Water Voices in Lao PDR - Final Report -December 2005

JICA Laos Office Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry National Agriculture and Forestry Institute

Water Voices in the Lao PDR

Attapeu Province ( ATP)

December, 2005

All copy right reserved by JICA. In the case of using the data, contact the JICA Laos Office

1/9 Water Voices in Lao PDR - Final Report -December 2005

Attapeu Province ( ATP)

ATP1 Date of collection of “ water Voice”13 September, 2005 Region and country where you collected Water Voice: Sisomphone village, Samakhixay district, Attapeu province. Name of voice sender: Mr. Saisamone Luangaphai , Age: 43 years. Voice sender: Adult , Male Occupation of Voice sender: Farmer Number of member in the family: 7 , Male 2, Female 5 How long do you live in this village: 43 years.

Title: Water supply shortage

From the year 2000 the people in my village had used and drink the water from drilling well, there were 9 boreholes in the village , but the water was not enough in dry season due to many households per one well which made the well broken so often. So far for maintenance it we made a roof and made fence for each boreholes and clear the area around the boreholes. If the there some boreholes or pumps had broken, the villagers will repair themselves and if there were some spare parts to buy for repairing they have collect the money from villagers for buying the spare parts. If there were some big damages t the villagers could not repair by themselves they will proposed to the concerned section to repair it. In this village there were no jar for rain water collection, because most of the people are still poor they have not enough money to make the jar. In dry season when the water from drilling well was not enough many of the villagers have to use the water from Sekong river for bathing and washing and watering the kitchen garden. If the source of drinking water in the village dry up only villagers could not do anything, we have to propose to the upper part to help us.

ATP2 Date of collection of “ water Voice”13 September, 2005 Region and country where you collected Water Voice: Sisomphone village, Samakhixay district, Attapeu province. Name of voice sender: Mr. Phanliya Keomany , Age: 46 years. Voice sender: Adult , Male Occupation of Voice sender: Farmer Number of member in the family: 6 , Male 2, Female 4 How long do you live in this village: 46 years.

Title: Crops production and irrigation

In the village had planted tobacco, corn, cucumber, and many kinds of vegetable which we grow along the Sekong river bank. water for watering was enough because we used the water from Sekong river. We planted the crops was for consumption and for sale some. The level of Sekong river in dry season was decreased in each years due to many people destroyed the forest and some wood traders had cut the big tree. Therefore it make the source of water had changed.

ATP3 Date of collection of “ water Voice”13 September, 2005 Region and country where you collected Water Voice: Sisomphone village, Samakhixay district, Attapeu province. Name of voice sender: Mr. Konesavan Keopaserth , Age: 42 years.

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Voice sender: Adult , Male Occupation of Voice sender: Farmer / Head of the village Number of member in the family: 7 , Male 3, Female 4 How long do you live in this village: 30 years.

Title: Flood

So far as I had experienced, in this village there were flood more than drought, in around 3 or 4 years it will flood one time, but severe or not depends on the volume of rain water in each year. In this years the flood rather severe because it caused the damages for the rice field about 43 ha. The total area of the low land rice field of this village was about 151 ha. but they did not do all of these area due to in the beginning of the rainy season there were no rain, the rain was so delayed therefore most of the farm did not cultivate all. We could not forecast about the flood. The damage from the flood of this year was 43 ha. and covered to 41 households, but some households their rice field was not damaged all, only half of their farm was damaged, but 8 households was damaged all. In order to sustain for their lives they have to grow another crops and some people have to went to town for being a construction labor.

ATP4 Date of collection of “ water Voice”13 September, 2005 Region and country where you collected Water Voice: Sisomphone village, Samakhixay district, Attapeu province. Name of voice sender: Mrs. Kanha Kounlavong , Age: 49 years. Voice sender: Adult , Femaleale Occupation of Voice sender: Farmer/ housekeeper Number of member in the family: 6 , Male 2, Female 4 How long do you live in this village: 45 years.

Title: Fish products

10 years before the number of fishes in the river and in the swamp in the village area were a lot, in each time we can catch 20 to 30 kg . but now even only for each meal was very difficult to get it. The number of fishes was decreased due to the water in the river was decreased and the population was increased and they used many kinds of fishing gear to fish such as casting net, gill net and even the prohibited equipment such as electric shock and some time also bombing they also used. There fore it made the number of fishes decreased. In this village they also have regulation for fishing, but some people were disobeyed the regulation. The species of fishes that had extinct, Pa Souay, Pawa, Paphone.

ATP5

Date of collection of “ water Voice”13 September, 2005 Region and country where you collected Water Voice: Sisomphone village, Samakhixay district, Attapeu province. Name of voice sender: Mr. Khamphao , Age: 73 years. Voice sender: Elderly , Male Occupation of Voice sender: Farmer Number of member in the family: 9 , Male 5, Female 4 How long do you live in this village: 17 years.

Title: The climate change

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Now the weather was not the same as before, in winter the weather before was very cold not in winter was not cold, in summer was very hot they causes of the climate change was the forest was destroyed. Many years before the people was also did slash and burn but they did not cut the big tree, not most of the big tree was cut and the watershed area was empty without tree. Therefore it made the climate changed, in rainy season if it rain it will rain so much and the water will be over flow and damaged every things. In summer it will be very hot abnormally.

ATP6 Date of collection of “ water Voice”14 September, 2005 Region and country where you collected Water Voice: Saisamphan village, Samakhixay district, Attapeu province. Name of voice sender: Mrs. Boukham Kingkeo , Age: 51 years. Voice sender: Adult , Female Occupation of Voice sender: Housekeeper Number of member in the family: 8 , Male 5, Female 3 How long do you live in this village: 51 years.

Title: Water supply shortage

The source of water for drinking and using in this village is from water supply of the municipality if Samakhixai district, but the water was not enough for use in dry season due to the source of water for making water supply was from Sekong river in dry season Sekong river was very scarce of water for making water, therefore in some months there were no water to supply for the people in the district. Villagers in the village have to take water from the neighbors who had drilling well, for bathing and washing clothes they have to go to Sekong river. In the village there many households had made the jar for containing rain water saving for using in the time when the water supply were shortage. Some households they did not have jar because they don’t have enough fund to make it. For water in this village was the big problem for the villagers not only in this village also in others villages in the district. The price of water supply was reasonable. not so high.

