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

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

7. Thesis title: Water management issues in the Duc Hoa irrigation area, Long An province (official thesis title proposed for state-level defense).
8. Major: Anthropology 9. Code: 62 31 03 02
10. Scientific supervisors: Assoc. Prof. Dr. Nguyen Van Chinh, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Tessier Olivier
11. Summary of the new findings of the thesis:
This dissertation focuses on the study of irrigation water resource management through the case of the Duc Hoa irrigation area in Long An province. Based on an interdisciplinary approach and ethnographic fieldwork, the dissertation analyzes the groups of actors involved in the implementation of a participatory irrigation management model in the Duc Hoa irrigation area. By examining the implementation of the water management model in the irrigation area and the feedback from stakeholders involved in the model establishment process, the dissertation demonstrates how water resources from the irrigation canal system and its management model have impacted local agricultural production. Below are some of the main findings of the study:
Firstly, the thesis provides a detailed and systematic overview of irrigation water use patterns in the study area of ​​Duc Hoa irrigation zone, Long An province, within the context of new water resources, new management models, and the profound impacts of climate change.
Secondly, the thesis's findings reinforce the view that analyzing a water governance model requires considering only technical factors; it must be placed within the specific historical, cultural, and social context of the project location. Each water user is not an isolated individual but lives and is influenced by the shared cultural background, traditions, and knowledge of that community. Therefore, studying water user feedback cannot ignore their responses within the cultural, political, and social context of their locality.
Thirdly, based on the study of the application of the Participatory Irrigation Management (PIM) model in the Duc Hoa irrigation area, the thesis points out the differences in understanding and practice of the PIM model between international funding providers and the Vietnamese government. Vietnamese managers tend to understand PIM simply as the state mobilizing public participation and input in projects, while international actors view PIM as a product of grassroots civil governance as understood in other democratic social systems. This observation contributes to showing that political institutions have a significant influence on resource management models, including water resources.
Fourth, to truly engage local people in a new water governance model, there must be mechanisms to empower them, meaning the project must give people the opportunity to gradually improve their capacity to meet the requirements of water management through real training courses. Participatory governance is a new governance regime that requires time and a roadmap for local communities to adapt to new elements; it cannot simply be about achieving goals within a limited timeframe to complete the project.
12. Practical applications:
In practical terms, studying the water management model of the Duc Hoa irrigation area helps to better understand the negotiation process to arrive at an appropriate management model. Furthermore, it helps to raise awareness among stakeholders and facilitate adaptation to an effective management model based on the harmonious use of existing and new knowledge.
For the Duc Hoa irrigation area, understanding, identifying, and analyzing the interactions between stakeholders during the construction, operation, and enhancement of the irrigation system provides new insights for the irrigation area management board and helps local authorities in Long An province receive feedback from practice, address and resolve challenges in irrigation management, thereby creating conditions for the irrigation area to operate as expected by the project, while also drawing lessons applicable to other irrigation projects in the Mekong Delta and the country as a whole.
13. Future research directions:
Based on the in-depth research results on the governance model in the Duc Hoa irrigation area, the thesis also raises several important issues that require further research. These include the relationship between the irrigation water supply system and the agricultural market, land value, and urbanization.
First, further research is needed on the risks to the stability of land resources for agricultural production. Besides developing industrial zones and commercial and service centers, localities also need stricter policies on land-use conversion to protect the land area reserved for agricultural production in Vietnam.
Secondly, the study examines the impact of irrigation systems on sustainable and harmonious development across agriculture, industry, and services, aiming to address people's food needs while also contributing to ecological balance and the natural environment.
Thirdly, stable water supply also impacts the value of agricultural land and the formation of agro-industrial centers, service areas, and urban residential areas, leading to the mobility of the local population, primarily through waves of emigration and immigration into the region.
14. Published works relevant to the thesis: (list works in chronological order)
- Nguyen Minh Nguyet (2020), “Water management 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), "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 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.