1.2 Contact details of resource persons and institutions involved in the assessment and documentation of the Approach

Name of project which facilitated the documentation/ evaluation of the Approach (if relevant)

Book project: where the land is greener - Case Studies and Analysis of Soil and Water Conservation Initiatives Worldwide (where the land is greener)

Name of project which facilitated the documentation/ evaluation of the Approach (if relevant)

Book project: where people and their land are safer - A Compendium of Good Practices in Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) (where people and their land are safer)

Name of project which facilitated the documentation/ evaluation of the Approach (if relevant)

Best Practices for Land Degradation Control in Dryland Areas of China (Best Practices China)

Name of the institution(s) which facilitated the documentation/ evaluation of the Approach (if relevant)

Land Development Department LDD (Land Development Department LDD) - Thailand

1.3 Conditions regarding the use of data documented through WOCAT

When were the data compiled (in the field)?

09/10/2018

The compiler and key resource person(s) accept the conditions regarding the use of data documented through WOCAT:

Yes

2.1 Short description of the Approach

The Land Development Department has promoted lowering of saline groundwater table in recharge areas since 2014. The approach used is through: (1) Public relations and information spreading; (2) Planning demonstration sites; (3) Selection of farmers interested in participating in the project; (4) Providing knowledge and advice to those farmers participating in the project; (5) The preparation of demonstration plots, with shallow wells, in farmers' land.

2.2 Detailed description of the Approach

Detailed description of the Approach:

Lowering shallow saline groundwater is one method of preventing the spread of salt in soils. This has been promoted under the Land Development Department (LDD) at Bua Yai district Nakhon Ratchasima province since 2014. The LDD has been drilling shallow wells to: (1) provide water for farming, (2) reduce the amount of saline groundwater, and (3) to create a positive economic impact.
The approach used is through: (1) Public relations and information spreading using soil doctors, volunteers, community leaders, and sub-district administrative organizations who clarify project details to community leaders, sub-district administrative organizations and farmers; (2) Planning demonstration sites; (3) Selection of farmers interested in participating in the project. These farmers must have agricultural land in the recharge area and within the project focus of the LDD; (4) Providing knowledge and advice to those farmers participating in the project; (5) The preparation of the demonstration plot, with a shallow well, in the farmer's land.
The demonstration plot implemented in the recharge area under Mr. Boonchu Supho is planted with rice, sugar cane and various kinds of vegetables throughout the year, for greater productivity. Importantly, even in droughts it is still possible to pump enough groundwater for the crops. Rice yield have increased up to 5-10%, surface salt patches have decreased significantly, and the surrounding environment has more vegetation and living things. The farmers outside the area and surrounding areas have come to learn in the demonstration plot and want to engage in the project. The area covered by demonstration plots has risen to about 1,000 rai (160 hectares).

2.3 Photos of the Approach

2.4 Videos of the Approach

2.5 Country/ region/ locations where the Approach has been applied

2.6 Dates of initiation and termination of the Approach

2.7 Type of Approach

• recent local initiative/ innovative

2.8 Main aims/ objectives of the Approach

Academic Group for Land Development, Land Development Office District 3, has cooperation from soil volunteer doctor, community leaders and the district administration organization to help publicize and coordinate with farmers in the area. Thus farmers have enough water for agriculture. The result of groundwater pumping on the recharge area can reduce the amount of salty groundwater that will flow into the bottom water area. The result of this approach is reduced soil salinity. Therefore, the project to prevent the increase of groundwater levels on the recharge area. Therefore appropriate to be used in the recharge area to reduce the spread of saline soil effectively. In addition, farmers in the area need to join a large number of shallow pond excavation projects of the Department of Land Development, resulting in faster expansion

2.9 Conditions enabling or hindering implementation of the Technology/ Technologies applied under the Approach

3.1 Stakeholders involved in the Approach and their roles

3.2 Involvement of local land users/ local communities in the different phases of the Approach

	Involvement of local land users/ local communities	Specify who was involved and describe activities
initiation/ motivation	self-mobilization	Developing technology by yourself
planning	self-mobilization	There is a plan to conduct agricultural activities in the area on their own
implementation	self-mobilization	Land users operate by themselves
monitoring/ evaluation	self-mobilization	There are soil doctors volunteers, community leaders, land users, and staff together to monitor and evaluate in the area

3.3 Flow chart (if available)

3.4 Decision-making on the selection of SLM Technology/ Technologies

Specify who decided on the selection of the Technology/ Technologies to be implemented:

• mainly SLM specialists, following consultation with land users

Explain:

Farmers in Bua Yai district, Nakhon Ratchasima province has begun to dig its shallow wells since 1997 and farmers have learned in the community causing a lot of water demand for agriculture. In addition, the Land Development Department has come to prepare a demonstration plot for drilling shallow wells to use water for agriculture on the area in the area of land users, ready to advise in 2014

Specify on what basis decisions were made:

• personal experience and opinions (undocumented)

4.1 Capacity building/ training

Was training provided to land users/ other stakeholders?

Yes

Specify who was trained:

• land users

Form of training:

• demonstration areas

Subjects covered:

Utilization of shallow wells suitable for agriculture, rice and vegetable cultivation

Comments:

Clarification of understanding with farmers interested in joining the shallow wells excavation project in the demonstration area is necessary because besides the farmers will receive knowledge and also see how to manage soil, plants, and water in the plot can be implemented or adjusted to suit their own area.

