Historical Development and Management of Irrigation Systems in Northern Thailand 9748733831

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and Historical Development Management of Irrigation System in Northern Thailand

Vanpen Surarerks

Department of Geography, Faculty of Social Sciences Chiang Mai University, February, 1986

Historical Development and Management of Irrigation System in Northern Thailand

Vanpen Surarerks

This research was sponsored by The Ford Foundation, Thailand and Asian Studies, (Kyoto University,) Japan and supported by The Department of Geography, Faculty of Social Sciences, Chiang Mai University

• The Center for Southeast

February 1986

First

edition

1986

b y THE FORD FOUNDATION

(THAILAND)

© VANPEN SURARERKS 1 9 8 6 All right reserved

ISBN

974-87338-3-1

P r i n t e d in- THAILAND b y CHAREONWIT Printing L t d . , T e l . 2 8 2 1 9 9 4 3 2 2 / 1 - 2 Wat T r i e t o s t h e p Avenue, » P r a c h a t h i p a t a i . R o a d , BANGKOK 1 0 2 0 0 M r . SURAWIT CHAIAPONGSAW A L E E , the p u b l i s h e r

Table of Contents Page Preface

'

tx

j Acknowledgements

.x

Abstract

.xitt-xi-v

Chapter J,

2

Introduction

J.

1.1

-Importance and Background

1.2

Objectives

1.3

Research Method

Historical

of the Problem

of the Study

5 .

__

Development of Irrigation

r

"

General Conditions

6

in

the Chiang Mai Basin 2.1

1

{

13

of the Chiang Mai -

Lamphun Basin

15

2.1.1

15

Physical Conditions

2.1.2' Agricultural- Landuse 2.2. People’s

47

Irrigation

80

Muang Fai - Irrigation Lanna Thai

System

in Ancient

Kingdoms

80

Muang Fai - Irrigation Reign of Phraya

System

during

Muang' Fai - Irrigation System Last

Hundred

The Contents

the

Mangrai during the

82

’

100

'

Years of Sanya

T

Muang Fai

109

Labor Participation in the Repairing of the Weir and Clearing and Dredging Equipments for Maintenance The

Allocation

of the Canals

of Weir and Canals

of Water (Pan

Khiang)

128 134 146

ii

Page Nam Yok or Water Exemption as a Remuneration for

Administrators

148

Water Fee C o l l e c t i o n Request for Another

152

Water in the Same Weir and frpm

Weir

160

Praying for Rain and O f f e r i n g to the S p i r i t of the Weir Ceremonies

161

The E l e c t i o n o f Huana Muang F a i

168

Organization of People's I r r i g a t i o n and Duty

and the Role

of Muang F a i Administrators

176

Contracting to B u i l d " F a i Rub Mao" or " F a i Rub* Chang" or private weir

191

The People's I r r i g a t i o n

Association

The People's I r r i g a t i o n

Work under Cooperation o f

the Royal I r r i g a t i o n

..

Department

193.

2 . 3 National I r r i g a t i o n Meanings o f I r r i g a t i o n

■;

197 and I r r i g a t i o n

Agriculture

203

The I r r i g a t i o n

219

Organization

Water User Groups and Waterk Uspr (Associations

Water Management o f I r r i g a t i o n

279

Systems i n Chiang Mai -

Lamphun Basin

296

Water Management o f I r r i g a t i o n Systems : People's and National Systems

1

231

tn the- North o r i n -

Chiang Mai - Lamphun Basin

3.1

199

The Four National I r r i g a t i o n ' Projects

Development o f I r r i g a t i o n

3

192

"

300

3.1.1

Results bf Administrator Survey

300

3.1.2

Results of Water Users Survey

354

iii

Page 3.2

4

Cooperation and Participation in Water Management __

360

3.2.1

Results of Administrator Survey

360

3.2.2

Results of Water Users Survey

378

Summary of Results and Recommendation

414

4.1

Results of the Study

414

4.2

Suggestions

■

Bibliography

432 436

Appendix 1

Some Data o n Irrigation 1.1

1.2

1.3

Irrigation as defined in the People’s Irrigation Construction

444

444

Guideline to Determine Water Requirement for Crop Grown

446

Construction Works in Irrigation Projects

449

2

Sanya Huang Fai (Weir Agreements)

457

3

Data Concerning Fai Watthana

461

4

Present Landuses for Agriculture as Affected. by Environmental Factors in Chiang Mai - Lamphun Valley

473

List of Crops Grown i n Chiang Mai - Lamphun Basin (1979 - 1983)

490

5

L i s t of Tables

Table

Page

1

Sample d i s t r i b u t i o n 1982 - 1983

2

Climatological Data for

8

the Period 1951

- .1980

S t a t i o n : Chiang Mai

.