ATP7 Date of collection of “ water Voice”14 September, 2005 Region and country where you collected Water Voice: Saisamphan village, Samakhixay district, Attapeu province. Name of voice sender: Mr. Bounna Thongsa , Age: 50 years. Voice sender: Adult , Male Occupation of Voice sender: Construction worker Number of member in the family: 5 , Male 3, Female 2 How long do you live in this village: 25 years.

Title: Bank erosion There were some places that had bank erosion in the area of this village, the causes that make the bank erosion that is because the government had constructed the new bridge at Sekong river in the municipality of Samakhixai district, and they had moved the ferry port out of the place that they will construct the bridge and they have to excavated the bank of Sekong river, but they did not make the bank erosion protection , therefore in rainy season the flow the water in Sekong river was very severe and eroded the bank and slide down to the river . For example in this years the rain was very heavy and the bank was eroded much. To solve this problem the villagers had to request to the upper parts to do anything that will not make the bank erode. The villagers themselves could not do anything.

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ATP8

Date of collection of “ water Voice”14 September, 2005 Region and country where you collected Water Voice: Saisamphan village, Samakhixay district, Attapeu province. Name of voice sender: Mrs. Bounsou Xayaseng , Age: 51 years. Voice sender: Adult , Female Occupation of Voice sender: Housekeeper Number of member in the family: 11 , Male 6, Female 5 How long do you live in this village: 30 years.

Title: Water pollution

In this village the garbage was the problem that make the village dirty it was due to the un-responsibility of some villagers who did not care about the cleanliness of the social, and some people who had not received enough education about the sanitation and environment, those people did not want to pay for urban organization who collected the garbage from their home for management in the right way. This problem caused the water in the stream and river polluted. When the water in the river polluted it will caused the trouble to the health of people who used the water in the river and the fishes which living in the river. To avoid this problem and to make our village clean we have to help each other to keep the garbage in the right way as to the plan of urban organization.

ATP9 Date of collection of “ water Voice”14 September, 2005 Region and country where you collected Water Voice: Saisamphan village, Samakhixay district, Attapeu province. Name of voice sender: Mr. Bounthan Chathaphomma , Age: 68 years. Voice sender: Elderly , Male Occupation of Voice sender: Trader Number of member in the family: 7 , Male 4, Female 3 How long do you live in this village: 22 years.

Title: Fish products

For a very long time ago that we live here and used this river for our living, especially for fishing. In the time before the amount of fishes in Sekong river was very much and many species of fishes, if we want to eat fishes, we set fire up and prepared the pot for cooking first then we took the casting net to the Sekong river less than one our we can get enough fishes for cooking. But now the situation had changed because the water in the river had changed due to many people destroyed the forest which make the water in the river smaller than before, and another reason because of people had used many kinds of fishing gear including prohibited equipment such as electric shock, bombing and poisoning the fishes in the river. In the time of our parents fishing in this river, they did catch small fishes, they catch only big fishes unless half a kilogram and over, but now even a very small fishes they also catch for eating and also for sale.

ATP10

Date of collection of “ water Voice”15 September, 2005 Region and country where you collected Water Voice: Xaisy village, Xaisetha district, Attapeu province. Name of voice sender: Mrs, Malaithong, Age: 40 years. Voice sender: Adult , Female Occupation of Voice sender: Housekeeper Number of member in the family: 6 , Male 3, Female 3

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How long do you live in this village: 29 years.

Title: Water supply shortage

Water for drinking and using in this village was depending on the season, for example in rainy season most of the villagers in the village drink rain water and using water from drilling well. In dry season they drink water from Sekhaman river ( Boiled before drinking) and used the water from drilling well. the reason the they did not drink water from drilling well due to the taste of it was not good and when we boiled it, it seems it has some limestone curb along the pot. Therefore we could not drink it. To protect the drilling well we have to make fence and make a roof for each drilling well. When there were some pump had broken, villagers have to collect some money for buying the spare parts for repairing it. If we want to protect the water source not to dry up in the future we have to stop cutting the tree. If we cut more tree the water seems to dry up more and more in each year.

ATP11 Date of collection of “ water Voice”15 September, 2005 Region and country where you collected Water Voice: Xaisy village, Xaisetha district, Attapeu province. Name of voice sender: Mr. Chanlama, Age: 52 years. Voice sender: Adult , Male Occupation of Voice sender: Farmer Number of member in the family: 6 , Male 4, Female 2 How long do you live in this village: 52 years.

Title: Crops production and irrigation

The main crops we grow in our village was rice in rainy season and in dry season we grow rice and other crops such as bean, cucumber, chilly, egg plant and other kinds of vegetable. The area that we grow was along the irrigated area by using the irrigation water to water it. And some people they also grow their crops along the bank of Sekhaman river. In the village had the irrigation system by using electric pump from the year 2000, before 2000 the irrigation pump was used diesel pump. The water of irrigation some time had a problem due to the pump was broken, farmers sometime have to wait for weeks, for the technician finished repairing . The total of irrigated area was 85 ha. but farmer can do only about 27 ha. due to many reasons such as the water was not reach to the end of the sub-canal because at the head of the sub-canal was lower than the end of the sub-canal therefore the water supply to all of the area, another reason because of the electricity fee was very high more than the capacity of the villagers can pay and fertilizer also was very expensive, these are the factors that villagers could not do the dry season rice cultivation. And in some years the source of water in Xekhaman was dry up and was not enough to pump for irrigated the field in dry season. The irrigation was very useful for the villagers in the village because they can use the water for their rice farm in dry and rainy season. To protect the water source we have to stop cutting the tree.

ATP12 Date of collection of “ water Voice”15 September, 2005 Region and country where you collected Water Voice: Xaisy village, Xaisetha district, Attapeu province. Name of voice sender: Mr. Somboun Sipaserth, Age: 47 years. Voice sender: Adult , Male

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Occupation of Voice sender: Housekeeper Number of member in the family: 8 , Male 2, Female 6 How long do you live in this village: 29 years.

Title: Fish products.

