Chiang Rai Water Resources and Utilities Development Project Expands Agricultural Areas to Cope with Drought

The Office of the National Water Resources, together with Chiang Rai province and local agencies, has launched a revised water sources and utilities development project to strengthen water security for agriculture and household use in watershed and remote areas. The project covers dredging of small reservoirs, construction of check dams, installation of solar-powered pumping systems, laying water pipelines from main sources to farm plots, and training farmers in efficient water management.

The acceleration of the project is driven by increasingly variable climate conditions in recent years. Irregular rainfall and prolonged dry seasons have severely affected Chiang Rai farmers, especially in off-season rice, fruit and fresh vegetable production. The government and relevant agencies view investment in water infrastructure and sustainable irrigation systems as a key solution to reduce risk. Installing solar pumping systems will lower energy costs and allow farmers to access water during drought periods.

The project also emphasizes community participation by establishing subdistrict water management committees
community water organizations) to plan water use systematically and fairly. These committees will receive training in water management, pump maintenance, and transparent repair-fund collection. The goal is for communities to manage the infrastructure themselves after construction is completed, reducing long-term burdens on government budgets and increasing community resilience to climate change.

Direct impacts for farmers include reduced risk of crop losses during drought and expanded cultivable area with sufficient water, enabling them to plan higher-value crops and increase incomes. It will also improve local food security, reduce migration of young farmers to cities, and create opportunities for collective processing of local produce—such as dried fruit, fruit juices, or other processed agricultural products—which adds value and creates jobs in the community.

For residents and tourists, better water management will help preserve the environment and the landscapes of agricultural and community tourist sites, providing a firmer foundation for ecotourism and sustainable farm tourism activities. Provincial tourism officials hope the water development will support homestays and farmstays that offer agricultural life experiences and local food to visitors on an ongoing basis.

The Chiang Rai governor said this investment is part of the province’s strategy to strengthen water resource security and grassroots economic development. Work will begin in pilot areas before being scaled up across the province. Monitoring and evaluation will be conducted periodically on outputs, water use per unit of production, and community satisfaction to refine the project to meet public needs and ensure long-term benefits.