Physical Conditions of I r r i g a t i o n

System i n

Chiang Mai - Lamphun Basin 4

21

41

Average Amount of the Flow at W e i r , at Head Regulator and Average R a i n f a l l of Mae Taeng — - Mae Faek - Mae Ping Kao - Mae- Kuang I r r i g a t i o n P r o j e c t s , Chiang Mai B a s i n , 1980

5

- 1981 - 1982

A g r i c u l t u r a l Landuse i n Chiang Mai Basin, Planted Area, Production

and Fann P r i c e

‘ p e r U n i t , Crop Year 1979 - 8 0 , 1980 1981 6

81;

- 82

50-59

On-Farm and Noh-Farm Population, Important Crops Grown and Income,. Chiang M a i B a s i n , 19.82

7

,43-45

Number of People Interviewed

61-73 298-299

List of Figures "

Figure 1

Page Physical Features of Northern Thailand

17

1.1

18

Drainage System in Northern Region

2

Irrigation in Chiang Mai - Lamphun

3

Average annual rainfall and temperature in North. Thailand for 30 years {1951 - 1980)

% 22

4

Temperature and rainfall of northern region compare with changwat Chiang Mai 30 years period (1951 - 1980}

23

Climatological Data in Chiang Mai Basin 1981 1982 : Chiang Mai - Lamphun

23

6

Climatological Data in Chiang Mai Basin

25

7

Profile of relation between topography and soil types in Chiang Mai basin

27

'8

People’s system weir, Mae Sao. project

34

9

People’s system weir, Mae Sao project

34

•10

Water distribution structure, Mae Sao project

34

11

34

12

New Mae Sao weir and main canal * > i People’s system weir. Mae Chaen project

13

Mae Chaem weir during repairs

35

14

People’s system weir, Ton Kaeo project

35

15

People's system weir, Watthana project

35

16

Spirit house of Phaya Kham at head of Phaya Kham project i

36

‘5

,

~

19

35

vt

Figure

Page

17

People's system w e i r , Phaya Kham project

18

People's system check, Fai Mae Fa Pha'

.36

19

National system w e i r , Mae Faek project

37

20

Sand s l u i c e , Mae Faek project

37

21

■Head r e g u l a t o r , Mae Faek project

22

Farm turnout- from l a t e r a l

36

37

n o . 9 to furrow,

Mae Faek project

37

23

National system w e i r , Mae Ping Kao project

38

24

Head r e g u l a t o r , Mae Ping Kao project

38

25

Sand s l u i c e , Mae Ping Kao project

38

26

Main c a n a l , Mae Ping Kao project

38

27

National system w e i r , Mae Kuang .project

39

28

Headworks, Mae Kuang project

39

29

Main c a n a l , Mae Kuang project

39

30

Main c a n a l , Mae Kuang project

39

31

National system w e i r , Mae Taeng project

40

32

Sand s l u i c e , Mae Taeng project

40

33

Drop of waste way, Mae Taeng project

40

34

Flume across Mae Rim r i v e r , Mae Taeng project

40

35

The Management of Water D i s t r i b u t i o n a t the Level of I r r i g a t i o n Project

36

46

A g r i c u l t u r a l Calendar, 1979 : Mae Sao People's Irrigation Project

75

vii * •

"s.

Figure 37

.

Page

Agricultural Calendar, 1979 : Mae Chaem People's Irrigation Project

76

Agricultural Calendar, 1982 : Phaya. Kham People’s Irrigation Project "

77

Agricultural Calendar, 1979 : Mae Faek National Irrigation Project

78

Agricultural Calendar, 1979 ': Mae Taeng National Irrigation Project

79

41

Equipment for Maintenance .of the Weir and Canal

135

42

The Organization of People’s Irrigation System

177

43

The Organization of Muang Fai Luang Mae Sao

178

38 39 40

< 44 45

The Organization of Muang Fai Mae Chaem

«

••

179

The Organization of Muang Fai Phaya Kham Luk Fai Mae Fa Pha

180

46

The Organization of Muang Fai Ton Kaeo

181

47

The Organization of Muang' Fai Watthana

182

48

The Organization of the National Irrigation System

218

The Organization of Irrigation Engineers in 4 National Irrigation Projects in Chiang Mai Basin

221

49.1

Mae Faek Project

221

49.2

Mae Ping Kao .Project

222

49.3

Mae kuang Project

222

49.4

Mae Taeng Project

223

49

50

The Organization of Water User Association

234

50.1

Mae Faek Water User Association

234

50.2 .Mengrai-Maharat Water User Association

235

viii

Figure 51

Page’ Water Allocation and Maintenance Plan of Farm Turnouts.

264

52

Organization of the Water User Association

265

53

The Organization of Water Users Group

266

54

Water Allocation and Maintenance. Plan o f the I r r i g a t i o n Project and the Water User Association

267

55

The Organization o f National and. People’s Irrigation Systems

56

57

Water Management o f Irrigation Systems i n Northern Thailand

297

•431

Model of t h e Most E f f i c i e n t Water Management for Agriculture

433

Preface This research Irrigation

"Historical

search or an interdisciplinary research

1

from several

the research

carried

of ■

out with

the. researcher’s institute

the past ten years, as well

as the most

in order to make the study the. most complete possible

for the Chiang Mai - Lampbun Basin. Professor

As the project director

institutes, within

and by myself alone during research

? is' a multidisciplinary re-

study.-

works, I has put together

cooperation recent

Development and' Management of

Systems in Northern Thailand

D r . Yoshihiro

The study was encouraged, by

Kaida of The Center for Southeast Asian

.Studies of Kyoto University,

I w a s i n v i t e d to do a comparative study

of the Chiang Mai Basin and the Kyoto Basin under the same topic

for

six months (December 15, 1982 - June 1 5 , 1983). "(he publication

of t h i s research

almost two years due to other Social Research Institute in T h a i .

duties.

version

Bangkok.

