Dr. Tatsanee MuangkaewDirector of International Organizations and Strategy Division

Ministry of Agriculture and CooperativesOffice of Agricultural EconomicsAugust 2012

Soil and Water Management for Agriculture to Ensure Food Security in Thailand

Presentation Outline1232

Current Situation of Soil and Water Management for Agriculture13

Land Utilization

Total country area: 51.3 million ha (514,000 sq.km)4

Agricultural Land UseAgricultural area 47%: 24.31 million Ha5

10 years average annual rainfall ( 2002-2011): 1,495 mmAverage annual rainy day: 161 daysAverage annual runoff : 213,424 mil.m 3 Per capita surface runoff: 3,335 m3 (64 mil. of population) water retention capacity : 76,002 mil.m3 (35.6% of runoff) maximum active storage: 56,000 mil.m3

Water Resource6

24.3 Mill ha.Of Ag.area Irrigation area 19.3%: 4.7 mill.haRainfed area 80.7% :19.6 mill ha- Large and medium Scale :3.87 mil.ha

- Small scale: 0.83 mill haWater useTotal water requirement 152,151 mil.m3 ( in 2010) Benefited area: 1.8 mil.ha7

Chart1

0.2209

0.7791

Sales

Sheet1

Sales

Irrigation area22.09%

Non-irrigation area77.91%

To resize chart data range, drag lower right corner of range.

Challenges in Soil and Water Management8

Future Policies towards Soil and Water Management for Agriculture2Concept of natural resources managementunder 11th Thailand Agriculture and Cooperative Development Plan

Efficiency, Balance, and Sustainability Preparedness for climate change adaptation and participatory management9

Develop of agri. resources and agri. infrastructure efficiently - Rehabilitate and improve degraded soil - Implement land use system according to soil and water potential - Increase water use efficiency for agri., increase water retention capacity, and expand irrigation area - encourage community participation in water management and integrated between agencies involved

Development guideline

10

Promote efficiency and sustainable use of natural resources - encourage farmers to proper use of agrochemical to prevent chemical residue and environment contamination together with promote use of organic fertilizer. - supervise and control agrochemical distribution Development guideline

11

Promote participation of farmers in agri. resources management - encourage communities to protect their agri. resources by many ways of incentives - promote communities self management of agri. resourcesin terms of maintenance, conservation, restoration with equal access, balance, and sustainable use Development guideline

12

Preparedness for impacts of climate change and natural disaster - Integration with all relevant sectors in terms of data and information coordination for promptly decision - planning for disaster, warning system, situation monitoring and information distribution to target people - infrastructure preparation such as maintenance, repair, improve water ways and irrigation system to prevent and protect farmland and urban area. Development guideline

13

Middle streamDown streamUpstreamCheck damReservoirImprove existing projectIncrease retention efficiencyPumping stationFloodgateWater distribution system14

Successful implementation in soil and water management e3Use Vetiver grass for soil and water conservation 15

Saline soil management by growing selected salt tolerant and halophyte crops tomatocantaloupeonionbroccoli16

United Nations Public Service AwardsThailand Irrigation Management has got United Nations Public Service Awards (2011 and 2012) under category: Fostering Participation in Policy-MakingDecisions Through Innovative Mechanisms 2012 award: integrated drought prevention and mitigation, New York,USA 2011 award: Participatory Irrigation management, Daressalam,Tanzania 17

2012 United Nations Public Service AwardsMae Yom Operation and Maintenance Irrigation Project Objective: integrated drought prevention and mitigation Activities: participatory approach irrigation management with stakeholders and knowledge transfer to farmers and young generation Achievement: drought prevention and mitigation for agriculture area 18

Thank you

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