IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/eee/agiwat/v179y2017icp366-377.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Estimating the economic and environmental benefits of a traditional communal water irrigation system: The case of muang fai in Northern Thailand

Author

Listed:
  • Mungsunti, Arriya
  • Parton, Kevin A

Abstract

The muang fai irrigation system is a traditional, small-scale, communal irrigation system that has been practised for centuries in northern Thailand. The muang fai is governed by a set of pre-established rules which, to a large extent, resemble Ostrom’s (1990) well-known principles of effective common property resources. The system is now being challenged by the introduction of various alternative irrigation methods, including privately-owned underground pump irrigation. This paper compares the muang fai system with underground pump irrigation in terms of its yield, capacity to generate revenue and water use efficiency. For this purpose, we collected farming and socio-economic information from 481 farmers in northern Thailand who are either in the muang fai system or are underground pump users. We used this data to apply the Propensity Score Matching (PSM) technique to estimate the difference in yield, farm revenues and water use efficiency of farms using different irrigation systems. Using Kernel matching, for example, we found that muang fai participation increases average farm revenue by about 6080 Baht (US$1000) per hectare per year (40.6%). We also found that muang fai participation can conserve 48% of water. Both the revenue increase and gain in water use efficiency are statistically significant and robust to various different matching techniques.

Suggested Citation

  • Mungsunti, Arriya & Parton, Kevin A, 2017. "Estimating the economic and environmental benefits of a traditional communal water irrigation system: The case of muang fai in Northern Thailand," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 179(C), pages 366-377.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:agiwat:v:179:y:2017:i:c:p:366-377
    DOI: 10.1016/j.agwat.2016.05.036
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0378377416302049
    Download Restriction: Full text for ScienceDirect subscribers only
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1016/j.agwat.2016.05.036?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    As the access to this document is restricted, you may want to search for a different version of it.

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Mainuddin, Mohammed & Das Gupta, Ashim & Raj Onta, Pushpa, 1997. "Optimal crop planning model for an existing groundwater irrigation project in Thailand," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 33(1), pages 43-62, May.
    2. Shahidur R. Khandker & Gayatri B. Koolwal & Hussain A. Samad, . "Handbook on Impact Evaluation : Quantitative Methods and Practices," World Bank Publications, The World Bank, number 2693, September.
    3. Unknown, 2003. "Proceedings of a CARDI International Conference on Research on Water in Agricultural Production in Asia for the 21st Century Phnom Penh, Cambodia, 25–28 November 2003: Water in Agriculture," ACIAR Proceedings Series 135391, Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research.
    4. Manor, S. & Chambouleyron, J., 1993. "Performance measurement in farmer-managed irrigation systems. Proceedings of an International Workshop of the Farmer-Managed Irrigation Systems Network, Mendoza, Argentina, 12-15 November 1991," Conference Proceedings h013492, International Water Management Institute.
    5. Azizi Khalkheili, Taher & Zamani, Gholam Hosein, 2009. "Farmer participation in irrigation management: The case of Doroodzan Dam Irrigation Network, Iran," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 96(5), pages 859-865, May.
    6. Jiracheewee, N. & Oron, G. & Murty, V. V. N. & Wuwongse, V., 1996. "Computerized database for optimal management of community irrigation systems in Thailand," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 31(3), pages 237-251, October.
    7. Mendola, Mariapia, 2007. "Agricultural technology adoption and poverty reduction: A propensity-score matching analysis for rural Bangladesh," Food Policy, Elsevier, vol. 32(3), pages 372-393, June.
    8. Singh, Ajay, 2014. "Simulation–optimization modeling for conjunctive water use management," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 141(C), pages 23-29.
    9. de Fraiture, Charlotte & Giordano, Meredith, 2014. "Small private irrigation: A thriving but overlooked sector," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 131(C), pages 167-174.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Citations

    Citations are extracted by the CitEc Project, subscribe to its RSS feed for this item.
    as


    Cited by:

    1. Arriya Mungsunti & Kevin A. Parton, 2021. "The Price of Sustainability of a Traditional Irrigation System in Northern Thailand," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(3), pages 1-10, January.
    2. Benya Suntaranont & Somrawee Aramkul & Manop Kaewmoracharoen & Paskorn Champrasert, 2020. "Water Irrigation Decision Support System for Practical Weir Adjustment Using Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning Techniques," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(5), pages 1-18, February.
    3. Yiyu Feng & Ming Chang & Erga Luo & Jing Liu, 2023. "Has Property Rights Reform of China’s Farmland Water Facilities Improved Farmers’ Irrigation Efficiency?—Evidence from a Typical Reform Pilot in China’s Yunnan Province," Agriculture, MDPI, vol. 13(2), pages 1-27, January.

