Water resources policy and administrative management

The project location is situated in the east coast basin, an ecological component of the gulf of Thailand. It is a watershed area of the Lang Suan River draining into the gulf.With total cultivated area of approximately 100 ha and 150 target population, coffee is the only major crop which supplies income to the community. In order to decrease the dependence upon coffee only, there has been a practice of growing rotation crop such as fruit trees in the coffee plots- a semi-sustainable agriculture as it may be called. However, the practice has prompted every family to use an excessive amount of chemical substance in the form of fertilizer and pesticide. Apart from polluting the Lang Suan River and the Gulf of Thailand, the use of chemical substance has rendered many families into debt because of its high price. Project goals or objectives (including GEF problem-area addressed by projects): 1.To reduce the rate of application of chemical substance in agricultural practices through encouraging integrated farming and growing local species 2.To reduce the rate of consumption of fire-woods by introducing bio-gas technology and high efficiency stove Activities to be carried out under project: 1.Conducting seminar, training and study tour to build capacity of target population in the following areas: -chemical free agriculture and food processing -making compost and other natural fertilizer -conservation of watershed areas -community based data & information compilation and assessment -renewable energy use and energy conservation at community-scale 2. Launching integrated farming and biogas biomass activities Project participants and/or beneficiaries: 1.The government agencies in Patoa District 2.Chumphorn Agricultural College Anticipated results of project: 1.The production cost of incurred by one family is reduced by Baht: 1,960/rai/year,amounting to the total cost reduction of Baht: 29,400: /year. 2.The community members become more active and involved in community development work, more often meetings to discuss emerging issues and share lessons learnt. 3.There establish approaches for solicitation of local and national government agencies and concerned organizations, at least 21 units, to be stakeholders cooperating in planning and sharing resources.

Thailand