Abstract:
The objectives of this qualitative research were 1) to study the situations and solutions
of water scarcity problems in agriculture in Thailand from past to present; 2) to study the
management of small water resources with an innovation of soil-cement core weir; 3) to study the power relations between the community members, the communities, and the government in construction and management of the soil-cement core weir; and 4) to study the impacts of the innovation in poverty reduction. The study was conducted through literature review, collecting the data from relevant sources, including field studies with the communities, focus group and participatory observation.
The results revealed that inconsistency of rainfalls, long drought period including the
change of ecosystems were the main causes of water shortage. Soil-cement core weir helped to slow down and retain water, making it available whole year round for agricultural activities in the two studied communities. Moreover, it was discovered that positive power relations among community members, the communities and government were key for successful management. The innovation has contributed to poverty reduction and improvement of life quality of people in the communities, leading to policy recommendations for possible replication