I t i s ' hoped that i n s t i t u t e s w i l l be directly

the

intermitent

ten-year

or indirectly

development of the target

espectially hoped that larly this

to the profes-

the farmers.

the research w i l l be of great

when i t comes to the discussion research.

study of t h i s

of various f i e l d s and

benefitial

population,

improvement of the development of agricultural most ‘efficient’

of the research

i s published’ under the fund from the

research having been conducted by researchers sional

Chulalongkorn University

undertook the publishing

This English

Ford Foundation,

urgent

has been delayed, for

It is

benefit to the

i r r i g a t i o n , particu-

o f suggested solutions for the

water management recommended i n the l a s t chapter of J

Vanpen Surarerks November 9 , - 1985

Acknowledgements The results of t h i s research e n t i t l e d , ment and Management of Irrigation compiled through

the efforts

"Historical

Systems in Northern

Develop-

Thailand''

of the research' team and support

cooperation from various i n d i v i d u a l s , Institutions, the government' both i n s i d e and outside

Structure.

on "Agricultural,

in Northern

Thailand,

and so- o n .

Geographic

"Analysis

of Irrigation

in Northern

Though I have expressed

i n d i v i d u a l s , i n s t i t u t e s and possible for

such-

and Socio-economic

done .as a team; and a report

on "Water Management Conflicts

of

Thailand.

with -Emphasis on Land Tenure",

p o r t on a. research concerning the Chiang Mai Valley"

and

and branches

T h i s research was based on r e s u l t s of many researches as a dissertation

was

Organization

in

of team research

Thai -Irrigation my gratitude

a rer

Systems", toward

the

government branches who helped make i t

the p u b l i c a t i o n of t h i s research, I feel i n c l i n e d here

a g a i n , to thank

those I have mentioned

above, who h e l p make t h i s re-

search a success. I n d i v i d u a l s who provided i n i t i a l

encouragement and a s s i s -

tance to the project were Professor Dr. .Yoshihiro engineering researcher of The Center

for

Kaida, irrigation

Southeast Asian

Studies,

Kyoto U n i v e r s i t y , Japan and Professor D r . Takaya, Geology and water resources researcher from the- same i n s t i t u t e , comparative data on the historical irrigation

who gave advices and

development and management o f

systems i n the Kyoto B a s i n ,

I greatly appreciates their

assistance and thank them very much for t h i s m o t i v a t i o n . I n d i v i d u a l s who helped get the l a s t f i e l d work done were the faculty- staff

and officers„of Chiang.Mai U n i v e r s i t y .

Professor Pan-Ngaam Chapanond,

Assistant

Assistant Professor Poonsap Tiyayon

and M r . Veraphun Venayano from the Faculty

of Social Sciences

Assistant Professor Prayad Saiwichien from the Faculty of Education; Ajaan Patcharin Temawath from -the Faculty of Humanities; Agaan Warapha from the F a c u l t y of A g r i c u l t u r e ; , officers

from the Tribal

C e n t e r , Department of P u b l i c W e l f a r e , M r . J i r a Prangkheo* Maneeprasert and M r s , Ralna Maneeprasert and the students Department

of Geography, F a c u l t y of Social Sciences,

them and express deep gratitude for cooperation.

Research M r . Manas from the

I greatly thank

t h e i r earnest assistance and

xi

I a l s o wish to r e s p e c t f u l l y thank who- gave data concerning irrigation could

of the sampling a r e a s .

hot have been completed.

of the People's. I r r i g a t i o n and Mr.

In-Son

National

Ta-thon,

Irrigation:

the

following indivicuals

the People's Irrigation Without their

h e l p t h i s research

They are two from the administrators Mr.

huana

and the National

Tha T h a - i n , huana

muang

Ton-Keoo;

fai

M r . P h a i r o t Tengtriratana,

muang

Watthana

fai

two from the

Project .engineer

of

the Mae. Ping Kao Project and M r . Suwan Sawangchaehg, Project engineer of- Mae Kuang Project;. Committee members of .Mae Kuang Water User Assoc i a t i o n l e d by M r . Thongdee Buranakhot, president. administrators who are government o f f i c i a l s v i l l a g e : amphoe

Saraphi,

Muang-Lamphun, tambon tambon

at amphoe,

Choeng Doi ( v i l l a g e - 2 ) ;

the water

amphoe

Mae Rim, tambon

mention

Office No. 1 , ohanauat

due to space l i m i t s . of the director

I also .of the

Chiang M a i , M r . K i t l a ThepaTaglekha,

Department,

, Public

Bangkok.

i n d i v i d u a l s whom I cannot n e g l e c t to thank were D r .

