Holding back the waters

The government’s controversial water management mega-scheme may have been put on hold but ordinary folks can do something to hold the floodwaters in check by taking part in the “Power of Human Energy: A Journey Inspired by the King”.

Designed by Chevron Thailand Exploration and Production, the Institute of Sufficiency Economy and the Agri-Nature Foundation, the project aims to teach everyone about His Majesty the King’s theories on water-resource conservation. The project caravan, which runs from July 27 to August 4, will visit various communities between Bangkok to Saraburi.

“Our aim is to have each person shake hands with a family and for companies to collaborate with 10 or 100 families. If we help support these communities with machinery and funds, we will not only consume better quality agricultural products but help our farmers have the water they need to grow produce,” says Dr Wiwat Salyakamthorn, president of the foundation and the institute. “We don’t want city people to turn away from the countryside.”

His Majesty introduced his “new theory” in 1992, outlining an agricultural approach that emphasises land and water management for optimum benefits. He was well aware of the several factors that had impeded productive agriculture, among them limited land area, risks from adverse climate and a lack of apt agricultural methods to replace the widespread mono-cropping practice. The core principle of the theory is to adhere to the guideline of His Majesty’s sufficiency economy philosophy, which encourages farmers to conduct their lives in moderation and enables them to become self-reliant.

“The King is concerned about Thailand’s disastrous floods and the flood victims affected by the Pasak River. This year, what worries him the most is the Pasak River Basin. In 2011, more than 5,000 cubic metres of floodwater travelled through this waterway system but the Pasak Chonlasit Dam could collect only 960 cubic metres. That means more than 4,000 cubic metres of water rushed downstream posing a risk to several provinces and to Bangkok,” says Wiwat.

“Listening to the King’s touching speech, it’s clear that the communities along the line of the Pasak River basin should have their own catchment system. We are helping the agriculturalists build and manage catchments so that they can use the water in the dry season. Most importantly, the catchments will prevent the water from flowing too rapidly and flooding 30 to 40 provinces as well as Bangkok. Catchments can take the form of several types of drainage areas such as check dams, marshes and ponds.”

The Wat Mongkol Chaipattana Area Development Project, initiated by His Majesty in 1989 and continuously expanded ever since, illustrates the new theory concept through a well-managed water supply system that delivers water from a large reservoir (the nearby Pasak Chonlasit Dam) to a small reservoir (the Huai Hin Khao Reservoir) before being generated further into each farmer’s pond. The system ensures adequate water supply for agriculture during the dry season.

“At first, local residents didn’t understand about the catchment and were opposed to losing their land. We demonstrated that by transforming 10 to 20 per cent of, say, a smallholding of five or 10 rai, into a drainage area, no farmland would be lost in the dry season,” says Wiwat, who has turned his 40 rai in Chon Buri into a drainage area to support 80,000 cubic metres of water. 

“Everybody should make a catchment. Soldiers can build one at their military camp. Monks can dig one at the temple. Teachers and children can prepare one at school. We should cooperate with each other.”

Members of the public who participate in the activities will be joined by celebrities Khemanit “Pancake” Jamikorn, Pitsanu “Boy AF2” Nimsakul, Akkaphan “Aom” Namart and A Day magazine editor Zcongklod Bangyikhan.

The event begins on July 27 with a gathering at Siriraj Hospital to pray for the King before moving to Thammasat University Rangsit, the official starting point. There participants can view a model from Ban Nong No, a community that adopted the King’s remedy and applied it properly.

“In 2011, Thammasat was badly affected by the flooding but found several ways to protect buildings and help others in the community," says Wiwat.

Participants can choose to walk, run, bike or travel by car to the various destinations during the nine days. Arriving at Wat Chujitthammaram in Phra Nakhon Sri Ayutthaya on July 28, they will learn about this temple, which doubled as a centre for more than 2,000 flood victims.

On July 29, there will be a visit to the sufficiency economy network in Nong No, Saraburi to learn about the King’s concept of “Three Forests, Four Benefits”. This mixed-forest project combines agro-forestry and socio-economic considerations into a comprehensive approach to afforestation, with forests divided into three parts to grow timber, fruits and firewood. The fourth benefit, a by-product of the Three Forests, is the conservation of soil and watersheds.

Participants will overnight in Saraburi then visit the RTA Cavalry Centre on July 30, which also served as an aid centre for flood victims. The troops will demonstrate how they evacuated and rescued flood victims. July 31 will be spent at Wat Mongkol Chaipattana Royal-initiated Area Development Project.

“This temple is the first model for the new theory. The Chaipattana Foundation acquired 14-rai for the temple to build the water supply system. The abbot is currently preparing an additional 12 rai to expand the system,” says Wiwat.

August 1 will be devoted to visits to the Huai Hin Khao Reservoir and the Chakrabandh Pensiri Centre for Plant Development before moving the following day to the Pasak Chonlasit Dam.

Ban Pong Ket School will play host to the visitors on the weekend of August 3 and 4 and serve as the model for 12 other schools nearby.

“This school adopted the King’s sufficiency economy philosophy and used the ‘lum khanom khrok’ design for its catchment,” says Wiwat, explaining that the design is named after the Thai pancakes made on a cast-iron griddle with small cups for each pancake. “We are expecting to see another 100,000 catchments over the next three years.”

“This project will help people understand the process of ensuring adequate water supply and folk wisdom,” says Wiwat. 

“And, more importantly, people from the city and the countryside will be able to interact.”

 

On the tube

_ The project activities will be broadcast on Channel 5’s “Joh Jai” programme throughout August and September.