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Ashimwe, Olive, 2016. "An Economic Analysis Of Impact Of Weather Index-Based Crop Insurance On Household Income In Huye District Of Rwanda," Research Theses 265675, Collaborative Masters Program in Agricultural and Applied Economics.
    2. Gitonga, Zachary M. & De Groote, Hugo & Kassie, Menale & Tefera, Tadele, 2013. "Impact of metal silos on households’ maize storage, storage losses and food security: An application of a propensity score matching," Food Policy, Elsevier, vol. 43(C), pages 44-55.
    3. Bonou, Alice & Diagne, Aliou & Biaou, Gauthier, 2013. "Agricultural technology adoption and rice varietal diversity: A Local Average Treatment Effect (LATE) Approach for rural Benin," 2013 Fourth International Conference, September 22-25, 2013, Hammamet, Tunisia 158482, African Association of Agricultural Economists (AAAE).
    4. Arraiz, Irani & Calero, Carla & Jon, Songqing & Peralta, Alexandra, 2015. "Planting the seeds: The impact of training on mando producers in Haiti," 2015 Conference, August 9-14, 2015, Milan, Italy 212622, International Association of Agricultural Economists.
    5. Abdoulaye Diagne Author-Name: Fran ois J. Cabral, 2017. "Agricultural Transformation in Senegal: Impacts of an integrated program," Working Papers PMMA 2017-09, PEP-PMMA.
    6. Jorge Leonardo Rueda Gil, 2017. "Cambio tecnológico y mejoras en el bienestar de los caficultores en Colombia: el caso de las variedades resistentes a la roya," Documentos CEDE 15665, Universidad de los Andes, Facultad de Economía, CEDE.
    7. Ahmad Romadhoni Surya Putra, R. & Liu, Zhen & Lund, Mogens, 2017. "The impact of biogas technology adoption for farm households – Empirical evidence from mixed crop and livestock farming systems in Indonesia," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 74(C), pages 1371-1378.
    8. Arriya Mungsunti, 2016. "Muang Fai’ Irrigation System in Northern Thailand: Farming Productivity and Water Use Efficiency," EEPSEA Research Report rr2016048, Economy and Environment Program for Southeast Asia (EEPSEA), revised Apr 2016.
    9. De los Santos, Luis Alberto & Bravo-Ureta, Boris Eduardo & Cramon-Taubadel, Stephan, 2017. "Are Natural Resource Management Programs Beneficial? Evidence from the POSAF-II case in Nicaragua," 2017 International Congress, August 28-September 1, 2017, Parma, Italy 261282, European Association of Agricultural Economists.
    10. Arraiz, Irani & Calero, Carla & Jon, Songqing & Peralta, Alexandra, 2015. "Planting the seeds: The impact of training on mando producers in Haiti," 2015 Conference, August 9-14, 2015, Milan, Italy 212622, International Association of Agricultural Economists.
    11. Wang, Yahua & Wang, Huan, 2022. "Effects of farmland use rights transfer on collective action in the commons: Evidence from rural China," Land Use Policy, Elsevier, vol. 120(C).
    12. De los Santos-Montero, Luis A. & Bravo-Ureta, Boris E., 2017. "Natural Resource Management and Household Well-being: The Case of POSAF-II in Nicaragua," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 99(C), pages 42-59.
    13. Alexandra Peralta & Scott M. Swinton & Songqing Jin, 2018. "The Secret to Getting Ahead Is Getting Started: Early Impacts of a Rural Development Project," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 10(8), pages 1-20, July.
    14. Weyori, A.E. & Waibel, H. & Liebenehm, S., 2018. "Livestock interventions and farmer welfare in sub-Saharan Africa: A panel data analysis from Togo," 2018 Conference, July 28-August 2, 2018, Vancouver, British Columbia 277379, International Association of Agricultural Economists.
    15. Ashimwe, Olive, 2016. "An Economic Analysis Of Impact Of Weather Index-Based Crop Insurance On Household Income In Huye District Of Rwanda," Research Theses 276460, Collaborative Masters Program in Agricultural and Applied Economics.
    16. Cao, Zhaodan & Zhu, Tingju & Cai, Ximing, 2023. "Hydro-agro-economic optimization for irrigated farming in an arid region: The Hetao Irrigation District, Inner Mongolia," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 277(C).
    17. Masoud Bijani & Dariush Hayati & Hossein Azadi & Vjekoslav Tanaskovik & Frank Witlox, 2020. "Causes and Consequences of the Conflict among Agricultural Water Beneficiaries in Iran," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(16), pages 1-22, August.
    18. Amarendra Sharma, 2019. "Indira Awas Yojana and Housing Adequacy: An Evaluation using Propensity Score Matching," ASARC Working Papers 2019-05, The Australian National University, Australia South Asia Research Centre.
    19. Samuel Sebsibie & Workineh Asmare & Tessema Endalkachew, 2015. "Agricultural Technology Adoption and Rural Poverty: a Study on Smallholders in Amhara Regional State, Ethiopia," Ethiopian Journal of Economics, Ethiopian Economics Association, vol. 23(2), December.
    20. Sarkar, Jayati & Selarka, Ekta, 2021. "Women on board and performance of family firms: Evidence from India," Emerging Markets Review, Elsevier, vol. 46(C).

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:eee:agiwat:v:179:y:2017:i:c:p:366-377. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: Catherine Liu (email available below). General contact details of provider: http://www.elsevier.com/locate/agwat .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.