Santhad Rojanasunthorn', Research

Rim Tai ( v i l l a g e s

7 and Ms. Aurathai Watthanachai

R e l a t i o n Man of the Royal irrigation Other

Huay Sai

user members and administrators who were

interviewed whose names I cannot

Irrigation

Doi S a k e t ,

Thuhg-Tom ( v i l l a g e 9 ) ; tambon

wish to thank Ms, Aurawan Wongphan, secretary

Project Planning Engineer

and

tambon

Sankamphaeng,, tambon

amphoe

San Pa Tong tambon

San Khok Chang ( v i l l a g e 7 ) ;

were a l s o

Khuamuhg ( v i l l a g e s 2 and 3 ) ; amphoe

tambon

Ton-Thong ( v i l l a g e 2 ) ; amphoe

( v i l l a g e 2 ) ; amphoe

2 and 5 ) and a l l

There

Institute

Deputy director of Science and Technological

of T h a i l a n d .

Survey S e c t i o n , Land Use Plan of the S o i l Survey

Mr. Manu O-Makhup, Chief

of Land Use

D i v i s i o n and M r . U-dom Puisawadi, officer

D i v i s i o n ; both were from Land Development Department.

I a l s o convey my thanks to Assistant Professor Sasipen Phuangsaichai of the Department University;

of Economics,

Bureau who rendered, given to Mr. Department

with the officers their

of the National

services free of charge.

Statistics

Thanks a r e - a l s o

Veerapan Veerayano and Ajaan Ajchara Poonyarit

of Geography,

versity who helped i n doing

of Social Sciences, Chiang Mai

'who was responsible for recording d a t a , computer programming

and a n a l y s i s together

.

Faculty

Faculty

of Social Sciences, Chiang Mai U n i -

with the equipment

the research.

of the

Special thanks

such as maps and charts are granted

o

required

to Ajaan P a i l i g p h a n

Soijaturon o f the Department of Geography, Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, Chiang Mai Teachers' College and Ajaan Puangpetch Danasin Rupp o f the Department of Geography, Faculty of Social Sciences, Chiang Mai University

who helped proofread

typewritten copies prepared by Mrs. Patchanee Voraprecha, Department of Geography, Faculty

o f Social

the typist,

Sciences, Chiang Mai

University. Again I would l i k e to convey my deep gratitude to the Center for Southeast Asian Studies, Kyoto U n i v e r s i t y , Japan who i n v i t e d me to do the analysis’ and- write the report of t h i s research and to Associate Professor Dr. Warin Wonghanchaow, Director of Chulalongkorn University Social Research Institute and Dr. Tom G. Kessinger,- Representative, The Ford Foundation, Southeast Asia Regional O f f i c e , Jakarta, Indonesia,

who greaty

helped with the

publication o f t h i s research in Thai and i n English r e s p e c t i v e l y . F i n a l l y , I would l i k e to thank Ajaan Somporn Varnado of the English Department, Faculty of Humanities, Chiang Mai' University for t r a n s l a t i n g most of t h i s report and for checking and correcting the English manuscript.

Her efforts

and patience are very much

appreciated.

Vanpen Surarerks November -9, 1985

Abstract This research i s a study of the historical management of irrigation

systems in northern

development

Thailand.

a n a l y t i c a l study aimed a t f i n d i n g the most efficient management for

agricultural

development.

and

I t i s an means of water,

1 1 compares' al 1 the facts

dealing w i t h water management o f both the People's and the National Irrigation The study

Systems i n the 940,000 rai

of the Chiang Mai-Lamphun Basin,

covers the history and the development of i r r i g a t i o n

from the time

i t was o r i g i n a t e d to the present time.

systems

It also dis-

cusses the success and the f a i l u r e of water management, the obstacles and s o l u t i o n s of the: problems which have occurred d u r i n g the p a s t t e n years . The research shows that there

are four factors i n v o l v e d i n

the most e f f i c i e n t water management for These a r e : ( 1 )

The physical

features

a g r i c u l t u r a l development. of the areas,

which was

l e v e l e d for conveniences i n c o l l e c t i n g and d e l i v e r i n g water throughout the year.

There i s conservation of water by b u i l d i n g a water r e s e r v o i r

a t the upper part of the dam and conservation of s o i l f e r t i l i t y new technology. tems

( 2 ) The physical

such as the w e i r , canal

structures

system,

of the irrigation

irrigation

with sys-

s t r u c t u r e s along t h e

canals, the r e s e r v o i r a t the upper part o f the dam and the drainage system must be parmanent and t e c h n o l o g i c a l l y sound.

The s i z e o f t h e

project should be s u i t a b l e for the amount of water budget a l l year round.

( 3 ) The characteristics

of irrigation

has simple patterns of a d m i n i s t r a t i o n . trators

organization

The leaders of the adminis-

should be selected from the group T who share the same b e n e f i t s

o r , i n other words, from the water user members. who speak the truth and prove tions,

which

They must be people

t h e i r trustworthiness through

their ac-

They must be f a i r and u n s e l f i s h l y dedicated to the community.