10 years before we can fish easily and many fishes enough for making fermented fishes and for sale, but now the environment had changed, fishing had trouble we could not fish even for consumption in the family, due to the river had shallow and the water level was decreased which make the fishes from the sea and the Mekong could not come up for breeding. And there were some people who used illegal equipment for fishing such electric shock, bombing and poisoning along the river About this problem we could not educate all the people to stop them from using these illegal equipment and fishing in the breeding season. 10 years before we can see the Pakha (dolphin), Paphia, Papha, but now we could not see them. In this year The Agriculture and Forestry Office had established a reserve area for fishes in the area of this village for reserving the fish species and if in the next year they will have done like this again, I think that the nature and the fishes will come back again.

ATP13 Date of collection of “ water Voice”15 September, 2005 Region and country where you collected Water Voice: Xaisy village, Xaisetha district, Attapeu province. Name of voice sender: Mr. Soulitha, Age: 58 years. Voice sender: Adult , Male Occupation of Voice sender: Farmer Number of member in the family: 6 , Male 3, Female 3 How long do you live in this village: 58 years.

Title: Climate change, flood and drought

I would like to say about the climate now and before, The weather in the time before was very good , Especially for the rainy season which most of the farmer begin to work on the farm. In the time before On the end of May after Pimailao ( Lao New year) or at the beginning of June Most of farmer had started to make rice seedling bed and finished in the half of June, then started to transplanting in the beginning of July and finished transplanting in the end of July. But now, especially in this year 2005 rice cultivation season, the rainfall was delayed until July farmers in the village can make their rice seedling bed and started to transplanting at the beginning of August which the rainfall come to the end of the season. So far there were big flood in 1968 the water were over flow to the village area and many things had destroyed, especially rice and other crops. The villagers had to grow other crops to survive their living. In some year we had faced with drought. The drought also caused many damages to the rice and other crops, especially pests. The main causes of the climate change was the problem of wood cutting and upland rice cultivation of people who did not know the impact of it. This is the causes of the problem that make the villagers faces with many impact from the nature.

ATP14 Date of collection of “ water Voice”15 September, 2005 Region and country where you collected Water Voice: Oudomxai village, Xaisetha district, Attapeu province. Name of voice sender: Mr. Khambai Khanthakaly, Age: 60 years. Voice sender: Adult , Male Occupation of Voice sender: Farmer

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Number of member in the family: 5 , Male 2, Female 3 How long do you live in this village: 35 years.

Title: Water supply shortage

The population of this village had the drinking water source from drilling well which have 9 boreholes in the village. The source of the used water is from Xekhaman river which far away from the village about 200 meters. The problem of the village was the drinking water which was not enough for drinking in dry season, some people have to take the water from Xekhaman river for drinking, but the quality of Xekhaman river was very poor due to many people used in the upstream and in the river there were no fishes as it has ever been before. The lives of the villagers was depending on the nature, therefore in order to develop the living condition of people I would like to request to the upper part to construct the irrigation system and install more about the sources of drinking water in order to supply enough water for population which will be increased more in the future. Other than the water source in the village would like to have some fund for raising the animal.

ATP15

Date of collection of “ water Voice”15 September, 2005 Region and country where you collected Water Voice: Oudomxai village, Xaisetha district, Attapeu province. Name of voice sender: Mr.Phouxay Sipaserth , Age: 52 years. Voice sender: Adult , Male Occupation of Voice sender: Farmer Number of member in the family: 6 , Male 3, Female 3 How long do you live in this village: 18 years.

Title: Fish products

The fishing along the Xekhaman river now was very different from 10 years before, the fishing gear they used now was very updated equipment like gill net, but the gill net now was different from before. Especially now they used prohibited equipment for fishing like they using battery for electric shock, and bombing and some people used poisoning it. The district and the same as village they also have the regulation for protecting the illegal fishing, but many people disobeyed the regulation due to the poverty of them. They fish for sale to get the money for buying rice for their each day meal. They didn’t have anyway to earn for their livings, therefore even they know that what they have done was illegal but they have to do. So far in the village authority had confiscated many illegal battery which they used to fished and some people were fined, but until now there also were some people still do it. The fishes products in the river and in the rice field and in the swamp in the village area before now we can catch the fish as we need even we want to make the fermented fish , but now we cannot fish even for daily meal. The species of fishes that extinct like Pa fa, Pa phia. Paphone, Pa kheung and other but I could not remember.

ATP16 Date of collection of “ water Voice”15 September, 2005 Region and country where you collected Water Voice: Oudomxai village, Xaisetha district, Attapeu province. Name of voice sender: Mrs. Phetmany, Age: 49 years. Voice sender: Adult , Female Occupation of Voice sender: Farmer Number of member in the family: 2 , Male 1, Female 1 How long do you live in this village: 49 years.

Title: Water pollution

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The sanitation in this village still have some problem, for the garbage from each households was not have so much but the problem that is because in the village there were no latrine for use. In the village there were 151 houses but there were only about 10 houses that have latrine for use. When they want to chit they have to go to the bushes around the village. Therefore the diahhrea and dysentery often occurred in the village and the water in the river was polluted. The reason that they did not have latrine for use because many people in the village still under the poverty, they have no money to make latrine and there were no any project come to support them for making latrine.

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JICA Laos Office Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry National Agriculture and Forestry Institute

Water Voices in the Lao PDR

Bokeo Province ( BK)

December, 2005

All copy right reserved by JICA. In the case of using the data, contact the JICA Laos Office

1/8 Water Voices in Lao PDR - Final Report -December 2005

Bokeo Province ( BK)

BK1 Date of collection of water voice: 13 September, 2005 Region and country where your collected “ Water Voice “ Khouane Village, Tonpheuang District, Bokeo Province , Lao PDR. Name of voice sender: Mr. Noykhoun Xaymonkhon Age: 48 years old Occupation: Farmer Number of family member: 4, Female: 2 How long do you live in this village: 48 years.

Title: Bank erosion

Khouane is a village that located along the Mekong river in Tonpheung District, Bokeo province. Every year, we have severely suffered from the riverbank erosion during the flooding season. Since 1998, the increasing of water-way transportation, particularly the navigation of speedboats has produced serious impacts to the Mekong river’s bank. Other problem maybe due to the protection of the Mekong river’s bank from another side, the water flows very strong to erode another side of the river bank many years ago some of our villagers had moved their houses to upland and our gardens are also destroyed of about 50 m because of impacted from bank erosion.

