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

Name of the institution(s) which facilitated the documentation/ evaluation of the Technology (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)?

11/09/2018

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

Yes

1.4 Declaration on sustainability of the described Technology

Is the Technology described here problematic with regard to land degradation, so that it cannot be declared a sustainable land management technology?

No

Comments:

Water supply systems in the high landscape rice terraces can prevent land degradation and also land users can utilize this area for producing rice in limited agricultural land. Because this system slows down the water flow, it reduces soil erosion into water courses and controls the amount of water that flows from the forest upstream to the rice terraces. This system increases water available to the rice terraces and improves the utilization of water, thus maximizing benefits for growth and yield of rice.

2.1 Short description of the Technology

Definition of the Technology:

An irrigation distribution system to highland rice terraces is required for agriculture on these highland slopes. It is based on the principles of water management in the area by diversion of water from natural watersheds upstream to the agricultural land - with regulation by village community consensus.

2.2 Detailed description of the Technology

Description:

The topography of this mountainous area, Mae La Noi District, Mae Hong Son Province, is complex. The height ranges from 994 -1,100 m above sea level (m asl). The main river is Mae La Noi. The climate is cool all year round. The annual average temperature is 25 degrees Celsius (⁰C), maximum temperature is 37⁰C in April, and minimum temperature is 8⁰C during December. The annual average rainfall is 1,500 mm and lasts from June to October. The number of households is 147, with total population of approx 763, 400 (Mae La Noi Royal Project Development Center, 2561). An irrigation distribution system to highland rice terraces is required for agriculture on these highland slopes. It is based on the principles of water management in the area by diversion of water from natural watersheds in the upstream areas to the agricultural land - with regulation by village community consensus. The steps of preparation are as follows. 1. Site selection: Rice terraces should be on suitable slopes, not more than 60 degrees, otherwise it will be difficult to excavate the slope and rice fields become very narrow. 2. Reshaping and leveling the slope: The sloping land for rice terrace should be reshaped and levelled by either manpower or mechanical means. The terraces can extend up to 50 m long, be as little as 1 m wide and 0.5 m deep, depending on the slope. The leveling of soil surface in the plot is done by releasing water into that plot and adjust the soil surface until a good level is attained. 3. Soil improvement: Generally, soil structure and fertility in the plots is very low because of reshaping and leveling. It is therefore necessary to restore and improve by application of organic matter, compost, animal manure, legumes, etc. Soil pH must be adjusted, and nutrients such as phosphorus and potassium should be added based on soil analytical results. 4. Rice cultivation: In the first years of cultivation, the terraces may not store water at the desired level, so rice is planted in small holes. Normally, farmers plant rice seedlings (3-5 seedlings per hole) at a spacing of 20 x 20 cm. 5. Fertilizer application: In this highland area focus should be on organic fertilizers to reduce costs, because people can find materials locally such as animal manure and plant residues. 6. Water supply system: Distribution of water to the rice terraces is managed by small dams or weirs to release suitable amount of water through a small water channel to rice terraces. This water distribution system will spread water to all land users in this area, and there is sufficient water for farming throughout the year. 7. Disease and insect control: Most rice varieties are native, so they have high resistance. But there could be some disease/insect outbreaks; they have to be protected according to instructions. The submerged condition in the paddy field can help control weeds, but some labour is still needed. 8. Maintenance: For small dams or weirs, small water channels and terraces, it is necessary to restore and maintain twice a year, i.e. before and after harvest.

2.3 Photos of the Technology

2.4 Videos of the Technology

2.5 Country/ region/ locations where the Technology has been applied and which are covered by this assessment

2.6 Date of implementation

If precise year is not known, indicate approximate date:

• more than 50 years ago (traditional)

2.7 Introduction of the Technology

Specify how the Technology was introduced:

• as part of a traditional system (> 50 years)

3.1 Main purpose(s) of the Technology

• reduce, prevent, restore land degradation
• protect a watershed/ downstream areas – in combination with other Technologies
• reduce risk of disasters
• adapt to climate change/ extremes and its impacts
• mitigate climate change and its impacts

3.2 Current land use type(s) where the Technology is applied

Comments:

Farmers in the area will grow rice in the rainy season for household consumption. The duration of cultivation until harvesting is about 6 months. In the dry season, the farms are converted to several kind of vegetables under support by the Royal Project Foundation.

3.3 Further information about land use

Water supply for the land on which the Technology is applied:

• rainfed

Comments:

The system of water supply of this technology distributes water resources from forest upstream to the rice terrace.

Number of growing seasons per year:

• 3

Specify:

Paddy rice once a year and vegetables 1-2 crops a year

3.4 SLM group to which the Technology belongs

• cross-slope measure
• water diversion and drainage

3.5 Spread of the Technology

Specify the spread of the Technology:

• applied at specific points/ concentrated on a small area

Comments:

This water system covered around 200 households, each household covers an area of 0.5 hectare.

