In this presentation, the team from Hue University of Agriculture and Forestry, with support from ACCCU project NUFFIC, spoke on establishing a mechanism for sharing water at the local level through participatory action research. They shared an introduction of the issues in the region (Quang Nam province, Viet Nam), the research design, the results, and the lessons learned.

1. ESTABLISHING A MECHANISM FOR SHARING WATER
AT LOCAL LEVEL BY A PARTICIPATORY ACTION
RESEARCH
Pham Huu Ty, Huynh Van Chuong, Nguyen Hoang Khanh Linh,
Tran Thi Phuong, Duong Quoc Non
Hue University of Agriculture and Forestry, Vietnam
Phnom Penh, 21-23/2015

2. Presentation structure
1. Introduction
2. Research design and methodology
3. Main results
4. Lessons learnt

3. 1. Introduction
• In Vietnam, inadequacy of water resources is an important problem
expecting to increase in light of climate change and drought.
• The farmers in the province of Quang Nam experience water shortage in the
cultivation of paddy in the summer-autumn season.
• A water resource management policy has not been fully implemented at
local level.
• Conflicts arise regarding the sharing of the water, and some farmers turned
to other crops.
• The question is then whether a mechanism at local level can be developed
for water sharing?

4. Research objectives
§ General objective: To address the irrigation water shortage of the summer-
autumn rice production under climate change-induced drought by
establishing a mechanism for sharing water equitably by applying an
participatory action research approach
§ Specific objectives:
▫ To indentify the situation of irrigation water shortage in the summer-autumn rice
production season and conflicts over water resources among different
stakeholders and development sectors
▫ To analyze the roles and importance of relevant stakeholders in managing water
resources for rice production and solving the current conflicts over irrigation
water
▫ To establish and evaluate the efficiencies and impacts of the water sharing
mechanism in Dai Loc district, Quang Nam province

5. Selection of the study site
Dai Loc district
• 18 communes
• Total natural area:
58,708.86 ha
• Agriculture land: 73.76 % of
total natural area.
• Topography: hilly and
lowland
• Drought hazard: occurs in
dry season
• Strong effect to agriculture
production

6. 2. Research design and methods
• Study approach: the participatory action research between ACCU-
research team and different stakeholders in Dai Loc district has been put into
practice

7. § Research tools:
▫ Secondary data
collection
▫ Participatory GIS
mapping
▫ Stakeholder analysis
t o o l s ( p o w e r
mapping matrix,
Venn diagram, and
FGDs, PRA – crop
a n d i r r i g a t i o n
calendars; problem
and solution trees)
2d. Research design and methods (continued…)

8. ▫ Field observations
▫ H y d r o l o g i c
measurement (simple
technique to estimate
water flow discharges
of canals and rivers)
▫ W o r k s h o p s
(consensus building
a n d e v a l u a t i o n
workshops)
▫ K e y i n f o r m a t i o n
interviews (irrigation
workers of agricultural
cooperatives)

9. 3. Main findings
3a. Irrigation system mapping and drought evaluation
IRRIGATION SYSTEM MAP

10. IRRIGATION ZONING MAP

11. PARTICIPATORY DROUGHT MAP

13. y = 0.8822x + 44.83
y = -1.8765x + 554.02
0.0
10.0
20.0
30.0
40.0
50.0
60.0
70.0
0.0
100.0
200.0
300.0
400.0
500.0
600.0
700.0
800.0
900.0
1000.0
Riceproductivity(tons/ha)
Rainfall(mm)
Years
Rice productivity Rainfall Linear (Rice productivity) Linear (Rainfall)

14. Water
requirement
periods
From
7-10/5
15/5-20/5
From
23-25/5
From
7-10/6
From 8/6
-25/8
After 25/8
Irrigation
timing
Irrigation
for soil
preparation
(đổ bệ)
Sowing First
irrigation
after
sowing
Second
irrigation
after
sowing
Every 5-
days
irrigation
No
irrigation
Drought
situation
Fairly severe Severe Very
severe
No need
Crop and irrigation calendar

15. Drought of rice fields in Dai
Quang commune
Decreasing water
quantity of Tho and
Mo upstreams
Forest
degradation
Increasing
temperature
Incomplete
irrigation
system
Lack of
finance to
build more
canals
Water
conflicts
Lack of
mechanism to
share water
among
stakeholders
Used for
many
purposes
at the
same
period
Low awareness of
irrigation water
management
Not
trained
Reluctant
to change
PROBLEM TREE OF DROUGHT IN DAI QUANG COMMUNE

17. 3b. Stakeholder analysis related to water
management and conflicts

18. Case 1: Water conflicts in Suoi Mo (2 communes)
• Hydropower vs.
irrigation
• Dai Quang vs. Dai
Dong commune
(between two
communes)
• Drinking vs. irrigation

