Vietnam J. Agri. Sci. 2016, Vol. 14, No. 10: 1518 -1529<br />
<br />
Tạp chí KH Nông nghiệp Việt Nam 2016, tập 14, số 10: 1518 - 1529<br />
www.vnua.edu.vn<br />
<br />
WATER USE MANAGEMENT IN NAM ROM IRRIGATION SYSTEM<br />
OF MUONG THANH VALLEY, NORTHWEST VIETNAM<br />
Do Thi Thanh Duong1, Ngo Thanh Son2*<br />
1<br />
<br />
2<br />
<br />
Faculty of Dien Bien Technical and Economic College<br />
Faculty of Land Management, Vietnam National University of Agriculture<br />
Email*: ntson@vnua.edu.vn<br />
<br />
Received date: 05.04.2016<br />
<br />
Accepted date: 20.10.2016<br />
ABSTRACT<br />
<br />
The research aim was to analyse the main aspects of water use management and stakeholder conflicts within<br />
Nam Rom irrigation system, Dien Bien valley, Dien Bien province in the northwest region of Vietnam. The study<br />
identified the key stakeholder groups relating to water distribution, viz. Dien Bien provincial People’s Committee<br />
(DBPC), Dien Bien Irrigation Management Co. Ltd. (DBIMC), Dien Bien Phu city People’s Committee, and Dien Bien<br />
district People’s Committee. The results of this study indicated that the conflicts over water use for irrigation relate to<br />
quantity and quality of water supply, decentralized management and water fee exemption policies. The outputs of the<br />
study are important for improving water allocation and management in irrigation sector in Dien Bien province.<br />
Keywords: Dien Bien, irrigation, Muong Thanh valley, water management, water use.<br />
<br />
Quản lý sử dụng nước tại hệ thống tưới Nậm Rốm trên cánh đồng Mường Thanh,<br />
Tây Bắc Việt Nam<br />
TÓM TẮT<br />
Nghiên cứu này nhằm mục đích phân tích những ảnh hưởng chính của quản lý sử dụng nước và mâu thuẫn<br />
giữa các bên liên quan trong các hệ thống tưới tại hệ thống tưới Nậm Rốm, cánh đồng Điện Biên, tỉnh Điện Biên,<br />
Tây Bắc, Việt Nam. Nghiên cứu này đã xác định những thành phần liên quan chính đến việc phân phối nước bao<br />
gồm Ủy ban nhân dân tỉnh Điện Biên, Công ty TNHH quản lý Thủy nông Điện Biên, Ủy ban nhân dân thành phố Điện<br />
Biên Phủ và Ủy ban nhân dân huyện Điện Biên. Kết quả nghiên cứu chỉ ra những mâu thuẫn trong sử dụng nước có<br />
liên quan mật thiết đến số lượng và chất lượng nguồn cung cấp nước, phân quyền trong quản lý, và chính sách về<br />
miễn phí sử dụng nước. Hơn nữa, kết quả này còn đóng vai trò quan trọng trong việc cải thiện việc phân phối và<br />
quản lý công tác thủy nông tại tỉnh Điện Biên trong tương lai.<br />
Từ khóa: Cánh đồng Mường Thanh, Điện Biên, quản lý nước, sử dụng nước, tưới.<br />
<br />
1. INTRODUCTION<br />
In Vietnam, most irrigation schemes are<br />
positioned nearby major water reservoir (rivers<br />
and lakes) and are managed by government<br />
institutions. The canals draw and convey water<br />
from a river to meet the demands of agricultural<br />
producers. In fact, a number of government<br />
institutions are involved in the management<br />
and operation of irrigation services, causing<br />
<br />
1518<br />
<br />
institutional complexities that can affect the<br />
water operation and management of the river<br />
basin (Harris, 2006).<br />
It is useful to highlight that, based on the<br />
Decree 115/2008, the central government<br />
subsidizes water fees for famers in relation to<br />
regions, types of irrigation systems, and types of<br />
water users. The Decree classified clearly the<br />
water fee exemption for irrigation of which<br />
‚Free of charge for the water fee in irrigation<br />
<br />
Do Thi Thanh Duong, Ngo Thanh Son<br />
<br />
area within the agricultural land for households<br />
and individuals engaging in agriculture,<br />
forestry, aquaculture and salt production‛.<br />
However, this policy caused some main<br />
challenges in case of irrigation sector, for<br />
example, the infrastructure of irrigation<br />
systems are underdeveloped caused by limited<br />
budgets available for maintenance and repair.<br />
Also, ‚irrigation management has been supply<br />
driven with ‘command and control’ approaches<br />
designed to meet the needs of paddy rice<br />