They must form t h e i r team work from people of the same nature'

and

q u a l i f i c a t i o n so that they can work w i t h the members who f o l l o w the same r u l e s and who a r e l e s s s e l f i s h .

The government sectors who are

involved i n the work should a b s t a i n themselves from t a k i n g a major role. ment,

And the l a s t factor

( 4 ) The characteristics

of water

manage-

the government should have c l e a r p o l i c y and p l a n which can be

effectively and are enforced as laws o r various irrigation

acts.

The schedules for rotational water delivery and the annual crop, plan and or dry season crop plan should be made effective, simple

*

and acceptable among the members. The cooperation between the members and tlie administrators also needed.

in carrying

out systems maintenance i s

One should not overlook boosting the morale and en-

courage the. dovoted administrators, sacrifice can be obtained

either.

.Compensation for

their

from the .water fee. and so on.

Any i r r i g a t i o n projects that can- f u l f i l l ' the characterist i c s of the factors mentioned •above: w i l l b e b e n e f i t i a l to the farmers i n that i t w i l l enable them to actually increase and expand both their

c u l t i v a t i o n areas and their

farmers w i l l improve their

production.

s e l f - sufficiency

and the aim of the present government i n their the country.

This means the

which i s the desire attempts to develop

1 Introduction

1.1 Importance and Background of the Problem Agricultural Irrigation has been of significant importance to the development of many economy - related projects.

Thus

the development of agricultural i r r i g a t i o n not only r e f l e c t s the

(

social economy and culture of the Thais in the r u r a l areas, ,but j t

.

also serves as an index to help the government as well -as private sectors to r e a l i z e the- urgency in the need to develop the .social economy in different areas of the country.

Such a statement can be substan-

t i a t e d by the s t a t i s t i c s compiled by the National Population . S t a t i s t i c s Unit ;of the Office of Conwittee on National .Economic and Social Development Board (1981 - 1982), which shows that income derived from a g r i culture during the past f i v e .years (1978 - 1982) i s on the top of the l i s t when agriculture's share of the GDP (Gross Domestic Product) i s compared with. the share of the GDP of other sources put t o g e t h e r , , showing differences i n percent of 2 8 , 26, 25 and 24 respectively regardless, of the s l i g h t decrease (the 20 years ago, 1960, was 38 percent).

agricultural share of the GiDP So i t i s oby.ious that the effi-

ciency and protential i n the management of i r r i g a t i o n water for a g r i cultural purposes of a l l .forms, means an increase i n agricultural .pro d u c t i v i t y and i p the income of the farmers who make up the majority

, .

of the nation's population (71 percent according to s t a t i s t i c s of the .census report of the Office of Population ,and Housing, 1980). particularly true

This i s ,

for those i n the north of Thailand (Geographical ,

region), which i s known for having l i m i t e d c u l t i v a t i n g areas i n intermontane basin which. makes up only 12 percent (7,748,723 rai ,in l982/83 according to the, s t a t i s t i c s released by , the Office of Agricultural Economy, Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives) . o f the total

areas

of the region (60,686 , 2 5 0 - r a i l ,

area

i s mountainous.

Mostly the topography of tjiis

So the c u l t i v a t i o n areas i n t h i s part of the country

i s comparatively smajjer

than the areas in other parts.

ting 1and ayerages only ten.rai mic and Social Deyel.opment.Plan, basin i t . averages only 3 - 7

The c u l t i v a -

,per family ( T h e . F i f t h National p . 53. and 160),

Econo- ,,

I n the Chiang Mai

rai (Vanpen Surarerks, 1975), and 2 - 10'

rai (Vanpen. Surarerks, study of the same area 5 years l a t e r i n 1980)

~z-

per family.

So i t i s necessary- for the northern

the productivity

fanners to increase

to make the best possible use of the land or, in other

words to aim at intensive agriculture.

This means to make use of the

same land 2 - 4 or even 5 times each year and to try highest

to obtain the

yeilds possible o u t ’of each rai of t h e land as w e l l .

cludes the attempt c i a l purposes,

to promote advanced agricultural

A l l these intentions

This in-

methods for commer-

cannot be acomplished unless the

problem of water shortage have been solved.

Such problems occur during

the dry spell

On the other

period

and in the dry season.

problems a r i s e when there rainy

season or the flooding

the northern

period,

Both types of problems have caused

farmers to face uncertainty

in their- production

though the northern farmers have more experience resources in the form of muang fai

j even

in developing water

i r r i g a t i o n ' i n which the people

have helped b u i l d weirs to block the river cultivating

hand, other

i s more water than is needed such, as in the

and irrigate

land for as long as 700- years.

water into

tended the help in such a c t i v i t i e s during the past 50 years, Surarerks

and others, 1980).