BK2 Date of collection of water voice: 13 September, 2005 Region and country where your collected “ Water Voice “ Khouane Village, Tonpheuang District, Bokeo Province , Lao PDR. Name of voice sender: Mr. Noy Sisaiyonngurn Age: 56 years old Occupation: Farmer Number of family member: 3, Female: 2 How long do you live in this village: 16 years.

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Title: Crops production and irrigation

Khouane village is located along the Mekong river and can plant rice, and other crops like soybean, maize and ground nut during wet season. Normally in the wet season we have enough water to use in the household and for our rice crop. The rice depends on the rainfall, if there is enough rain there is more rice. There were no irrigation system in our village, if we have enough water in dry season we may be able to plant the dry season rice or other crops that can provide enough food for our family. Some year, when we had serious drought in our area traditionally we organize a ceremony to pray for rainfall. This can be done by finding a widow and cat and let they on the camp bed, then villagers parade them along the road and other villagers pour water on the widow and cat to make them soaking wet and cold.

BK3

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Date of collection of water voice: 13 September, 2005 Region and country where your collected “ Water Voice “ Khouane Village, Tonpheuang District, Bokeo Province , Lao PDR. Name of voice sender: Mr. Noychay Keolakhok Age: 46 years old Occupation: Farmer Number of family member: 6, Female: 3 How long do you live in this village: 46 years.

Title: Water supply shortage

We are people living in the Khouane Village and our village is located along the Mekong river. Usually the villagers in this area are used water from the Mekong river and wells for all uses in the wet season. The population was increasing but number of well was the same and the wells were dry in dry season so our villagers have suffered from water shortage for drinking.

BK4 Date of collection of water voice: 14 September, 2005 Region and country where your collected “ Water Voice “ NhangTay Village, Tonpheuang District, Bokeo Province , Lao PDR. Name of voice sender: Mr. Thongdy Bounkiao Age: 32 years old Occupation: Farmer ( Village leader ) Number of family member: 5, Female: 3 How long do you live in this village: more than 30 years.

Title: Water supply shortage

We live in NgangTay Village, which is located in the remote area of Bokeo province. Long time ago villagers were taking water for drinking and for using from a small river. We spent a lot of time to collect the water and bamboo is the water container of villagers for collecting the water. The villagers are using water from the spring water system since 2002 which was constructed by EED project. Nowadays, 2004 to 2005 we have suffered from a water shortage, we have not enough water for drinking and other uses in the household. The problem may be caused by the pipe is small and population increasing. We need assistance from the government and NGOs for improvement and/or reconstruction of water spring system in our village.

BK5 Date of collection of water voice: 14 September, 2005 Region and country where your collected “ Water Voice “ Nakham Village, Tonpheuang District, Bokeo Province , Lao PDR. Name of voice sender: Mr. Maimanh Bounthavong

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Age: 47 years old Occupation: Farmer ( Village leader ) Number of family member: 7, Female: 4 How long do you live in this village: more than 20 years.

Title: Climate change, flood and drought

Long time ago, It had abundant of water and forest in the Nakham village. The changing of climate by cutting to much tree the at watershed area of poor villagers which caused flood in this area. Every year, this village had faced with flooding, especially this year we have a serious flooded. Mr. Maimanh who is a village leader said: the flood this year had occurred on August 1, 2005 and it is caused severe damage to the properties and crops production of villagers around 8 ha. The impacts of flood on the village are food shortage, and consequently serious starvation as the living condition is getting worse. The villagers need support from the government or others to held them, especially is food.

BK6 Date of collection of water voice: 15 September, 2005 Region and country where your collected “ Water Voice “ Nam Chuam Village, Hoyxay District, Bokeo Province , Lao PDR. Name of voice sender: Mr. Maivong Age: 47 years old Occupation: Farmer ( Village leader ) Number of family member: 8, Female: 5 How long do you live in this village: 47 years.

Title: Climate change, flood and drought

Nam Chuam village is locate along the Nga river, long time ago our village never had problem about nature disaster. A few year later, climate has changed because of slash and burn for agriculture of poor people, so we have many problems from the weather that is affecting the people in the whole region now. Some time we had floods, some time droughts, this is we call irregular weather changes. This year we have a severe flood during wet season and lack of water for irrigation in both dry and wet season. Serious flood this year is occurred on August 15, 2005 and damages the earth weir of our villager, so around 7 ha of villager’s field can not be grown rice.

BK7 Date of collection of water voice: 15 September, 2005 Region and country where your collected “ Water Voice “ Nam Chuam Village, Hoyxay District, Bokeo Province , Lao PDR. Name of voice sender: Mr. Chanhthone Age: 40 years old Occupation: Teacher Number of family member: 5, Female: 3 How long do you live in this village: 15 years.

Title: Soil erosion

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Nam Chuam village is locate along the Nga river, and have suffered from heavy rainfall during wet season. Slash and burn for agriculture of villagers is caused climate change. Some time we had floods, some time droughts, due to irregular weather changes. In this year, the heavy rainfall caused soil erosion in many places of our village and irrigation canals were damaged. The impacts of soil erosion on the village are lack of water for irrigation, food shortage and consequently serious starvation and the living condition is getting worse. The solution of the villagers for repairing the irrigation canals at the moment, the villagers have mobilized labor to pick up the soil out of the canals.

BK8 Date of collection of water voice: 15 September, 2005 Region and country where your collected “ Water Voice “ Nam Chuam Village, Hoyxay District, Bokeo Province , Lao PDR. Name of voice sender: Mr. Ounkong Age: 48 years old Occupation: Farmer Number of family member: 4, Female: 2 How long do you live in this village: more than 10 years.

Title: Watershed and forest

The water resource and forest are big difference if compare to long time ago in our village, people did not face extreme climate events such as floods and droughts like nowadays, but in the last few year, villagers have many problems from the weather that is affecting the people in our village. There are some people still continue to cut the trees for their rice cultivation and other crops because of they are living in poor condition. Every year, villagers are cutting the trees for their crops production about 5 ha.