3.6 SLM measures comprising the Technology

3.7 Main types of land degradation addressed by the Technology

3.8 Prevention, reduction, or restoration of land degradation

Specify the goal of the Technology with regard to land degradation:

• prevent land degradation

4.1 Technical drawing of the Technology

4.2 Technical specifications/ explanations of technical drawing

The irrigation water distribution system for highland rice terraces by farmers in the village is suitable for highland, sloping agriculture, with slopes ranging from 5-60 degrees. It is based on the principles of water management in the area by diversion of water from natural watersheds in the upstream zone to the agricultural land through the consensus of community members. Distribution of water to the rice terraces is managed by small dams or weir which are used to divert and release suitable amount of water through small water channels to rice terraces. The terraces can extend up to 50m long, 1m (or more) wide and 0.5m deep, depending on the degree of the slope. This water distribution system will spread water to all land users in this area, and there is sufficient water for farming throughout the year.

4.3 General information regarding the calculation of inputs and costs

Specify how costs and inputs were calculated:

• per Technology area

other/ national currency (specify):

Baht (THB)

Indicate exchange rate from USD to local currency (if relevant): 1 USD =:

32.0

4.4 Establishment activities

	Activity	Type of measure	Timing
1.	prepare small dam and water canal	Structural	in the first year
2.	prepare terraces and land leveling	Structural	in the first year
3.	cultivation	Structural	before rainny season
4.	soil improvement	Management	after preparing and cultivating the soil
5.	rice planting	Vegetative	rainy season
6.	fertilizer application	Management	after planting
7.	irrigation	Management	after planting
8.	disease, pest and weed control	Management	after planting
9.	havesting	Agronomic	when rice grains are mature
10.	None		None

4.5 Costs and inputs needed for establishment

If possible, break down the costs of establishment according to the following table, specifying inputs and costs per input. If you are unable to break down the costs, give an estimation of the total costs of establishing the Technology:

98100.0

	Specify input	Unit	Quantity	Costs per Unit	Total costs per input	% of costs borne by land users
Labour	prepare dam and canal	7x10	70.0	300.0	21000.0	100.0
Labour	planting	7x1	7.0	300.0	2100.0	100.0
Labour	maintainance	20x2	40.0	300.0	12000.0	100.0
Labour	harvesting	20x7	140.0	300.0	42000.0	100.0
Equipment	tractor	set	1.0	3000.0	3000.0	100.0
Equipment	fuel	liter	20.0	30.0	600.0	100.0
Plant material	rice seed	bag	3.0	100.0	300.0	100.0
Plant material	chili seed	plant	5000.0	2.0	10000.0	100.0
Fertilizers and biocides	fertilizer 21-0-0	bag	3.0	400.0	1200.0	100.0
Fertilizers and biocides	fertilizer 15-15-15	bag	3.0	700.0	2100.0	100.0
Fertilizers and biocides	fertilizer 16-20-0	bag	3.0	600.0	1800.0	100.0
Fertilizers and biocides	animal manure	bag	10.0	200.0	2000.0	100.0
Total costs for establishment of the Technology					98100.0

Comments:

Labour of small and canal preparation was paid in the first year, after that paid for maintain all of these structuer.

4.6 Maintenance/ recurrent activities

	Activity	Type of measure	Timing/ frequency
1.	restoration and maintain dam, canal and terrace	Structural	2 times a year

4.7 Costs and inputs needed for maintenance/ recurrent activities (per year)

If possible, break down the costs of maintenance according to the following table, specifying inputs and costs per input. If you are unable to break down the costs, give an estimation of the total costs of maintaining the Technology:

1800.0

	Specify input	Unit	Quantity	Costs per Unit	Total costs per input	% of costs borne by land users
Labour	restoring and maintaining the dam, water canal and terraces	2dx3m	6.0	300.0	1800.0	100.0
Total costs for maintenance of the Technology					1800.0

If land user bore less than 100% of costs, indicate who covered the remaining costs:

Land user spend their money for 100% of costs

4.8 Most important factors affecting the costs

Describe the most determinate factors affecting the costs:

The most important factors that affect the costs is the labour factor, where farmers need to hire labourers for rice cultivation such as planting, fertilizer application, maintaining the system and harvesting, including, the excavation and restoration of the small dam, water channels and terraces.

5.1 Climate

5.2 Topography

Indicate if the Technology is specifically applied in:

• convex situations

5.3 Soils

5.4 Water availability and quality

Is water salinity a problem?

No

Is flooding of the area occurring?