However, until

their

And the government has ex{Vanpen

now the c u l t i v a t i n g areas

that have received water from the government i r r i g a t i o n projects total ‘ only 19.9 m i l l i o n rai

(The Royal Irrigation Department 1983).

only 16,5 percent o f a l l the cultivation areas of the country, only 26.6 percent (2,063,845 rai) north.

of a l l the cultivation areas i n the

There are about 8 , 9 percent or 688,300 rai

receive water from the People's Irrigation Department 1983) . (940,000 rai'j irrigation

land.

Only the

in the north

that

projects (The Royal Irrigation

area i n the Chiang Mai - Lamphun Basin

where 98 percent

(922,900 rai)

of the cultivated -land i s

‘And 34 percent of t h i s3 irrigation

ceives water from' the National rai)

This i s which i s

Systenfand the other

receives water from the People's I r r i g a t i o n ,

there ’is overlap in many of the National

Irrigation

land (322,900 64 percent

rail

re-

(600,000

However, in reality areas and' the Peo-

p l e ' s Irrigation areas i n the Chiang Mai - Lamphun'Basin, which means the actual i r r i g a t i o n area i s less than 98 percent. fact that

i n the/areas a t ' t h e t a i l of the National

This i s due* to the’ Irrigation project

where the water supply does not reach or i s not" adequate the farmers have to draw water from the weirs which they have constructed themselves.

For these reasons i t i s necessary -for the farmers in every part the country including

‘those in the Chiang Mai’ - Lamphun Basin to "de-

velop water management in the form of irrigation .efficiency,

of

water to reach at.

Another evidence can be drawn from the fact that at

present the amount of produce y i e l d per rat of- the basic crops for consumption and economy, namely r i c e , in the rainfed irrigated

area are greatly

y i e l d of rice

different.

in the rainfed area was 53 percent

and the y i e l d of rice i n the irrigated the latest, s t a t i s t i c s released

area and in the

For example, i n 1979/80 (247 kg, per

the 4ral)

area was 469 kg, per rai. And

by the Royal Irrigation Department ( i n

1983) show that the y i e l d of rice produce in four of the National I r r i gation. projects in the Chiang Mai - Lamphun Basin was 649 kg, per rai (Mae ,Taeng Project) of the .irrigated,

which i s very high when compared ,to the r i c e y i e l d

areas throughout the country which was 488 kg, per rai.

A l l of t h i s evidence proves the necessity and importance of considering water and other

related factors i n order to a r r i v e a t high efficiency

i n land usage which i s also a factor

r e l a t e d to production,

L , - a s . a researcher, realize the importance of this f e e l s that-there i s an iimediate a short

issue and

z

need'to solve these problems .both on

term and a long, term basis.

*■

So I and my team have for ten

years conducted multidisciplinary research and i n t e r d i s c i p l i n a r y research as well as an individual

research focusing, on the.study of

problems and solutions on water management for agriculture... when the University Studies

Especially

of Kyoto.,through the Center for Southeast Asian ,,

granted me to do a comparative study ; on .the historical,

deve— „

?

lopment and management of the Jhai and the Japanese, irrigation in; the, Chiang Mai r Lamphun Basin and the Kyoto Basin for a-.total from December 16y 1982, to., June 15, ,1983.

The'study

compile and analyze a l l the data from f the previous with the new data derived from the recent tional

documents so that

I wi.ll

Mai -.Lamphun Basin including

studies, together

f i e l d study and other addi-

be complete and cover the whole Chiang

both, aspects of the water management o f

the People's Irrigation and the National study i s believed to present

of 6 months-. -

made me want ,to4qi)W6

Irrigation.

Such a thorough

the whole picture of the' Chiang Mai Basin,’’

.and to be valuable to the development of the area as well as to pro-

-4-

v i d e a guideline

for

tural

i n other

irrigation

Chiang ’Mai Basin

improvement

i s well

ment i n the development for almost a thousand

and development

areas throughout known as the center of agricultural

of the a g r i c u l -

the country

since

4

the

and place of advance-

i r r i g a t i o n - i n Thailand

years.

I n conclusion the major type of the I r r i g a t i o n methods known as "water as i t

delivery

for

cultivation"

or the

"agricultural

irrigation"

i s known at present i n the area of Chiang Mai - Lamphun Basin

i n the study

i s the "Muang Fat "system.

In the Huang Fai system there

i s a c o n s t r u c t i o n of w e i r or d i v e r s i o n dam to r a i s e the l e v e l of water i n the stream or river

to the l e v e l needed.

Then canals or d i t c h e s

w i l l be dug to d e l i v e r water to the paddy' f i e l d s or the c u l t i v a t i o n lands'.

The Muang F a i system can be d i v i d e d i n t o two types according

to the characteristic of the management, the construction technique and other b u i l d i n g s t r u c t u r e s . (1)

’’

f

People s Irrigation;

'

These systems are typically

communally by groups of farmers.

t r i b u t i o n i n v o l v e s d i g g i n g c a n a l s , being

use).