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BK9 Date of collection of water voice: 15 September, 2005 Region and country where your collected “ Water Voice “ Nam Chuam Village, Hoyxay District, Bokeo Province , Lao PDR. Name of voice sender: Mr. Chummor Souvanthong Age: 45 years old Occupation: Farmer Number of family member: 7, Female: 4 How long do you live in this village: 10 years.

Title: Crop production and irrigation We are people living along the Nga river, where the villagers can grow their rice in the wet season and some part of the area in dry season. There is a small scale irrigation system in our village, which only can be contributed water to the farmer’s area of

5/8 Water Voices in Lao PDR - Final Report -December 2005 around 8 ha in both wet and dry season. Moreover, there is an earth weir in this area, which is funded by villagers. This year, this village faced with heavy rainfall during wet season that caused severe damage to the earth weir and irrigation canals. The impacts of climate change on the village are lack of water for irrigation, food shortage, and consequently serious starvation and the living condition is getting worse. We need assistance from the government and others to improve or reconstruct of our irrigation system.

BK10 Date of collection of water voice: 16 September, 2005 Region and country where your collected “ Water Voice “ Phonsavang Village, Hoyxay District, Bokeo Province , Lao PDR. Name of voice sender: Mr. Somdy Somboundeth Age: 55 years old Occupation: Farmer Number of family member: 9 , Female: 5 How long do you live in this village: 37 years.

Title: Crops production and irrigation

Phonsavang is one of many villages that are located along the Mekong river where villagers can have water from river and rainfall for household uses and agricultural cultivation. Main of crops production of this village are rice and maize as well as vegetables such as white greens, salad, and cabbage. If the rain was normal no flood no drought means they can have good production. In the last few years (2000) we have more rainfall than we needed. It was flooded everywhere, the villagers could not harvest their crops production but in the last year (2004)the rainfall is coming late than normal. The changing of rainfall from year to year makes people difficult to plant their crops. We need assistance from the government and others to set up an irrigation scheme.

BK11 Date of collection of water voice: 16 September, 2005 Region and country where your collected “ Water Voice “ Phonsavang Village, Hoyxay District, Bokeo Province , Lao PDR. Name of voice sender: Mr. Saleum Age: 41 years old Occupation: Farmer (Village leader) Number of family member: 8 , Female: 5 How long do you live in this village: more than 30 years.

Title: Bank Erosion

Phonsavang is one of many villages that are located along the Mekong river. Long time ago, when I was young I did not see the serious bank erosion like nowadays in our village, especially in 2000 there were 10 households had moved their house to upland and now every year, the villagers still have moved their house to upland. The reasons of the bank erosion on the village are caused by more of boats and strong wave of speedboat, heavy rainfall during wet season and flow water- way. The area of bank erosion was long about one thousand and nine hundred meters in this area, far from our village only three hundred and eighty meters. To reduce or protect bank erosion, the villagers try to plant some grasses on the river bank

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BK12 Date of collection of water voice: 16 September, 2005 Region and country where your collected “ Water Voice “ Phonsavang Village, Hoyxay District, Bokeo Province , Lao PDR. Name of voice sender: Mrs. Amphay Age: 54 years old Occupation: House worker Number of family member: 10 , Female: 6 How long do you live in this village: 41 years.

Title: Water supply shortage

Phonsavang is one of many villages that are located along the Mekong river where villagers can have water from river and rainfall for domestic and agricultural cultivation. The villagers are lacked of clean water for every day use in the household during wet and dry season. During wet season water quality of the Mekong river is very poor because of garbage of human use and much of sediment. However, some villagers have adapted to use this water in their livelihood. In 1997 the water spring system had built in our village but the villagers can be used for only 1 year. The problems was that; the river is small, but it is used by 7 villages; Long sistance, it is around 7-8 km far from our village; and slash and burn for agriculture of poor people at watershed. Now, it is wet season but we are still lacked of clean water. We spend a lot of time waiting for the water, some time we have to wait the water at night because in the day time there were many people waiting for it .

BK13 Date of collection of water voice: 16 September, 2005 Region and country where your collected “ Water Voice “ Phonsavang Village, Hoyxay District, Bokeo Province , Lao PDR. Name of voice sender: Mr. Makaseurm Age: 61 years old Occupation: Retire official Number of family member: 7, Female: 3 How long do you live in this village: 34 years.

Title: Fish products

Long time ago, we were caught the fish along the Mekong at this village as much as we need because of number of fishermen were not many. Mr. Makaseurm who is retired official in the Phonsavang said: I moved from Luangphabang and live here since 1971, at that time no body interested about the catching fish, number of fishermen were very few, it was about 5 fishermen, we catch only big fishes and only for eat. Since 1985 catching fish at this village were difficult because of number of fishermen were increased, the villagers catch fish with modern tool. In addition, some villagers catch the fishes by using bombs and electricity shock in both Thailand and Laos sites, so now number of fish in the Mekong river in this area was very few.

BK14

7/8 Water Voices in Lao PDR - Final Report -December 2005

Date of collection of water voice: 16 September, 2005 Region and country where your collected “ Water Voice “ Pakthakang Village, Paktha District, Bokeo Province , Lao PDR. Name of voice sender: Mr. Phong Keopadith Age: 61 years old Occupation: House keeper Number of family member: 6, Female: 2 How long do you live in this village: 61 years.

Title: Bank Erosion

Paktha village is located on highland, south borders with Mekong river and north borders with Tha river. Every year, the villagers have suffered a lot from bank erosion. This problem can be due to (1) Along the bank of the rivers does not have grass or any plant cover, it is ate by animals, (2) More of boats and strong wave of speedboat, (3) domestic use, it does not have any sewer in the village, water and waste water from the village flow through out the river and (4)Seasonal flooding. The impacts of bank erosion on the village are crop production area is damaged and many houses were moved to upland, especially in 1993 around 20 houses were moved. Nowadays, around 50 meters of the bank were destroyed in our village.

