TTLA: Water management issues in Duc Hoa irrigation area, Long An province

1. Full name of PhD student: Nguyen Minh Nguyet 2. Gender: Female
3. Date of birth: March 25, 1983 4. Place of birth: Hai Phong
5. Decision on recognition of PhD students No. 1745/2017/QD-XHNV dated July 13, 2017 of the President of the University of Social Sciences and Humanities
6. Changes in the training process:
During the training, there were some adjustments to the topic name and instructor as follows:

7. Thesis topic: Water management issues in Duc Hoa irrigation area, Long An province (official thesis title proposed for defense at state level).
8. Major: Anthropology 9. Code: 62 31 03 02
10. Scientific supervisors: Associate Professor, Dr. Nguyen Van Chinh, Associate Professor, Dr. Tessier Olivier
11. Summary of new results of the thesis:
The thesis focuses on studying the issue of irrigation water management through the case of Duc Hoa irrigation area, Long An province. Based on the application of interdisciplinary methods and ethnographic fieldwork, the thesis analyzes the groups of actors involved in the implementation of the participatory irrigation management model in Duc Hoa irrigation area. From the study of how the water management model is implemented in the irrigation area and the feedback from stakeholders on the process of establishing the water management model, the thesis has shown how water resources from the irrigation canal system and its management model have impacted local agricultural production activities. Below are some of the main findings of the study:
Firstly, the thesis has provided a detailed and systematic description of the forms of irrigation water use in the research area of ​​Duc Hoa irrigation area, Long An province, in the context of new water sources, new governance models, before the profound impacts of climate change.
Second, the findings of the thesis have contributed to strengthening the view that to analyze a water governance model, it is not enough to consider only technical factors but it must be placed in the specific historical, cultural and social context of the locality where the project is located. Each water user is not an individual but they live and are affected by the cultural background, traditions and common knowledge of that community. Therefore, studying the responses of water users cannot help but consider their responses in the cultural, political and social context of the locality where they live.
Third, based on the study of the application of the Participatory Irrigation Management (PIM) model in Duc Hoa irrigation area, the thesis pointed out the difference in understanding and practicing the PIM model between international capital providers and the Vietnamese state. Vietnamese managers tend to understand PIM simply as the state mobilizing people's participation and comments on the project while international actors view PIM as a product of the grassroots civil governance model as understood in other democratic social institutions. This observation contributes to showing that political institutions have a great influence on the resource governance model, including water resources.
Fourth, to create real participation of local people in a new water management model, there must be real empowerment mechanisms for participation, that is, the project must give people the opportunity to gradually improve their capacity to meet the requirements of the water management process through real training courses. The participatory management model is a new governance regime, requiring time and a roadmap for local communities to adapt to new factors, not just goals to be achieved within a limited time to complete the project.
12. Practical application:
In practice, studying the water management model of Duc Hoa irrigation area helps to better understand the negotiation process to reach a suitable management model, on the other hand, helps to raise awareness of the participants and the process of adapting to an effective management model on the basis of harmoniously using existing knowledge and new knowledge.
For Duc Hoa irrigation area, the study, identification and analysis of interactions between stakeholders in the process of construction, operation and value enhancement of the irrigation system provides new insights for the irrigation management board and helps authorities at all levels in Long An province receive feedback from reality, remove and solve challenges in irrigation management, thereby creating conditions for the irrigation area to operate according to the expectations set by the project, and at the same time draw lessons to apply to other irrigation projects in the Mekong Delta region and the country in general.
13. Further research directions:
From the results of in-depth research on the governance model in Duc Hoa irrigation area, the thesis also suggests some important issues that need further research. These are the issues related to the irrigation water supply system and agricultural product market, land value and urbanization.
First of all, it is necessary to conduct more in-depth research on the risks to the stability of land resources for agricultural production. In addition to developing industrial zones and commercial service centers, localities also need to have stricter policies on converting land use purposes to protect the land area for agricultural production by Vietnam.
Second, study the impact of irrigation systems on the sustainable and harmonious development of agriculture, industry and services, to meet people's food needs and also contribute to the balance of ecosystems and natural environment.
Third, stable water supply also affects the value of agricultural land, and the formation of industrial-agricultural centers, services and urban residential areas, leading to the mobility of local population, first of all, causing waves of emigration and immigration into the region.
14. Published works related to the thesis: (list works in chronological order)
- Nguyen Minh Nguyet (2020), “Water governance in the Mekong Delta through the case of Duc Hoa irrigation area, Long An: Theoretical approach”, Journal of Social Sciences and Humanities, Vol. 6 (2b), pp. 262-274, ISSN 2354-1172.
- Nguyen Minh Nguyet (2020), "Water Governance Issues in Duc Hoa Perimeter of Phuoc Hoa Water Resources Project", Collaboration in Water Resources Management in Vietnam and South - East Asia, Nomos, Baden-Baden, pp. 155-184, ISBN 978-8487-6772-4.
- Nguyen Minh Nguyet (2022), "The canal system in Long An from the Nguyen Dynasty to the end of the 20th century", Journal of Social Sciences and Humanities, Vol. 7 (3b), pp. 413-426, ISSN 2354-1172.
- Tessier Olivier & Nguyen Minh Nguyet (2022), "The discrepancy between the theoretical framework of project intervention and observed reality: The case of the Phuoc Hoa project", Journal of Ethnology, (1), pp. 48-59, ISSN 0866-7632.
- Nguyen Minh Nguyet (2022), “Long An in the context of climate change in the Mekong delta”, Bulletin of Science and Education, (126). P.1. 2022, pp. 106-112, DOI: 10.24411/2312-8089-2022-10615, ISSN 2312-8089.

