Report on study trip to Pak Panang, Nakhon Sri Thammarat
on 15-16 August 2007
List of researchers
1. Dr. Yuttana Theparoonrat
2. Mr. Suriyan Vichitlekan
3. Dr. Phattareeya Suanrattanachai
4. Ms. Narumol Thaptim
5. Ms. Pattaratjit Kaewnuratchadasorn
Objective of this study trip
· To observe the Royal-initiated Pak Phanang Basin Area Development Project;
· To study and observe on the CORIN involvement of the royal project to be a case study for applying to the transboundary area in Cambodia and Vietnam.
Background of the royal -initiated Pak Phanang Basin Area Development Project
The development of water sources for irrigation or cultivation is important and beneficial for the majority of population in that it enables them to produce crops all the year round. The recognition on the importance of the value of water, His Majesty the King attaches priority to the projects concerning the development of water sources. Therefore, the Royal-initiated Pak Phanang River Basin Development Project is one of His Majesty’s initiatives that launched not only to prevent the intrusion of salty water but also to supply fresh water for the people by functioning as a fresh water storage reservoir to support agriculture uses and daily consumption as well as to prevent the flooding. Moreover, the Project offers solutions for solving the conflicts between shrimp farmers and rice farmers, and in turn, promotes the harmonious co-existence among the people and nature so as to bring about sustainability.
As mentioned, the development of waster sources not only for irrigation but also for cultivation, the The royal-initiated Pak Phanang Basin Area Development Project has an area for agricultural development which is divided into 5 zones:
Zone1: Rice farming for commercial
Zone 2: Palm plantation
Zone 3: Rubber and others plantation
Zone 4: Mariculture
Zone 5: Forest
Concerning on the socio-economic condition of local areas, His majesty’s initiative projects try to avoid causing trouble to one group of people while contributing to another group of people. His Majesty insists that the problem of land allocation should be solved in such ways that it will benefit all parties. Those who lose land should be properly assisted so as to encourage them to positively accept the decision of the government and allow the government to make use of the land without having to purchase additional land. He also wishes that the local people cooperate with the officials and with one another in the community in looking after and maintaining the provided constructions.
Since then, the Coastal Resources Institute (CORIN) have involved in the Royal-initiated Pak Phanang River Basin Development Project in order to assist local people by building local capacity for sustainable management.
According to SEAFDEC in collaboration with the Wetland Alliance Partners (WAP) will conduct the projects relating to the transboundary collaborative arrangement between Kampot, Cambodia and Kien Giang, Vietnam, by financial supported from SIDA. The lesson learn that gained through the Royal-initiated Pak Phanang River Basin Development Project could provide some ideas and concepts that could be apply for solving the transboudary issues.
Mission practiced
1. Visit to the Coastal Fisheries Development center under The Royal-initiated Pak Phanang River Basin Development Project Center
The SEAFDEC team visited Mr. Sukit Rattanavinitkul, the Director of the Coastal Fisheries Development center under The Royal-initiated Pak Phanang River Basin Development Project. He kindly welcomed the team and short briefed on the center involvement to the Royal-initiated project.
2. Observation the three main water gates
Mr. Piya, a representative of Coastal Resources Institute (CORIN), who have been working closely with local people at the Service center for community participation in Pak Phanang River Basin kindly to be a guide for the entire trip.
Firstly, he kindly guided to the main water gates which are namely: “U Thog Vi Phach Prasith gate”, “the Emergency gate” and “Tha Phaya gate”. He also explained the importance of these gates, the past and present issues.
The overall purposes for building the water gates are not only to prevent the intrusion of salty water, but also to supply fresh water for the people by functioning as a fresh-water storage reservoir to support agricultural uses and daily consumption as well as to prevent the flooding. The Royal Irrigation Department has responsibility on the construction of the water gates.
Each water gate has their specific purposes such as “U Thog Vi Phach Prasith”, “the Emergency gates” there are located in the coastal area to prevent the intrusion of salty water. After the construction of these water gates, the conflicts between resource users on the water utilization have been occurred. Therefore, CORIN took charge as a care taker to building the capacity of local resource users through providing education, knowledge and local participation in the process. Enhancing the people to communicate and consult with government institute finding the patterns that they could accept. Knowledge and people recognition, start from understand the problems and conditions, the users communicate and solving the problems together. If still the people can not find the resolution, it will introduce the advantage of the problem.
3. Joined the Ao.Bo.To meeting
Luckily, the team discussed and exchanged some ideas with the representatives of each village Ao.Bo.To have implemented. Dr. Yuttana presented the FEDs implementation in member countries as this would be introduced the idea to people.
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