19. • Case 1: Water management and
conflicts in Suoi Mo– relevant
stakeholders:
− District People’s Committee
− Dai Quang and Dai Loc People’s
Committee
− Suoi Mo hydropower company
− Drinking water center of Quang
Nam province
− Farmers of 2 communes
− Agricultural Cooperatives of 2
communes

20. Case 2: Water conflict of Suoi Tho (within Dai Quang commune)
• Drinking supply
vs. irrigation for
rice production
during summer-
autumn season

21. • Case 2: Water management
and conflicts in Suoi Tho –
relevant stakeholders:
− Dai Quang Commune People’s
Committee
− Drinking water center of Quang
Nam province
− Farmers of two villages: My An
and Tam Hoa
− Agricultural Cooperative of Dai
Quang commune
− Irrigation workers of two
villages

22. 3c. Establishing mechanisms for sharing water in Suoi Mo and
Tho
• Case 1: The mechanism of sharing water in Suoi Mo
Watermanagementandcontrolboard
WATER CONTROLLING-MANAGEMENT
BOARD AT MO STREAM
1. Head of agriculture and rural development -
Leader;
2.Chairman of Dai Quang Commune People’s
Committee – Vice Leader;
3. Chairman of Dai Dong Commune People’s
Committee – Vice Leader;
4.Director of Mo stream hydropower - Vice
Leader;
5.Irrigational Official – Member;
6. Chairman of the Board of Dai Quang
Cooperatives - Member;
7. Chairman of the Board of Dai Dong
Water Regulating Team in Mo Stream, Dai
Quang
1. Vice Chairman of Cooperatives - Leader;
2.Water supply manager of Cooperatives – Vice Leader;
3. Water-worker (Tri de)– Member;
4. Water-worker (Tri de)– Member;
5. Water-worker (Tri de)– Member
Water Regulating Team in Mo Stream, Dai Dong
1. Vice Chairman of Cooperatives - Leader;
2.Water supply manager of Cooperatives - Vice Leader;
3. Water-worker (Tri de)– Member;
4. Water-worker (Tri de)– Member;
5. Water-worker (Tri de) – Member;
6. Water-worker (Tri de)– Member.
Water sharing mechanism at Mo Stream in 2015
- Hydropower still use water for electricity generation, but water in the division of water........

24. Case 2: The mechanism of sharing water in Suoi ThoWatermanagementand
controlteaminSuoiTho
1. Vice Chairman of Dai Quang Commune People’s Committee –Leader;
2. Director of the Board of Dai Quang Cooperatives - Vice leader;
3. Representative of drinking water company – Vice leader;
4. Water supply service staff of Cooperatives - Member;
5. Leader of My An village, – Member;
6. Leader of Tam Hoa village – Member;
7. Water-worker at My An village – Member;
8. Water-worker at Tam Hoa village – Member.
+ Water sharing mechanism at Tho Stream in 2015
- On the time of water shortage, the drinking water company must refrain
from taking water, and give priority to agriculture for using the water of
Tho stream. They agree to follow the Commune People’s Committee’s
demand...............

26. 3d. Implementing the mechanism
▫ Making plan to response to drought
▫ Adjusting the crop and irrigation schedule
▫ Making decisions to ask drinking water and hydropower
company to share water for agriculture
▫ Reporting farmers to store water for domestic use during
drought period
▫ Building teamwork among members of the boards
▫ Recording rainfall and temperature data

27. 3e. Monitoring and evaluating the mechanism
• The director of Dai Quang agriculture cooperative confirmed at the
evaluation workshop in 2015:
“The water sharing mechanism was effective to control water
used for irrigation and drinking. Most farmers agreed to stop
using water from Tho stream for domestic use in order to
supply their rice fields. The drinking water company operated
properly as regulated by the mechanism. There was no conflict
between irrigation workers and operators of the drinking
water company in 2015”.

28. • One farmer assured:
“Rice is very important for us, and for that reason water
must be prioritized to rice fields before using for domestic
use. I think that the water sharing mechanism worked well to
deal with the problem of drought. I applied different ways to
store water before the drinking water was shut down as
scheduled, such as using water from underground water
pumps, storing water from Tho stream by water tanks”

29. 4. Lessons learnt
• The process of participatory action research applied in this study:

30. 5 main factors
“Scientific knowledge + local knowledge + commitment of
relevant stakeholders to act + sustainable financial source
+ willingness of local government”
a sustainable solution for conducting
participatory action researches

32. Thank you for your attention!
Acknowledgment: Our team strongly appreciate the financial
support by ACCCU project, NUFFIC