BK15 Date of collection of water voice: 16 September, 2005 Region and country where your collected “ Water Voice “ Pakthakang Village, Paktha District, Bokeo Province , Lao PDR. Name of voice sender: Mr. Mang Phonvilay Age: 81 years old Occupation: House keeper Number of family member: 7, Female: 3 How long do you live in this village: 53 years.

Title: Navigation

Long time ago, when I was young, navigation of the Mekong river was very difficult and many of boats had accident in the river because of a lot of stone island. Now, it is better if compares to the past, the boat around 200 tons can be transported along the Mekong river. But navigation at the present time is affecting bank of the river so much because of strong wave of speedboat and grass or plant is also can not be grown on the bank, many of fishing boats of the villagers are sink along the river in this village. In addition, sound of boats is affecting our lives here so much and fish is also reduced, too.

8/8 Water Voices in Lao PDR - Final Report -December 2005

JICA Laos Office Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry National Agriculture and Forestry Institute

Water Voices in the Lao PDR

Borikhamxai Province ( BRK)

December, 2005

All copy right reserved by JICA. In the case of using the data, contact the JICA Laos Office

1/9 Water Voices in Lao PDR - Final Report -December 2005

Borikhamxai Province ( BRK)

BRK1

Date of collection of “ water Voice” 11 October, 2005 Region and country where you collected Water Voice: Pakpeung village, Paksan district, Borikhamxai province. Name of voice sender: Mr. Angkham Thammavong, Age: 43 years. Voice sender: Adult , Male Occupation of Voice sender: Farmer. Number of member in the family: 5 , Male 3, Female 2 How long do you live in this village: 43 years.

Title: Crops production and irrigation

We had grown many kinds of crops in our villages, especially in dry season we grow rice, and other crops like corn, cucumber, tomatoes and every kinds of vegetable, mainly we grow them at the Mekong river bank by using the water from irrigation canal which pumping from Pakpeung reservoir, we used electric pump to pump water for watering the crops along the Mekong river. We have enough water for our crops production every years, but for rice cultivation in some years the water from Pakpeung reservoir was not enough because we could not block the water as much as we can due to in rainy season there were some people who cultivate rice around the reservoir area, if we block much water it will over flow to their rice field. Therefore in some years if the water was not enough we have to use assistant pumping station which pumping the water from the Mekong river. For the irrigation system in the Pakpeung reservoir we have five headway station for five water user groups and one assistant headway from Mekong river. For crops production in our village we grow for trading to supply the market in Paksan district. Before we didn’t have irrigation system, the people in Pakpeung village was very poor, after we have the irrigation system we received many benefit from it we can grow rice and other crops for trading and it can solve many problem in our family for example we can make new house, we can buy necessary things we used in our house like refrigerator, TV and other things. The impact of the irrigation was that if we block the water too much people who cultivate rice at the upper area of the reservoir, water will over flow their rice field and in dry season we have not enough water for crops production. We have water management system for each water user group, we never have any confliction about water management. If we have no irrigation system so far we grow crops along the Mekong river bank like grow sweet potatoes, tobacco but not so much convenience like we have irrigation system as present time.

BRK2

Date of collection of “ water Voice” 11 October, 2005 Region and country where you collected Water Voice: Pakpeung village, Paksan district, Borikhamxai province. Name of voice sender: Mrs. Chantheuane Manivongthong, Age: 40 years. Voice sender: Adult , Female Occupation of Voice sender: Housekeeper. Number of member in the family: 4 , Male 2, Female 2 How long do you live in this village: 40 years.

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Title: Water supply shortage

The source of water for drinking and using in this village was from drilling boreholes which have 5 boreholes in the village. Among five boreholes there was only one boreholes which can drink, others four boreholes could not drink due to bronze smell and not clear only for using. In dry season we used a lot of time for taking water and some time were late for other work , because we have to wait in queue to take the water from one borehole. Some people pumping the water from Mekong river for using and there were 4 households in the village has big jar for containing rain water for drinking and using. For drinking water some people drink pure drinking water some people drink water from borehole, but boiled before drinking. If there were no source of drinking water like boreholes and well, people in the village have to drink pure water and used water from Mekong river.

BRK3

Date of collection of “ water Voice” 11 October, 2005 Region and country where you collected Water Voice: Pakpeung village, Paksan district, Borikhamxai province. Name of voice sender: Mr. Sonelay Thongphakdy, Age: 49 years. Voice sender: Adult , Female Occupation of Voice sender: Farmer. Number of member in the family: 4 , Male 2, Female 2 How long do you live in this village: 30 years.

Title: Wetland

In this village there were a swamp or wetland. It is a natural swamp but connected to the Pakpeung reservoir, in rainy season when we block the water up the level of water in the reservoir will over flow to the swamp and in dry season when we used the water from reservoir a lot the water level in the reservoir will reduce and left the water in the swamp over. The swamp was wide and long about 2 km and in the center of the swamp we reserved as the village reserved area, did not allow any body to fish in about 200 maters. In dry season when we pumping the water to rice field, the water which flow from the rice field it will drain to the swamp and over the swamp it will drain to the reservoir again. The reserved area when we want to fish we have to announce to all villagers and nearby villagers to fish there by paying for each fishing equipment. In some year if we don’t want to fish in caravan we sale the reserved area to private people and take those money for village fund.

BRK4

Date of collection of “ water Voice” 11 October, 2005 Region and country where you collected Water Voice: Pakpeung village, Paksan district, Borikhamxai province. Name of voice sender: Mr. Patheuang Phon-asa, Age: 49 years. Voice sender: Adult , Male Occupation of Voice sender: Farmer. Number of member in the family: 5 , Male 3, Female 2 How long do you live in this village: 29 years.

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Title: Fish products

People in this village like fishing in Mekong river by using gillnets, some people also fish in the swamp or Pakpeung stream, but mainly they prefer to fish in Mekong river because the fish from Mekong river can sale in good price and many people like to eat. After fishing work from field, most of them like to fish for earning their extra income. The number of fish now and before it had decreased a lot almost one half. For example in 10 years so far we used two set of gillnets for fishing we can get enough fish for consumption and sale in the market, but now we used about 6-7 sets of gillnets and make two level of gillnets to fish but the amount we can get was smaller than before. And before now we use gillnets which has the hole for catching fish about 5 cm over, it means that we caught only big fish, but now even 2 cm we have to use for catching fishes due to the fish scarcity. Now for the big fishes we still see it was Pa Chok and Pakhae. For Pa eun we could not see any more due to many people fishing for trading. The regulation for fishing in the village we prohibited to use bombing and other illegal equipment, if there were some body violated he will be capture into jail.

