Assessing livelihood piloting experiences associated with hydropower development

21 November 2013Hanoi CPWF Forum

Assessing livelihood piloting experiences associated with hydropower development: key outcomes and broad lessons learned

Presenter: Olivier Joffre

Contributors: Olivier Joffre, Sonali Senaratna Sellamuttu, Tran Duc Toan, Nguyen Duy Phuong, Bounthanom Bouahom, Anousith Keophoxay, Mith Samonn, Sovannara Khean, Mak Soeun, Nireka Weeratunge Starkloff and Jharendu Pant

Take Home Messages Modified environment provide also new opportunities like :

drawdown area, irrigation, integration of aquaculture

In case of newly introduced technology, communities will require more than a one year trial to continue and adopt the technology

A combination of having good relations with the private sector or government authorities and credible research results can lead to gaining support for the piloting of livelihood-enhancement activities in relation to sustainable hydropower development.

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Outline of Presentation Study Sites Key Finding of Broad scale survey Vietnam Pilot – use of drawdown area of Yali

reservoir Lao PDR Pilot – Integrated rice-fish culture in

resettled community Cambodia Pilot – Integrated Farming System

Approach Conclusion

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Sites CPWF Mekong Project are focusing on

Theun Hinboun Expansion, Lao PDR

Yali, Vietnam

Lower Se San 2, Cambodia

Learning from the broad scale and household level surveys Site specific livelihood strategies with community (i) already

resettled, (ii) in the process and (iii) not yet resettled Wide spectrum of situation with communities dependent on

natural resources in Lao PDR and Cambodia and more market oriented livelihood in Vietnam

Objectives of pilots: diversified livelihood activities using the new environmental condition created by the hydropower development

Pilots implemented with local authorities in Cambodia and Vietnam and Hydropower company in Lao PDR

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Vietnam Drawdown area of Yali

reservoir is used by farmer to grow cassava, but: risk of flooding is high at

the end of the crop duration on land

exposure is too short to achieve maximum yield with the commonly used variety

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Vietnam livelihood pilot – Key outcomes Introduction of a new short term

variety (KM98-7) 2012: 3 farmers – 1.5 ha – 1

commune 2013: 36 farmers – 20 ha – 2

communes

Increase yield and starch content 32 tons/ha vs 21 tons/ha 26% starch vs 21% starch Increased net benefit over $350

USD/ha to $850 USD/ha7

Vietnam livelihood pilot – Lessons learned Driver of success

Development of communication channels with the Company – Water level calendar

Involvement of local extension services

Development of seedling replication system

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Lao PDR Context

Development of Irrigation in resettlement site, flooded in rainy season

Depletion of fisheries resources caused by hydropower development

Pilots- Rice fish Culture Use the access to water for

integrated rice-fish culture Expend the productivity of

flooded rice fields during the rainy season 9

Lao livelihood pilot – key outcomes

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15 farmers tested the pilot Increase productivity of rice

fields : fish yield : 317 kg/ha Improve protein supply for

households Reduce time spent fishing Synergy with other livelihood

activity: Homestead aquaculture pond

Adoption of the technology by most of the farmers and development of more aquaculture

Lao livelihood pilot – Lessons learned Diversification of livelihood

options with Integrated rice-fish

Support of THPC Company – funding the pilots and supported the feasibility study Cooperation between NAFRI,

THPC and CPWF to develop pilots for livelihood diversification

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Cambodia Population not yet resettled and

location of resettlement, type and nature of compensation is unknown

Fisheries and NTFP are important to local livelihood and will be affected by hydropower development

DAE design Integrated Farming System (IFS) that combined different livelihood activities to diversify income generation and food supply

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Cambodia livelihood pilot – key outcomes Small scale aquaculture, use of hen house

for chicken and screening technology for vegetable production was found successful by local communities Reduce disease outbreak for chicken; Income diversification with vegetable

production dry season and fish production

Support food security with supply of fish and vegetable

Adoption and modification of the technology by local farmers

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Cambodia livelihood pilot – Lessons learned Learning for the future – DAE and

Provincial Extension service will be involved in future resettlement activities

Technology transfer is limited due to lack of investment capacity and lack of adequate land

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Overall Conclusions

Modified environment provide also new opportunities (drawdown area, irrigation...)

Capacity building of local staff took place as a result of the livelihood pilots.

A combination of having good relations with the private sector or government authorities and credible research results can lead to gaining support for the piloting of livelihood-enhancement activities in relation to sustainable hydropower development.

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Overall Conclusions

In case of newly introduce technology, communities will require more than a one year trial to continue and adopt the technology

While some technology may be easily transferable, others may require more monitoring and training from extension services and other groups

Only certain options were trialed and tested under Mk1 (due to budget/time constraints) – other options could also have been tested

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