irrigation‛. Farmers have little say in system<br />
management because irrigation water provided<br />
for free. (Turner et al., 2009).<br />
Improvement<br />
of<br />
irrigation<br />
systems’<br />
performance is a major production factor that<br />
could remove the constraint on agricultural<br />
productivity in developing countries in Asia<br />
(Ostrom et al., 2011). According to Biltonen et<br />
al. (2003) policy, institutional and poverty<br />
dimensions in irrigated water management in<br />
Vietnam were often neglected. There are a lack<br />
of linkages between agencies and stakeholders,<br />
and the current rules are unclear and<br />
inadequate. Therefore, it is imperative that the<br />
current policy making, water governance and<br />
water management of water use in irrigation<br />
systems need to be improved.<br />
Pereira et al. (2002) suggested that water<br />
management requires measures and policies to<br />
avoid water wastage, reduce demand, efficiently<br />
use water and raise the awareness of the<br />
general public about proper use. Changes in<br />
water allocation and delivery policies are<br />
necessary measures in the management of<br />
water and irrigation systems.<br />
To link with social and ecological<br />
interaction,<br />
integrated<br />
water<br />
resources<br />
management is proposed as a management<br />
system. In this system, water use and<br />
management within the hydrological units<br />
should be based on the coordination of all<br />
available water (groundwater, surface water,<br />
and return water), land, and related resources.<br />
Additionally, all interests of different economic<br />
sectors and hierarchical levels should be coordinated in planning, decision making,<br />
<br />
financing, conserving and developing water<br />
resources for a sustainable development and<br />
use of water (Dukhovny & Sokolov, 2005).<br />
Nam Rom (NR) irrigation area in Muong<br />
Thanh (MT) valley, Dien Bien (DB) province,<br />
Northwest (NW) Vietnam was selected for this<br />
research. MT valley is divided into two parts:<br />
the mountainous region covering an area of<br />
200,000ha, and the flat land with 25,700 ha of<br />
which around 6000 ha are under paddy rice<br />
called MT Field. MT field is the major rice<br />
production area of DB province and NW region<br />
of Vietnam (Hao, 2006; Siem & Liet, 2006). The<br />
main irrigation system for Muong Thanh field is<br />
Nam Rom irrigation system which was<br />
established in 1963-1965. Canal irrigation in<br />
Nam Rom has long been under public<br />
management before transferring to private<br />
sector (DBIMC) during the last decade.<br />
The water source for Nam Rom irrigation<br />
system is from Pa Khoang Lake which has an<br />
area of 600 ha with a capacity of 37.2 million<br />
m3. Problems start from the main water source<br />
to the Nam Rom dam (with the length of about<br />
20 km) as in this reach of the river there are<br />
three small hydroelectric dams, namely, Thac<br />
Trang, Na Loi, and Thac Bay. These<br />
hydroelectric power plants are managed and<br />
operated by Thac Trang hydroelectric Company,<br />
Na Loi hydroelectric Company and Thac Bay<br />
hydroelectric Company, respectively. Their<br />
operation impacts heavily on the availability of<br />
water for irrigation use. In the dry season, the<br />
NR River is often over exploited by four dams.<br />
The Nam Rom irrigation system (NRIS)<br />
provides regular water supply for Muong Thanh<br />
field. However, the field canals were poorly<br />
constructed, leading to serious water loss, and<br />
as a consequence, a large land area of Muong<br />
Thanh valley is often left fallow. Improvements<br />
of the irrigation system could increase double<br />
rice crops in many parts of this valley. The area<br />
positioned at the tail-end of Nam Rom<br />
irrigation system usually suffers water<br />
shortage. The water-limited issue covers<br />
cultivated area of two communes, namely<br />
Noong Luong and Sam Mun. Farmers often<br />
request NRIS to improve the water conveyance<br />