4.2 Advisory service

Do land users have access to an advisory service?

Yes

Describe/ comments:

1. The staff of the Land Development Department perform tasks and follow up work in the area, ready to give advice to land users, 2. Soil Volunteer Doctor, community leaders, as public relations assistants and coordinators in the area.

4.3 Institution strengthening (organizational development)

Have institutions been established or strengthened through the Approach?

• yes, moderately

Describe institution, roles and responsibilities, members, etc.

Demonstration plot of the shallow well is a learning center where is the farmers, student, and people outside can share their knowledge with each other. Moreover, there could be a center of coordination among the Land Development Department officer, land users and farmers, soil doctors volunteers and community leaders.

Specify type of support:

• capacity building/ training

Give further details:

Demonstration plot of the shallow well is a field trip center in communities where students and farmers outside the area that are interested in learning

4.4 Monitoring and evaluation

Is monitoring and evaluation part of the Approach?

Yes

Comments:

Department of Land Development officers monitor and survey the shallow well utilization agricultural uses of land users during September

If yes, is this documentation intended to be used for monitoring and evaluation?

Yes

Comments:

There are many points in this document that should be track and evaluate then, fix it or adjust it

4.5 Research

Was research part of the Approach?

Yes

Give further details and indicate who did the research:

Saline Soil Research Group of Land Development Department, evaluate the project of shallow well implementation for preventing soil salinity and spread of saline soil as farmers participating in Bua Yai District, Nakhon Ratchasima Province. Furthermore, there should be a study on the change of groundwater level to rice production in the area of integrated saline soil development project, Bua Yai District, Nakhon Ratchasima Province.

5.1 Annual budget for the SLM component of the Approach

If precise annual budget is not known, indicate range:

• 100,000-1,000,000

Comments (e.g. main sources of funding/ major donors):

The Land Development Department supports the excavation of shallow wells with water pumps with 5.5 hp gasoline.

5.2 Financial/ material support provided to land users

Did land users receive financial/ material support for implementing the Technology/ Technologies?

Yes

If yes, specify type(s) of support, conditions, and provider(s):

Shallow wells, equipment and installation fees

5.3 Subsidies for specific inputs (including labour)

• labour

• equipment

• agricultural

• other

If labour by land users was a substantial input, was it:

• voluntary

Comments:

The land user is self-operated

5.4 Credit

Was credit provided under the Approach for SLM activities?

No

5.5 Other incentives or instruments

Were other incentives or instruments used to promote implementation of SLM Technologies?

No

6.1 Impacts of the Approach

6.2 Main motivation of land users to implement SLM

6.3 Sustainability of Approach activities

Can the land users sustain what has been implemented through the Approach (without external support)?

• yes

If yes, describe how:

Land users have knowledge and understanding of drilling shallow wells on the receiving area, can help to reduce soil salinity well. In addition, income can be increased from growing rice, sugar cane and various kinds of vegetables

6.4 Strengths/ advantages of the Approach

Strengths/ advantages/ opportunities in the land user’s view
Drilling shallow wells in the catchment area.If the water is not salty, can be used to grow plants.
Reduce soil salinity. Increased rice yield by 20-50 percent.
Increase green area makes the air cool.

Strengths/ advantages/ opportunities in the compiler’s or other key resource person’s view
Public relations, coordination, and operations in the area are convenient. Because the Land Development Department has staff working in the area together with the soil doctors, volunteers, community leaders, and the SAO. Can advise farmers in the area
Learning management areas get water to the farmers in the community. Preparation of a demonstration plot for drilling shallow wells in the area of land users makes farmers in the community Other farmers who have suffered from saltwater problems and lack of water for agriculture Including the faculty of students and farmers outside the area Have the opportunity to learn.

6.5 Weaknesses/ disadvantages of the Approach and ways of overcoming them

Weaknesses/ disadvantages/ risks in the land user’s view	How can they be overcome?
1) Other farmers want to join the shallow well pond project because of the need for water for agriculture but the budget of the Department of Land Development is insufficient for farmers' needs.	The Department of Land Development supports the budget for drilling a shallow pond of 15 farm ponds/year. Must be fully qualified to be considered for participation in the project that the farmer who will join the project must have agricultural land on the water receiving area and within the scope of the project according to the plan of the Land Development Department.
2) During 1 year after drilling a shallow well, farmers must pump water from shallow wells for agriculture and maintain shallow wells as usual	The Land Development Department officials issued follow-up and advice periodically to allow farmers who participated in the project to help ensure the use of shallow wells for agriculture appropriately

Weaknesses/ disadvantages/ risks in the compiler’s or other key resource person’s view	How can they be overcome?
1) Farmers outside the project are not aware of the steps and qualifications of the participants in the shallow pond project of the Land Development Department	There should be a public relations project for farmers in nearby areas to be informed of the request for participation in the shallow well pond project of the Land Development Department

7.1 Methods/ sources of information

7.2 References to available publications

Title, author, year, ISBN:

Land Development Department

Available from where? Costs?

http://www.ldd.go.th/