Agricultural Development

Energy Development

Water Resource Development

Transportation and Electrical Transmission Development

Pollution and Waste from Urban and Industrial Development

Agricultural Development

Issue

The agricultural requirements for large amounts of under-priced water for irrigation, and losses caused by poor maintenance of irrigation systems, reduce water availability for other uses.

Particularly during the dry season, water allocation and conflicts over use are emerging as serious concerns.

Agro-chemical use and misuse is causing a deterioration in water quality

Background

Increasing water use for intensive rice production may affect other water uses, such as hydropower generation, industrial consumption, salinity control, etc.

Agricultural intensification has increased the improper use of agro-chemicals. The rate of pesticide and application in the GMS is low in comparison with other Asian countries having advanced agriculture, but usage is rapidly increasing. Use of fertilizer is also generally low in the GMS (with the exception of Vietnam) but is again on the rise. Evidence on the efficiency of fertilizer use is mixed.

It is not only the increased use of agro-chemicals that is of concern but also the improper use and application of banned persistent chemicals. Most farmers lack adequate information and resources to adopt improved methods.

Agro-chemicals are impacting surface and ground water quality, e.g., in the Korat Plateau and the Mekong Delta, where water is contaminated with agro-chemicals.

In many areas of the GMS, particularly upland areas, land tenure is not secure. This has an impact on soil conservation and farm investment practices. 

Conflicts over water uses have become prominent in Northeastern and Northern Thailand, where continuous irrigation develop­ment is over-extending supplies, leaving downstream users with insufficient water flows in the dry season.

With increased agricultural development throughout the GMS, and without proper preventative and mitigation measures, the agro-chemical impact on water quality can be expected to worsen.

Insecurity over land tenure is of increasing concern among ethnic minorities.