 

1. Full name: Nguyen Minh Nguyet 2. Sex: Female
3. Date of birth: March 25, 1983 4. Place of birth: Hai Phong
5. Admission decision number: Decision No. 1745/QD-XHNV, dated July 13th, 2017 of the Rector of the VNU University of Social Sciences and Humanities;
6. Changes in academic process:

7. Official thesis title: The Question of Water Governance in the Duc Hoa perimeter, Long An province.
8. Major: Anthropology 9. Code: 62 31 03 02
10. Supervisors: Assoc. Prof. Dr. Nguyen Van Chinh, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Tessier Olivier
11. Summary of the new findings of the thesis:
The thesis focuses on studying the problem of irrigation water governance through the case of Duc Hoa irrigation area, Long An province. By applying interdisciplinary methods and ethnographic fieldwork, the thesis analyzes groups of actors involved in implementing the participatory irrigation management model in the perimeter of Duc Hoa. By analyzing how to deploy the water governance model in the area and the feedback of stakeholders involved in establishing that model, the thesis has shown how the water from the irrigation system, the irrigation canal system and its governance mode affects local agricultural production. Here are some key findings:
Firstly, the thesis has provided a detailed and systematic way of using water sources for irrigation in the case study of Duc Hoa perimeter, Long An province, in the context of new water sources, a new governance model, and under the profound effects of climate change.
Second, the results have helped to support the idea that, in addition to technical criteria, it is important to take into account the unique historical, cultural, and social aspects of the region where the project is located when analyzing a water governance model. Each person who uses water is not only an individual but also a resident of the community, influenced by its shared cultural history, customs, and knowledge. Therefore, it is important to consider the cultural, political, and social context of the irrigation area in which water consumers live while analyzing their input.
Third, by studying the process of applying the Participatory Irrigation Management (PIM) model in Duc Hoa perimeter, the thesis has shown the differences in understanding and adopting the model between international funders and the State of Vietnam. While the Vietnamese managers tend to understand PIM as simply the State's popular mobilization in the project, the international actors see it as a model implemented from the groundswells level as understood in other social-democratic institutions. This shows that political institutions have a great influence on the model for governing resources, including water resources.
Fourth, the project must provide people with the chance to gradually participate in it in order to improve their capacity and meet the requirements of the water resource governance process through real training courses. This will encourage real participation of the local people in a new water governance model. The participatory governance model is a novel approach that calls for more than simply short-term project completion goals; it also calls for time and a roadmap for local communities to adjust to changing elements.
12. Practical applicability, if any:
In practical terms, studying the water governance model of Duc Hoa perimeter helps to better understand the negotiation process behind an appropriate governance model; in addition, it helps to raise the awareness of the stakeholders of adapting to an effective governance model by using both existing and new knowledge in a harmonious manner.
For Duc Hoa perimeter, the understanding, identification and analysis of the interactions between stakeholders in building, operating and enhancing the value of the irrigation system provides new insights for the governance of the irrigation area and helps authorities at all levels in Long An province to receive actual feedback and solve the challenges in the process, thereby creating favorable conditions for the irrigation area to operate according to the project's expectations, and at the same time draw lessons that can be applied to other irrigation projects in the Mekong Delta and Vietnam as a whole.

13. Further research directions, if any:
The thesis also raises a number of significant issues that demand additional research based on the results of a thorough inquiry into the governance model in the Duc Hoa irrigation area. These are problems with agricultural markets, irrigation systems, land value, and urbanization.
First of all, it is necessary to further study the threats to the stability of land resources used for agricultural production. In addition to the development of industrial parks and commercial and service centers, localities need stricter policies regarding the conversion of land use purposes in order to protect the agricultural land in Vietnam.
Secondly, further research is needed on the impact of the irrigation system on sustainable development and the harmony between the agricultural, industrial and service sectors, to not only solve the food demand among the people but also contribute to the balance of ecological system and natural environment.
Third, it must be seen that stabilizing water supplies also affects the significance of agricultural land and the formation of agro-industrial centers and urban services and settlements, leading to the mobility of local populations, first of all in the waves of emigration from and migration into the area.
14. Thesis-related publications: (List them in chronological order)
- Nguyen Minh Nguyet (2020), “Water governance in the Mekong Delta through a case study of Duc Hoa perimeter, Long An province: A theoretical approach”, VNU Journal of Social Sciences and Humanities, Vol. 6 (2b), pp. 262-274, ISSN 2354-1172.
- Nguyen Minh Nguyet (2020), "Water Governance Issues in Duc Hoa Perimeter of Phuoc Hoa Water Resources Project", Collaboration in Water Resources Management in Vietnam and South - East Asia, Nomos, Baden-Baden, pp. 155-184, ISBN 978-8487-6772-4.
- Nguyen Minh Nguyet (2022), "The canal system in Long An province from the Nguyen Dynasty to the end of the 20th century", VNU Journal of Social Sciences and Humanities, Vol. 7 (3b), pp. 413-426, ISSN 2354-1172.
- Tessier Olivier & Nguyen Minh Nguyet (2022), "Divergence between the theoretical framework of the project's intervention and the observed reality: The case of Phuoc Hoa project", Anthropology Review, (1), pp. 48-59, ISSN 0866-7632.
- Nguyen Minh Nguyet (2022), “Long An province in the context of climate change in the Mekong delta”, Bulletin of Science and Education, (126). P.1. 2022, pp. 106-112, DOI: 10.24411/2312-8089-2022-10615, ISSN 2312-8089.