The farmers' con-

in charge

of water'd i f f u s i o n ,

repair and improvement of w e i r structures, dredging works.

b e n e f i t group'. 'Each group has 'a kde'fai

the i r r i g a t i o n I t usually

or- w e i r committee

area' under the

or-'kae muangf

a t the farm l e v e l .

amount/ 2,009"’ People's Irrigation

Department,-

(1966 - 1972).

i n g know! ege ‘

ermanentweirs, irrigation '

5

there

‘

-

are

'

-

known as '"The Royal Irrigation

systems the government and i t s o f f i c i a l s

construction o f

very ? big-/

Systems in" the Chiang Mai Basin'

covering* the1’ areas' of’ 600,000 rai

In' these

The s i z e o f

and does not exceed 10,000 rat

From the i n v e s t i g a t i o n of the Royal I r r i g a t i o n

Irrigation-

who i s selected

He acts as the head of r the

care of ’ each kae muang i s not

averages around 50 rai

. ( 2 ) , Rational

and cleaning canals "

Cooperation i s - found w i t h i n certain

by the- group members, to a c t - a s the- l e a d e r i r r i g a t i o n committee

developed

The weirs are constructed from l o c a l

m a t e r i a l s ( f o r e i t h e r permanent or ’temporary

as w e l l as o t h e r related

an

The i r r i g a t i o n

engineering

" Project";'

are in charge of the’ canals are dug follow-'

techniques.

The water '3

.

' . -

.is

v

4.

t

-5-

di verted from the river by permanent weir's i n f o m a i n canals} i n t o l a t e r a l s , sublaterals and farm the farm

turnout

turnout

,

then'

The operation from

u n t i l the water reaching the f i e l d s (farm l e v e l )

w i l l be handed over to the r e s p o n s i b i l i t i e s of the water u s e r s , , As of now i.t i s not. certain ;what -type of, irrigation-system the bdst to improve the people's l i v i n g standard.

is

From a series o f

study i t i s -expected that the People’s I r r i g a t i o n System i s economical and has_efficient. management, The. People’s I r r i g a t i o n . System involves the rural

people's participation.

However, since- the, weir

structure

t

»

i s impermanent, i t requires more labour in maintenance, for example, repair 1-2 times a year and dredging and cleaning 1-2 times a years. I t also causes destruction, t o .forest due to wood cutting for weir repair,

.Also expenses are required

during

the repair.

to. buy other

construction ’materials,

A l l these factors give the People's I r r i g a t i o n

System disadvantages when compared to the National I r r i g a t i o n System, which has permanent . w e i r ,which,,as a r e s u l t , requires less labour ,in maintenance of, the system (which occurs less nance of the People ’ s t Irrigation, tem, on the other

frequently

than, the mainte-

System).,- The National

hand, has disadvantages i n that -it

I r r i g a t i o n Sys-

does not receive

cooperation from the water user members in managing, the system,, » ;

»4

The advantages and disadvantages i n each system and the other physical factors involved: especially that

concerning

of each system as w i l l be, discussed i n t h i s .research

the water-budaetw i l l help one

foresee the proper way to develop the agriculture of the country way of improving the efficiency i n the water management,-,, t

by -,-«t

.1,2 Objectives/of , the Study i l'i27r

v

To’ study the history

and the 'developmenVof

? 1

the *

i r r i g a t i o n for agriculture, ' tratbr" solutions

1,‘2;2

To observe the water management- at : the admiriis-

level and- the water user ’level , ' t 1,2,3 To study and analize the problems and' suggest

■ *" ’

for water management in 1 , 2 , 2 , 1,2,4

To propose what seems to be the most e f f i c i e n t means

of management of water for a g r i c u l t u r a l development.

-6-

1.3 Research Method 1.3.1 irrigation

To c o l l e c t data and samples of a g r i c u l t u r e and

as well ’ a s other physical, data in the Chiang Mai

Basin of 13 amphoe

(10 amphoe

in Chiang Mai province ; Mae Taeng,

Mae Rim, San S a i , Doi S a k e t , San Kamphaeng,Muang,Saraphi,'Hang Tong and Chom Thong, and 3 wphoe i n ahangwat and Ban Hong), a total area of 940,000 ‘rat. the working of people

units

and the o f f i c i a l s

Dong, San Pa

Lamphun Huang, Pa Sang The data are derived from

involved as w e l l as from interviews

in the study -’areas.

* M

1.3.2

Sample

- Lamphun

’

♦

fc

Selection'

The study samples were selected' from "907 water users

and 263 water

672 water

users and 198

of the thirty

of the thirthy'eight

water administrators

of this

were an addition

in this

new study.

pling

locations.

areas ;

group were those‘ r study.

This

‘

of 235 water users and '65 water’ administra-

The study

was done in two of the National

g a t i o n - p r o j e c t s and two of the People’s' Irrigation sampling

studied

areas which were subjects of the previous

means there tors

administrators

The sampling

-Irri-

projects of e i g h t

method i s that

of the multistage sam-

as was used tn the pervious research, '

1.3.2.1

The sampling study

the" two a d d i t i o n a l

Irrigation

and Mae Kuang projects,

These two new projects have' the same system of

administration This

means they

adopted

the system,

Huang

combined these

system namely

the structure

System (especially

canals and earth

ment under Sanya they

those of Mae Ping Kao

as the two previous projects of Mae faek and Mae Taeng,

the People's Irrigation natural

System are

for

projects of* the National

canal Fai

features

other structures),

the use. of

of the People's Systran and the water

the use of new irrigation

permanent construction

and the management of"

those concerning

i n s t e a d of the Royal Irrigation of the old

system (of

Act) ,

manageAnd

system with

those

of the new

engineering

knowledge about

the w e i r s , the i r r i g a t i o n

as can be observed

J

canals and

in the Mae Taeng I r r i g a t i o n

Project, > .