BRK5

Date of collection of “ water Voice” 12 October, 2005 Region and country where you collected Water Voice: Nachik village, Paksan district, Borikhamxai province. Name of voice sender: Mr. Kim Nhongthaboun, Age: 78 years. Voice sender: Elderly , Male Occupation of Voice sender: Farmer. Number of member in the family: 7 , Male 4, Female 3 How long do you live in this village: 41 years.

Title: Climate change, flood and drought

Many years before when I moved here at first, there were often flood in this village due to in that time there were a lot of big tree and the nature still fertile. Now the climate had changed , there were no flood, but drought instead due to many big tree were cut and many people were cultivated slash and burn before, so the climate now seems better than before, farmer can grow rice in time in rainy season. In winter now it seems not so cold, in the time before in winter many people had set fire for warming, but now nobody do that due to the weather now was not so cold, in summer it seems very hot, if we have no electric fan we could not live, the fan was very necessary in summer. Drought was so often than flood, last year in May the water in the well seems dried we had dig more two to three time to get water for drinking.

BRK6

Date of collection of “ water Voice” 12 October, 2005 Region and country where you collected Water Voice: Nachik village, Paksan district, Borikhamxai province. Name of voice sender: Mr. Khamfong Khounthavixay, Age: 52 years. Voice sender: Adult , Male Occupation of Voice sender: Farmer. Number of member in the family: 6 , Male 3, Female 3 How long do you live in this village: 52 years.

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Title: Fish products

Fishing in this village they used gillnets and fishing hook, nobody used bomb, poisoning and electric shock, because we have strictly regulation in our village. The number of fishes in Namxan river was decreased a lot when we compare to 10 -20 years ago, because before many people used bombing to catch fishes, and after the country had seized the power from the old government, the village as the same as district authorities had prohibited people to use bomb and other illegal equipment for catching in the river, therefore some fishes still available and we still can fishes for consumption in our household, but decreased a lot than before. Now there were many people fishing for consumption and for trading now. Now Some species of fishes was not available like Pakeng( Cirrhinus molitorella), Pa phia and Pakhae maybe because of many people using their gillnets to catch fishes at the mouth of the river and another reason because of the river became shallow than before which make the big fishes could not live.

BRK7

Date of collection of “ water Voice” 12 October, 2005 Region and country where you collected Water Voice: Nachik village, Paksan district, Borikhamxai province. Name of voice sender: Mr. Keng, Age: 70 years. Voice sender: Elderly , Male Occupation of Voice sender: Farmer. Number of member in the family: 6 , Male 2, Female 4 How long do you live in this village: 45 years.

Title: Bank erosion

There were bank erosion in the river bank of Namxan river in the area of Nachik village nowadays, in the time before there were no bank erosion, because in that time the river bank were still rich of natural tree like bamboo and other kinds of tree which can protect the bank erosion very well, but now there were crowded of people many people had slashed the tree along the river bank for making garden in dry season, therefore in rainy season it caused the tide flew so fast and hit the bank and eroded it, but not so severely. If my house located near the bank erosion I will grow some tree that can protect the bank erosion.

BRK8

Date of collection of “ water Voice” 13 October, 2005 Region and country where you collected Water Voice: Hadkhai village, Thaphabat district, Borikhamxai province. Name of voice sender: Mr. Khammany Manivong, Age: 57 years. Voice sender: Elderly , Male Occupation of Voice sender: Farmer. Number of member in the family: 8 , Male 5, Female 3 How long do you live in this village: 28 years.

Title: Flood

The situation of flood since I was moved here to live in this village, it was flood but as normal as it had ever before, it means the rain was fallen according to the season. it flood when it should be flood, it means

5/9 Water Voices in Lao PDR - Final Report -December 2005 it flood when the rice in the field was strong enough to protect itself from flood damage, in the past time the flood was often occurred in October, in that time some people were harvesting. The climate had change not the same as before, in rainy season when it rain it will rain contineously for many days until it was flood, if it stop raining it will stop for many days until the water in the rice field was dried up. In this village it often drought more than flood. For drought 1-2 years it drought one time but flood 3-4 years it flood one time. In 1977 it was heavy flood damaged all of rice field. To survive people in the village have to collect Non-timber forest product ( NTFP) to sale for buying rice for household consumption and crops production, the main crops which they grow in this village was Mak Euk ( a kind of egg plant which they used to mix with papaya salad). The main causes of the climate changed was the wood cutting and people conducted slash and burn in the time before but now they stop already.

BRK9

Date of collection of “ water Voice” 13 October, 2005 Region and country where you collected Water Voice: Hadkhai village, Thaphabat district, Borikhamxai province. Name of voice sender: Mr. Thongphoun Senthammavong, Age: 51 years. Voice sender: Elderly , Male Occupation of Voice sender: Farmer. Number of member in the family: 7 , Male 4, Female 3 How long do you live in this village: 51 years.

Title: Climate change, flood and drought In the time before the rain will rain since in February but only one time and in march also rain but not so much, in May it is the real beginning of rainy season, in this month people in the village had started to make rice seed bed and in June many people stated to transplant their rice, but now the climate had changed, in Feb. the rain was not come and in March there were no rain and in may which is the season for farmers to make rice seed bed, but they could not do it due to it was no rain. In Nammang river before in July or August the water will be full up in the river but now some years the water in the river still lower, but in some years it was flood so early while the rice was newly transplanted in the field. The rain now was not according to the estimation, some time over but some time lower. In rainy season if the rain stop and the sun shone it will be very hot. In summer the weather was terrible hot bur some time when it was rain it will be cool. Summer seems very long in this village even in rainy season also was hot. The cause of climate change it maybe due to the tree had cut a lot. When I was young around this village there were a of big tree and big forest and it had some tigers around the village, at night we can hear the cruel sound of tigers. Now we never see the tiger any more. If we want to protect ther forest to be rich as before we have to stop cutting tree and grow some in bared area in order to make the forest come back as in the former time.