<br />
1519<br />
<br />
Water use management in Nam Rom irrigation system of Muong Thanh valley, northwest Vietnam<br />
<br />
and distribution canals. Because of water<br />
deficits in the Winter-Spring season, rice is<br />
grown mainly in Summer-Autumn season.<br />
‚Lowland rice growing areas could be expanded,<br />
if irrigation facilities were updated allowing<br />
conversion of one crop areas into two crop<br />
areas‛ (Siem and Liet, 2006).<br />
The present research was targeted at the<br />
Nam Rom irrigation scheme under different<br />
governance systems in Dien Bien valley. It was<br />
specifically focused on the conflict of water use<br />
for irrigation among different users and water<br />
deficit at the tail-end of this system. In addtion,<br />
internal and external conditions affecting<br />
irrigation water use at provincial level, district<br />
level and farm level were identified. It aims<br />
were to solve the conflict in water use for<br />
irrigation between several authorities towards<br />
increasing the livelihood potential of farmers.<br />
<br />
2. METHODOLOGY<br />
2.1. Study area<br />
Nam Rom Irrigation System which is<br />
located in DB Phu city and DB district, DB<br />
province, Vietnam was selected for this study.<br />
This system provides water for the terrace fields<br />
in the Muong Thanh field. The irrigation system<br />
includes four canal levels: main canal,<br />
secondary canal, tertiary canal and in-field<br />
irrgation canal. The main canal, the first level<br />
closest to the dam, is around 823 m long; the<br />
secondary canal, includes the left canal with a<br />
length of 14,208 m and the right canal (about<br />
18,051 m long). Secondary canal discharges<br />
water to tertiary canals and further to in-field<br />
irrigation canals to supply water to nearly 3,000<br />
hectares for two seasons per year. In Nam Rom<br />
irrigation systems, NL commune and SM<br />
commune are situated at the end of the left<br />
canal and the right canal, respectively.<br />
2.2. Data collection<br />
2.2.1. Primary and secondary data<br />
- Secondary data collection<br />
Data and information regarding irrigation<br />
systems and policies of water use for irrigation<br />
<br />
1520<br />
<br />
were acquired through authorities and irrigation<br />
associations. Relevant data regarding farmland<br />
acquisition and utilization were collected from<br />
DB Department of Rural and Agricultural<br />
Development, Dien Bien Irrigation Management<br />
Co Ltd. (DBIMC), Report on status of production<br />
– business, socioeconomic of the region, and the<br />
Statistical Yearbook of recent years.<br />
- Primary data collection<br />
Household interview: Household interview<br />
was applied in two communes, namely NL and<br />
SM. In each commune, random sampling<br />
method was used to select 30 respondents<br />
(households) for questionnaire survey. The<br />
household questionnaire survey was used to<br />
collect information related to households and its<br />
interaction with irrigation systems such as<br />
household information, land holdings, farm land<br />
area, main crop, and alternative options for<br />
water supply. Moreover, household interviews<br />
were conducted on the existing situation of<br />
agricultural production, water use and HHs’<br />
contribution to the operation and maintenance<br />
of NR irrigation system.<br />
Key informant interview: Key informant<br />
interview was used to interview heads of local<br />
governments (heads of communes, villages),<br />
agricultural officials, and land officials in order<br />
to have a basic view of the water use and<br />
management in the area and its effect on local<br />
administrative management. The heads of some<br />
cooperatives were also interviewed to get<br />
essential information about their extraction and<br />
use of water. These respondents also helped to<br />
cross check the collected data from focus<br />
group discussion.<br />
Relevant to DBIMC’s data and information,<br />
several in-depth discussions were held with the<br />