No

5.5 Biodiversity

5.6 Characteristics of land users applying the Technology

5.7 Average area of land owned or leased by land users applying the Technology

5.8 Land ownership, land use rights, and water use rights

Land ownership:

• individual, not titled

Land use rights:

• communal (organized)

Water use rights:

• communal (organized)

5.9 Access to services and infrastructure

6.1 On-site impacts the Technology has shown

Socio-economic impacts

Production

Water availability and quality

Income and costs

Socio-cultural impacts

Ecological impacts

Water cycle/ runoff

Soil

Biodiversity: vegetation, animals

Climate and disaster risk reduction

6.2 Off-site impacts the Technology has shown

6.3 Exposure and sensitivity of the Technology to gradual climate change and climate-related extremes/ disasters (as perceived by land users)

Gradual climate change

Gradual climate change

	Season	Type of climatic change/ extreme	How does the Technology cope with it?
annual temperature			moderately
seasonal temperature	summer		not well
annual rainfall			well

Climate-related extremes (disasters)

Meteorological disasters

	How does the Technology cope with it?
local rainstorm	moderately
local thunderstorm	moderately
local hailstorm	moderately

Climatological disasters

	How does the Technology cope with it?
forest fire	moderately

Biological disasters

	How does the Technology cope with it?
epidemic diseases	not well at all
insect/ worm infestation	not well at all

6.4 Cost-benefit analysis

How do the benefits compare with the establishment costs (from land users’ perspective)?

How do the benefits compare with the maintenance/ recurrent costs (from land users' perspective)?

6.5 Adoption of the Technology

• more than 50%

Of all those who have adopted the Technology, how many have did so spontaneously, i.e. without receiving any material incentives/ payments?

• 90-100%

6.6 Adaptation

Has the Technology been modified recently to adapt to changing conditions?

No

6.7 Strengths/ advantages/ opportunities of the Technology

Strengths/ advantages/ opportunities in the land user’s view
The villagers are self-reliant by living in balance between demand and supply to meet their own needs. So every household will grow rice for their consumption and solve some problems in water management of these rice terraces by their community.
Villagers have knowledge and technology of water management and systematically and continuously transfer to other land users from generation to generation, causing a connection between kinship and community. There are groups to solve the main problems of the community.
Villagers have a stable and strong mental state with the hard thinking to fight the obstacle in the way of living, to achieve a more prosperous life. Individual communities have strength in self-reliance, and also have strong mind in learning, having virtue and rationality in thinking and decision-making.
They have the ability to promote agriculture with natural resources and ecological tourism and develop the communication system for visitors to access the local information and facilities.

Strengths/ advantages/ opportunities in the compiler’s or other key resource person’s view
The selection of appropriate technology can solve the problem of soil degradation, reduce soil erosion and manage adequate water supply to agricultural area for the whole year.
The villagers have to rely and trust on each other with high willingness to share their knowledge and experience.
Communities have the ability to use existing natural resources in maximizing benefits, and at the same time they try to conserve and prevent soil degradation in this area.
Community networking allows them to conduct activities to achieve self-reliance.

6.8 Weaknesses/ disadvantages/ risks of the Technology and ways of overcoming them

Weaknesses/ disadvantages/ risks in the land user’s view	How can they be overcome?
Land users’ lack of ownership of the land that cannot be legally owned by individuals, as the area is located in a preserved forest. The villagers therefore might be afraid to move out of the area in the future.	The community leaders and villagers need to solve this problem, one thing being that they should ask the government to help.
Lack of opportunities for children to have education caused by the poverty of their parents.	Schools in the area have increased educational opportunities for poor children by sponsoring underprivileged children.
Lack of social and health welfare because this area is far from the city. Villagers will not be able to reach the hospital in time in the case of emergency.	Villagers take the right treatment from the gold card or project 30 baht free treatment of all diseases for emergency situations.
Lack the coverage of energy and communication system in this area. Some areas still lack electricity, telephone and internet facilities.	Some villagers purchased and installed solar panels for their own use.

Weaknesses/ disadvantages/ risks in the compiler’s or other key resource person’s view	How can they be overcome?
The villagers lack the ownership of the land, which located in the conserved forest. That means they do not have right to hold the land.	The government has a policy to solve these problems, and at the same time serve and arrange this preserved forest as natural resource.
Lack of educational opportunities, The study site is located in a remote area. Children living there lack opportunities in education.	The government has a policy to give underprivileged children equal education to children.
Villagers lack social and health welfare because of the remoteness of the place that they live. It is difficult to access medical treatment and hospital.	The government has set up and supported the budget to develop district health promotion hospitals in the sub-district level.

7.1 Methods/ sources of information

7.3 Links to relevant information which is available online

Title/ description:

Ecological tourism of Mae La Noi Development Center, Royal Project

URL:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=818zn7JMKsU

Title/ description:

Mae La Noi Royal Project Foundation

URL:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M8pFfl18fC8

Title/ description:

Mae La Noi Development Center of Royal Project Foundation

URL:

http://www.mhsdc.org/interest510.htm

Title/ description:

History of Mae La Noi Development Center

URL:

http://www.mhsdc.org/rypmaenoi.htm

Title/ description:

Mae La Noi Project for tourism of beautiful paddy rice terrace

URL:

https://mgronline.com/travel/detail/9590000106920

Title/ description:

Mae La Noi Development Center of Royal Project Foundation

URL:

http://royalprojectthailand.com/maelanoi

Title/ description:

Rice terrace in highland

URL:

http://www.ricethailand.go.th/rkb/management/index.php