
often unable to engage in their original livelihood
activities.

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Research Objective
• Identify and pilot test innovative livelihood options
that use the new environmental conditions created
as a result of the hydropower development.
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Sites CPWF Mekong Project are focusing on
• Theun Hinboun
Expansion Project
(THXP), Lao PDR
• Yali, Vietnam

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Participatory impact pathways and
partnerships
• Participatory impact pathways – links
research activities to outputs, and these to
outcomes (behavioural changes in targeted
key actors - their knowledge, attitude,
skills).
• Develop partnerships with key actors from
the onset of the project (e.g., dam
operators, local authorities).
• Expected to maximize impact by designing
an uptake strategy at onset of the project
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Broad scale and household livelihood
surveys
• Yali, Vietnam: Survey of 250 HHs
(male/female respondents) in 4 communes
(Sa Binh, Yali, Ya Xier and Ya Tang). Included
Kinh and ethnic minorities - Jarai.
• THXP, Lao PDR: Survey of 100 HHs
(male/female respondents) in the
Downstream Relocation Site (Phoumakneng)

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Vietnam
• Drawdown area of
Yali reservoir is used
by farmer to grow
cassava, but:
– risk of flooding is high
at the end of the crop
– duration on land
exposure is too short
to achieve maximum
yield with the
commonly used
variety (KM 94)

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Vietnam livelihood pilot – Key
outcomes
• Introduction of a new short term variety (KM98-7)
– 2012: 3 farmers – 1.5 ha – 1 commune
(Sa Binh)
– 2013: 36 farmers – 20 ha – 2
communes (Sa Binh and Yali)
• Increase yield and starch content
– 32 tons/ha vs 21 tons/ha
– 26% starch vs 21% starch
– Increased net benefit over $350
USD/ha to $850 USD/ha

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Up-scale livelihood pilot results
• Due to success of pilot demand for
new variety has increased.
• Training courses and field visits
were organized in 2012-2013 for
over 500 farmer HHs (both men and
women) in the 4 communes (both
Kinh and Jarai ethnic groups).
• DARD plans to expand the
cultivated area of KM 98-7 to about
400 ha - 500 ha by 2016-2017.

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Vietnam livelihood pilot – Lessons
learned
• Drivers of success
– Development of
communication channels
with the hydropower
company – Water level
calendar
– Involvement of local
extension services (DARD)
– Development of seedling
replication system - including
informal farmer groups

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Lao PDR
• Context
– Development of Irrigation in
resettlement site for dry
season rice, flooded in rainy
season
– Depletion of fisheries
resources caused by
hydropower development
• Pilots- Rice fish Culture
– Use the access to water for
integrated rice-fish culture
– Expend the productivity of
flooded rice fields during the
rainy season

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Feasibility of rice-fish Integrated
Agriculture-Aquaculture (IAA)
• Technical feasibility
• Social feasibility
• Financial feasibility
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Methods: Focus
group discussions
and interviews.
Using participatory
methods & tools

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Implementing rice-fish IAA pilot
• Implemented over a 6 month period with 15 farmer
households (men and women) who volunteered.
Date Activity
25 Oct – 20
Nov
Excavation of refuge pond
25 – 30 Nov Fertilization of pond
29 Nov – 5 Dec Paddy transplant
14-18 Dec Stocking fingerlings
15-18 Jan Refuge pond connected to paddy field
18-25 March Paddy and fish harvested.

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Lao livelihood pilot – key outcomes
• 15 households tested the pilot
– Increase productivity of rice fields
: fish yield : 317 kg/ha
– Improve protein supply for
households
– Reduce time spent fishing
– Synergy with other livelihood
activity: Homestead aquaculture
pond
• Adoption of the technology by
most of the farmers and
development of more aquaculture

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Lao livelihood pilot – Lessons
learned
• Diversification of livelihood options
with Integrated rice-fish
• Support of THPC – funding the pilots
and supported the feasibility study.
Cooperation between NAFRI, THPC
and CPWF.
• The potential for scaling out to other
villages and irrigated areas
supported by THPC is great.
• But sustainability without
supported/with limited support from
THPC is questionable.

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Conclusions
• Modified environment may provide new
opportunities – e.g., drawdown area,
irrigation, integration of aquaculture.
• In case of newly introduced technology,
communities will require more than a
one year trial to continue and adopt the
technology.
• While some technology may be easily
transferable, others may require more
monitoring and training from extension
services and other groups.

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Conclusions
• Capacity building of local staff
took place as a result of the
livelihood pilots.
• A combination of strong
partnerships from the onset with
the private sector or government
authorities and credible research
results can gain support for
livelihood-enhancement activities
in relation to sustainable
hydropower development.

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