representatives<br />
of<br />
the<br />
company<br />
and<br />
administrative managers for water use and<br />
canal maintenance. Interviews were conducted<br />
separately with the heads of units in charge for<br />
irrigation operation in the two communes.<br />
2.2.2. Focus group discussion<br />
In this study, the group discussions were<br />
carried out randomly in the two communes. The<br />
<br />
Do Thi Thanh Duong, Ngo Thanh Son<br />
<br />
meetings were divided into six groups and each<br />
had 4 farmers. The purpose of the discussion<br />
was to understand general information about<br />
the study site such as water release, interaction<br />
between local people and water association, and<br />
their suggestions for local government. This<br />
step also helped to identify major problems<br />
related to the issue and causes of each problem,<br />
to rank the significance of these causes and<br />
effects of the problems, and to find out potential<br />
solutions from the perception of local people.<br />
2.2.3. Data analysis<br />
The descriptive and analytical statistics<br />
were used to identify frequency, percentage, and<br />
mean of variable. Data from key household<br />
interview, key informant interviews, and focus<br />
group discussions were analysed to draw out<br />
the main issues relating to water management<br />
and the effect on water use in irrigation.<br />
Futhermore, these methodologies examines<br />
water-related institutions and stakeholder<br />
agencies in depth to gain an understanding of<br />
their current conflict in water allocation.<br />
2.2.4. Stakeholder analysis<br />
In this study, various tools such as rapid<br />
appraisal and discussion with key persons were<br />
used for identifying stakeholders. Information<br />
was collected from key informants, from focus<br />
group<br />
discussion<br />
and<br />
secondary<br />
data.<br />
Information about stakeholders’ interest,<br />
impacts and power were collected through<br />
questionnaire and in-depth interview. The<br />
stakeholders were, then, classified and<br />
categorized to reflect their perspectives through<br />
their own classifications and definition of<br />
parameters. It may particularly identify the<br />
winners and losers and highlights the<br />
challenges and impacts (Mayers, 2005). The<br />
impacts included both side positive and<br />
negative impacts in relation to the three big<br />
stakeholders, namely, Dien Bien Irigation<br />
Management Co. Ltd., Water Use Associations<br />
and local farmers. This research used interestinfluence matrix, where stakeholders are placed<br />
in a matrix on the basis of the extent to which<br />
they are interested in or can influence the issue.<br />
<br />
3. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION<br />
3.1. Characteristics of Nam Rom Irrigation<br />
System (NRIS)<br />
The DBIMC indicated that the main<br />
irrigation system for Muong Thanh field is Nam<br />
Rom irrigation system. This system was<br />
established from 1963 to 1965 then concreted<br />
and maintained several times up to now. This<br />
irrigation system includes 4 levels of the canal<br />
system. The main canal (the first level closest to<br />
the dam) is around 823 m. The secondary canal<br />
includes the left canal with the length of 14,208<br />
m and the right canal (about 18,051 m). It then<br />
discharges to tertiary canals and further to<br />
irrigate nearly 3000 hectares for two seasons<br />
per year. The two main canals (the first and<br />
second level) are under the management and<br />
operation of (DBIMC). Water Use Associations<br />
and Farmer organizations manage and operate<br />
all tertiary canals and filed canals under Dien<br />
Bien Phu city and Dien Bien District Irrigation<br />
Authority (Dien Bien Irrigation Management<br />
Co. Ltd., 2012).<br />
For water use management in NRIS, the<br />
Dien<br />
Bien<br />
provincial<br />
People's Committee<br />
promulgated several policies to provide guidance<br />
and definition on planning, exploitation,<br />
utilization,<br />
protection,<br />
