Irrigation Sub Sector -Presentation

1. Retreat on Irrigation and Extension 12 March 2014 Irrigation Sub Sector -Presentation Presented by: Mr. KhammayVongsathien, Deputy Director General, Department of Irrigation, MAF

2. Table of Content: Overview Irrigation Strategy Irrigation Laws Planning up to 2015 Challenges on Irrigation

3. I.Overview

4. Overview Irrigation is important and necessary for the development of Agriculture and forestry. In the past, the Government of Lao PDR has allocated huge investment funds to the development of irrigation aiming to secure the supply of water to agriculture and thus to achieve its goals, as well as the implementation of 6th National Social Economic Development Plan.Irrigation projects have been improved, upgraded, constructed, renewed and repaired step by step. At the same time, the irrigation goals are set for 2011-2015 for supplying water up to 300,000ha during raining season and 200,000ha during dry season.

5. Map of irrigation projects location in 2013-14 ​Symbols Overflow weir ​Catchment Irrigation pumps For raining season 264,000 ha

6. Overview (1) Irrigation Statistic • Water user groups: 2,533 groups,strong: 66 groups, Medium: 1,627 groups, weak: 840 groups • Irrigation channel: permanent (concrete): 772,690 m, soil: 4,443,578 m

7. Overview(2) 8. International cooperation (grant aids)

8. Overview(2) 8. International cooperation (grant aids)

9. Overview(3) 8. International cooperation (grant aids)

10. Overview(4) 8. International cooperation (Loan)

11. II.Irrigation strategy

12. Irrigation strategy (1) 1. Development of irrigation infrastructure and Development of Agro-irrigation focus zone • 2020-2025– Objectiveto supply water in raining season: 500,000 ha, dry season: 400,000 ha

13. Irrigation strategy(2) 1.Development of irrigation infrastructure and Development of Agro-irrigation focus zone • 2020-2025– Objective to supply water in raining season: 500,000 ha, dry season: 400,000 ha

14. Irrigation strategy (3) Irrigation measures defined for each Part: • Irrigation development in small plains and medium plans in Northern part Upland areas; • Irrigation development in other flat lands in Central and southern part uplands • Irrigation development in 7 large plains • Irrigation development into agro-irrigation (2 priority plains):Sebungfay plain and Sebunghieng plain

15. Irrigation strategy (4) Disaster Risk prevention and management • Integration of natural disaster management, prevention and control plan into agricultural sector development plan in each level in each period; • Information survey to develop plan for defining risky areas for natural disaster; • Improve and renewing water gates and river protection cannels • Inspect and repair all eroded cannels of water pump station along Mekong river and its branches • Areas with erosion risk and other to use modern technology in defining and evaluating the condition • Using infrastructure with care and control and setting water level in catchment appropriately and safety before high water season

16. III.Irrigation laws

17. II. Irrigation laws References • Presidential decree of Lao PDR on the use of Law on Irrigation, no. 033/p, dated 17-01-2013; • Agreement of Lao national assembly on irrigation law endorsement, no. 038/NA, dated 14-12-2012;

18. II. Irrigation laws (1) Content of Irrigation Laws • Important content of irrigation law complies of 9 parts, 8 units, 79 articles • + part 1: general provision; • + part 2: Irrigation enterprise; • + part 3: irrigation business; • + part 4: water use group associations;

19. II. Irrigation law(2) Content of irrigation laws • + Part 5: Prohibition; • + Part 6: Conflict management; • + Part 7: Management and inspection of irrigation; • + Part 8: Policy for outstanding person and measures for those not following the rules; • + Part 9: Final provision;

20. IV. Plan for 2015

21. Direction of Irrigation sector from now till 2015 Irrigation is important and necessary for the development of Agriculture and forestry. Lao PDR has Mekong river flows from North to South, with many braches and has many abundant rivers, we have to protect together and making use of them into the social – economic development and to achieve target numbers of agriculture and forestry from now to 2015 as well as 2020.

22. Overall direction of irrigation development from now to 2015 (1) Promote awareness to villagers, at all levels to know the importance of water; In 2015 – with production areas of 1,040,000 ha, of those,dry season rice- 740,000 ha, Raining season rice 200,000 ha; Search for potential of water sources to develop irrigation without pumping as priority and allocating these project for annual budget plan; Actively research to solve or manage problems in the zones regularly experiencing droughtand floods.

23. Overall direction of irrigation development from now to 2015 (2) Survey, research and design some potential project for the benefit of production and small scale electricity power, in collaboration with Ministry of Energy and Mine and use the water from hydropower dams for agricultural production; Conserve water sources to maintain natural resources by constructing small, medium and large scale catchments; Develop irrigation strategy and plan.

24. Targets (2011-2015) Maintaining, repairing irrigation infrastructure: water catchment, overflow of spillway weir, water gates and others; Replace the fuel operating water with new electric water pump where applicable; Replace water pumps, pump houses (ferry) that were damaged; Actively and successfully implementing the budgeted and planned projects; Actively implementing planned projects with potential funds (Domestic and foreign investments) Implementing agro-irrigation projects for larger production (rice, crops, aquaculture, applying techniques).

25. Target of irrigation sector from now to 2015 Irrigation water supply plan in raining and dry seasons

26. Focus projects for rice commodity production in 7 large plains.

27. Focus projects for rice commodity productionin northern parts and mountainous small plain. Project of agro-irrigation, Nane district, Louangprabang province; Project of agro-irrigationfor Nammao, NamGnum, Thongxienghone, Xayaboury province; Project of agro-irrigation for NsmmaOun and NamNga, Sing district, Louangnamtha; Project of agro-irrigation for Namlong, Soubbao district, and bankuan project, Xamtai district, Huaphan province.

28. V.Challenges

29. Challenges (1) Challges for future irrigation development • Some areas designed for irrigated production are turned to other activities; • Most of water user groups are not yet strong enough to manage and effectively use their irrigation system • Water pumps are oldand wearing out, requires a huge budget to repair and replace; • Irrigation development without using pumps (natural flow) is easy to mange and use, but high capital cost to construct;

30. Challenges (2) Challenges for future irrigation development • Transform to modern irrigation by constructing irrigation channel with concrete, brick, and stone is the mean to reduce lose of water from the channel but related cost are high; • Investment of private sector into irrigation development is still small • Budget for repair damaged irrigation system due to natural disaster is limited and can not achieve expected goals.

31. Thank you