Ms. Thanathita Bunyamanikul, Deputy Secretary-General of the Office of Agricultural Economics (OAE), revealed the results of the monitoring of the land readjustment and agricultural water management project under the Tha Maka Irrigation and Maintenance Project (Phase 5). She stated that the Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives has implemented this project to increase the efficiency of water delivery from irrigation canals, ensuring even distribution of water to every farm plot. This ensures that farmers receive water at the desired volume and time, and minimizes conflicts over water use. The Office of Land Readjustment and Agricultural Water Management Region 27 is the primary responsible agency. The target area is 1,000 rai. The project will be implemented from December 2023 to September 2024. OAE's evaluation center conducted a field visit to monitor the project in July. In the land reform area of ??Muang Chum Subdistrict, Tha Muang District, Kanchanaburi Province, it was found that the project area had undergone semi-complete (extensive) land reform for several years. This has led to the project's irrigation canals deteriorating over time. Therefore, the Land Reform and Agricultural Water Management Office 27 has implemented Phase 5 improvements to the irrigation canals. This includes construction of the canals using compacted soil, excavation, and compaction of gravel. The canals were then paved with concrete covering a length of 10,045 meters. 76 additional buildings were also constructed to serve as gates for the water distribution system and drainage gates along the entire length.

These improvements have enabled farmers to more efficiently use water for their main and secondary rice crops, contributing to the improvement of the project area. Which is a group of sticky rattan users who have joined together to develop the cultivation area of ??approximately 1,000 rai. 40 farmer households have received increased yields and net income. The yield of wet season rice has increased from 862.32 kilograms per rai to 919.92 kilograms per rai (increased by 57.60 kilograms per rai or 6.68 percent). The yield of dry season rice has increased from 852.55 kilograms per rai to 855.92 kilograms per rai (increased by 3.37 kilograms per rai or 0.40 percent). As a result, farmers have net income (profit) from selling wet season rice from 2,631.15 baht per rai per year to 3,338.22 baht per rai per year (increased by 707.07 baht per rai per year or 26.87 percent). And the net income from selling dry season rice has increased from 1,675.51 baht per rai per year to 1,840.56 baht per rai per year (increased by 165.05 baht per rai per year or 9.85 percent) In addition, it also helps reduce conflicts over water use in the area. To ensure sustainable development, farmers in the area should hold regular meetings of water user farmer groups to ensure efficient water management and prompt adjustments to water allocation plans to maximize the benefits of farmer group members.

Go To Lead