1. 3/2.2

In selecting samples of the People's

I r r i g a t i o n System, the l o c a t i o n and the geographical factors are brought i n t o consideration.

Except for the three projects studied

i n the past (Muang Fai Phya Kham, Mae Sao and Mae Chaem) , three other projectes have been included i n t h i s study (Pong Sanuk, Khok Mu Pa and Muang Mai), So there are total o f s i x projects so f a r . In addit i o n , two more projects are included in t h i s study so that the study w i l l be expanded to cover the areas of the Chiang Mai - Lamphun Basin thoroughly.

Thus, Fai Ton Kaeo o f tambon

and Fai Watthana of tambon

Rim T a i , amphoe Mae Rim

Thung Tom, amphoe San Pa Tong are included

to represent the areas i n the upper part and the lower part r e s p e c t i v e l y . I t i s hoped that other sampling areas throughout

the Chiang Mai-Lamphun

Basin included i n t h i s study w i l l help one to c l e a r l y see the v a r i e t i e s of the structure and the administration of water management i n the d i f ferent systems. Though i n p r i n c i p l e most o f the People's I r r i g a t i o n are

the same, i t i s beneficial to study the minor d e t a i l s o f t h e i r dif-

ferences as well

so that

we can compare different People's Irrigation

systems

as compare them w i t h the National I r r i g a t i o n systems i n 1 . 3 . 2.1.

I t i s hoped t h a t i n t h i s way the integration t h a t r e s u l t s i n the most efficiency

i n water management for a g r i c u l t u r a l development w i l l be

arrived at.

n

1 , 3 , 2 . 3 The guidelines and steps i n gathering data from the selected areas and population i n the National I r r i g a t i o n projects ( 1 , 3 , 2 . 1) and the People's I r r i g a t i o n projects ( 1 . 2 . 2 , 2) were the same as the guidelines and steps used i n the previous study on, i r r i gation,

The objective was to select the areas and the water user popu-

l a t i o n i n the upstream and the downstream areas o f each project as samples.

Therefore p r i o r i t y was given to the matters concerning the

areas, then ’the random selection o f the water user population was considered,

The water user group were systematicly selected or by sys-

tematic sampling while the water administrator group was selected by the purposive sampling as indicated below:

-8-

Table’ 1 Sample distribution 1982-1983 -1.1

Water*

A

Users

Type of

Area

Irrigation

CI National''

-

Sample

Amphoe

Tambon

(Number),

(province}

(Upper/Lower)

Saraphi

Khua Huang

Irrigation

1 , 1 Mae Ping Kao

30 »

(Chiang' M a i ) (upper) Huang"' * f

Ton Thong

’(llamphun) *

30

(lower)"

■

t

J , 2. .Mae Kuang

60

Total

f

Doi Saket (Chiang

Choeng ppi

,

28

M a i ) (lower)

San Kamphaeng Huay Sai

„ ‘l

29 _

(Chiang M a i ) (lower) Total

f

ku 2 , People’s

i

‘Total

of

National

57

Irrigation

117

Irrigation

2 , 1 F a i Ton Kaeo
Mae Rim Rim T a i 5 (Chiang

M a i ) (lower) 1

r 29 f

-X

59.

Total 2 , 2 Fai

Watthana , ? 6

as

-15-

2.1 General Conditionsiof the Chiang Mai-Lamphun Basin. 2.1.1 Physical Conditions (1)

Topographical

Features z

The Chiang Mai

- Lampbun Basin

Chiang Mai Basin has the topography north covering amphoe

13 amphoe

in Chiang Mai : Mae Taeng,

amphoe

I S ’ 15* oo" and 1 9 " 10’

i s b e l i e v e d to have a geological

tiary-faulting

period where the earth

physical

and chemical

t h i s the

topography

(10

Hang Dong, San Pa Tong and Chom Thong, and and Ban Hong),

weathering between

of 940,000 r a i , -

structure

and the

recent

range

in the

98* The

which i s i n the

forms a graben

ter-

basin

because of

alluvium.

Because of

the West- Thanonthongchai

west and the West - Phipanmm

It- extends

00" N and between longitude

4 0 ' 00" and 9 9 * 15 ' 00“ E , cover a total area area

basin- in the

Mae Rim, San S a i , Doi Saket, San

in Lamphun : Muang, Pa Sang,

from latitude

intermontane

called

of Chiang Mai and Lamphun provinces

Kamphaeng, Muang, Saraphi, 3

o f the

or briefly

range

east p a r a l l e l i n g

i n the north J -

£