regulation<br />
and<br />
management of all water resources and irrigation<br />
systems1. It clearly classified decentralization of<br />
irrigation systems and the area that is subsidized<br />
by the irrigation water fee exemption policy.<br />
However, it lacked water use rights and<br />
responsibilities, water supply supervision, and<br />
environmental protection provisions, especially,<br />
the rights and duty of the cooperatives who are<br />
directly responsible for water distribution and<br />
canal maintenance from the main canals to the<br />
farm canals. This leads to ineffective water<br />
management and water distribution.<br />
There are seven units who are responsible<br />
for maintenance and operation based on the<br />
1<br />
<br />
Decision No 15/2010 Issuing regulations on decentralized<br />
administration of protection, management, and exploitation of<br />
irrigation systems in Dien Bien province.<br />
Decision No 19/2011 Regulations on scale of protection of irrigation<br />
systems in Dien Bien province.<br />
<br />
1521<br />
<br />
Water use management in Nam Rom irrigation system of Muong Thanh valley, northwest Vietnam<br />
<br />
regulations and law. This system discharges<br />
water to irrigate about 2,566 ha of Muong<br />
Thanh field. Totally, 14 water use associations<br />
mainly depend on water from NRIS for<br />
irrigation as shown in table 1.<br />
3.2. Water allocation for irrigation<br />
In Muong Thanh valley, since 1968, after<br />
the construction of Nam Rom irrigation canal<br />
systems, water has been provided to meet<br />
demand with substantial involvement of local<br />
governments. Public allocation was seen as the<br />
<br />
majority mechanism to allocate water in the<br />
whole Nam Rom canal where the state decided<br />
what water resources could be used for<br />
irrigation, and allocates and distributes water<br />
to different water users in the area.<br />
In fact, the Nam Rom irrigation canals allow<br />
irrigation to those field areas with elevation lower<br />
than the nearby canals. Higher field areas are<br />
irrigated by substituted water sources, for<br />
example lakes and indigenous irrigation systemss.<br />
The longitudinal cross section of the Muong<br />
Thanh field is shown in figure 1.<br />
<br />
Table 1. Water use associations and irrigated area in NR irrigation system<br />
Canal<br />
<br />
Water use associations<br />
<br />
Left canal<br />
<br />
Irrigated area (ha)<br />
<br />
Units in charge<br />
of irrigation scheme operation<br />
<br />
Noong Bua Ward<br />
<br />
31.0<br />
<br />
Dau Moi unit<br />
<br />
Nam Thanh Ward<br />
<br />
73.4<br />
<br />
Thanh Xuong unit<br />
<br />
Thanh Xuong cooperative<br />
<br />
302.0<br />
<br />
Thanh An cooperative<br />
<br />
262.0<br />
<br />
Noong Het cooperative<br />
<br />
309.0<br />
<br />
Sam Mun cooperative<br />
<br />
273.9<br />
<br />
Right canal + Left canal<br />
<br />
Him Lam Ward<br />
<br />
18.8<br />
<br />
Right canal<br />
<br />
Thanh Nua cooperative<br />
<br />
26.0<br />
<br />
Thanh Truong Ward<br />
<br />
103.0<br />
<br />
Thanh Luong cooperative<br />
<br />
120.0<br />
<br />
Thanh Hung cooperative<br />
<br />
197.5<br />
<br />
Hong Khenh unit<br />
<br />
Thanh Chan cooperative<br />
<br />
190.0<br />
<br />
Phai Din unit<br />
<br />
Thanh Yen cooperative<br />
<br />
440.0<br />
<br />
Noong Luong cooperative<br />
<br />
220.0<br />
<br />
14 associations<br />
<br />
2566.6<br />
<br />
Total<br />
<br />
Hong Sat unit<br />
<br />
Dau Moi unit<br />
<br />
Pe Luong unit<br />
<br />
7 units<br />
<br />
Source: Dien Bien Irrigation Management Co. Ltd., 2012<br />
<br />
Field area is<br />
higher than the<br />
main canals<br />
<br />
Left canal<br />
(of 14.208 m<br />
length)<br />
<br />
Main field that the Nam Rom canals are<br />
able to irrigate (the field area is lower than<br />
the canal elevation)<br />
<br />
Right canal<br />
(18.051 m)<br />
<br />
Figure 1. Transection of the Muong Thanh field<br />
<br />
1522<br />
<br />
Field area is higher<br />
than the main canals<br />
<br />