Premium
Learning sustainable water practices through participatory irrigation management in T hailand
Author(s) -
Sinclair A. John,
Kumnerdpet Wachiraporn,
Moyer Joanne M.
Publication year - 2013
Publication title -
natural resources forum
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.646
H-Index - 49
eISSN - 1477-8947
pISSN - 0165-0203
DOI - 10.1111/1477-8947.12012
Subject(s) - dignity , citizen journalism , business , agriculture , participatory action research , solidarity , sustainable agriculture , participatory management , collective action , water supply , sustainable development , environmental planning , environmental resource management , public relations , economic growth , political science , economics , geography , management , environmental science , environmental engineering , archaeology , politics , law
Participatory irrigation management ( PIM ) was adopted in T hailand in 2004 to encourage the sustainable use of water in the agricultural sector. The research presented in this paper sought to understand the relationships between public participation, learning, and the implementation of more sustainable water practices through PIM in T hailand. Data was collected through document reviews, observation, informal meetings, and a total of 55 semi‐structured face‐to‐face interviews of local irrigators from two case study regions around the K rasiew R eservoir. Results showed that participating in PIM activities facilitated both instrumental (e.g., water supply and demand data, benefits of on‐time water delivery) and communicative (e.g., reasons for past PIM failure, expectations of fellow farmers) learning among PIM participants. Findings also revealed that social action is fostered through the recognition of human dignity and compassionate communication that instils a sense of ownership and solidarity among irrigators. Sustainable water practices among local farmers were spurred further through learning that the reservoir is a finite water source.