BRK10

Date of collection of “ water Voice” 13 October, 2005 Region and country where you collected Water Voice: Hadkhai village, Thaphabat district, Borikhamxai province. Name of voice sender: Mr.Chanlay Chanthavongsa, Age: 45 years. Voice sender: Adult , Male Occupation of Voice sender: Farmer. Number of member in the family: 7 , Male 4, Female 3 How long do you live in this village: 19 years.

Title: Fish products

In this village there were only Nammang river for fishing, in the time before there were a lot of fishes in Nammang river, we can use only one fishing hook to fish, but we can get enough fishes for daily consumption. The species of fishes in the time before there were Pa Kheung, Pakhae, Pakon, Pasong, Papak, and also crocodile, but now many species had disappeared like Pakhae, Pakheung, Pa Wa, the fishing gear

6/9 Water Voices in Lao PDR - Final Report -December 2005 that we used in our village only gillnets and casting nets. In this village there were nobody using prohibited equipment like bombing, poisoning, and electric shock for fishing, because we have regulation, in the breeding season we prohibited to block water way for catching fishes. In the time before even we have no any fishing gear, but we can catch the fishes by our hand by diving into the water and looking for fishes in the rock hole and catch fishes. The causes of the changing maybe due to many people cutting the tree and conducted slash and burn at the water shed area which make the land slide down and bank erosion which made the river became shallow big fishes could not live. If we want reserve it we have to stop cutting the tree. In our village there some people who fish for sale but they could not fish in a big amount in each day they can catch one to two kg or some days they could not get even one kg.

BRK11

Date of collection of “ water Voice” 13 October, 2005 Region and country where you collected Water Voice: Hadkhai village, Thaphabat district, Borikhamxai province. Name of voice sender: Mrs. Pong, Age: 32 years. Voice sender: Adult , Female Occupation of Voice sender: Housekeeper. Number of member in the family: 5 , Male 2, Female 3 How long do you live in this village: 16 years.

Title: Water supply shortage

In the time before in this village used water from Nammang for drinking and using because in that time the water from Nammang river still in good quality we can boil for drinkingbut now due to they have the tourist site at Tadleuk up stream it caused the water in Nammang river down stream was not so good there fore in 1999 most of the villager decided to make well at first there was only one well but now there were more than 10 well in the village, private and public well, but in dry season can use only one well which not enough for consumption. And in last years provincial water supply section had installed 3 deep well for the village but can use only one deep well due to it had too much sand underground, in dry season many people still using water from Nammang river. In rainy season we not so much problem because we can use and drink rain water in the village there were two households which have big jar for containing rain water, other than that they have not enough money to make it. In dry season in our village we need water supply system if possible because it can solve the problem of water. So far we have ever proposed to district authority, but still no reply from them , they just had collected some information only.

BRK12

Date of collection of “ water Voice” 13 October, 2005 Region and country where you collected Water Voice: Phonsavan village, Thaphabat district, Borikhamxai province. Name of voice sender: Mr. Khamman Nanthilath, Age: 39 years. Voice sender: Adult , Male Occupation of Voice sender: Farmer. Number of member in the family: 5 , Male 3, Female 2 How long do you live in this village: 25 years.

7/9 Water Voices in Lao PDR - Final Report -December 2005

Title: Water supply shortage

The water supply source in this village was from wells, which there were about 30 well in the village, but 29 well can used the water only in rainy season, there were only one well that can use all year round which far away from the village about 1 km. In dry season most of the villagers have to go to take the water from that well by using buckets and using pushing cart to take the water. Some time in taking water it caused the problem for another work also and some students could not go to school in time due to they have to wait for taking water. For supply enough water in the future we would like the upper authority to help us to make the deep well in the village, because we have already one deep well but in the temple. We need to install in the village. So far we had proposed to district and provincial level already but still no reply from them. They said only waiting. There were no big jar for containing rain water in the village because of poverty and did not know how to do.

BRK13

Date of collection of “ water Voice” 13 October, 2005 Region and country where you collected Water Voice: Phonsavan village, Thaphabat district, Borikhamxai province. Name of voice sender: Mr.Sy Navichith, Age: 16 years. Voice sender: Youth , Male Occupation of Voice sender: Student. Number of member in the family: 5 , Male 3, Female 2 How long do you live in this village: 15 years.

Title: Crops production and irrigation

In this village we grow rice, other than rice we grow cassava, sugar cane, pine apple, but we use to grow only in rainy season, for dry season we have no water sources for watering, because our village was far away from water sources like Mekong river was far away from the village about 4 km and far from Namching river about 4 km also. therefore we have faced with problem from growing crop in dry season . In the village there were no irrigation system, due to there were no potential area for irrigated. If possible in our village we need to grow cassava for trading in both season. In our village there were only about 12 households which have sufficient rice for consumption all year round. Because in the villager there were not enough rice field and no irrigation system, some people they still conducting slash and burn for growing rice, but still not enough. In order to survive most of the villagers in the village they have to make handicraft work, for example making rice box for sale and get the money for buying rice, in each households they can get about 2-3 million kips from selling rice box, other than making rice box they did not do any other handicraft work.

BRK14

Date of collection of “ water Voice” 13 October, 2005 Region and country where you collected Water Voice: Phonsavan village, Thaphabat district, Borikhamxai province. Name of voice sender: Mr.Khen Vongkhampheng, Age: 43 years. Voice sender: Adult , Male Occupation of Voice sender: Farmer. Number of member in the family: 5 , Male 3, Female 2 How long do you live in this village: 32 years.

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Title: Climate change, flood and drought

Mr. Khen had moved from Xiengkhouang province to habitat here from 1973 as a kind of refugee during the Indochina war, when he moved here at first the environment of this village was still very rice with natural around the village. The rain was also good and fallen according to the season which they can grow rice and other crops in higher yield .But now the climate had changed, drought was often occurred which caused the rice and other crops production had got some diseases. The causes the changes was the forest were destroyed a lot. when I was moved here at first there were many big tree and thick forest around the village even the tiger we have ever seen, but they were disappeared because many tree had been cut and the forest was destroyed a lot. In order to protect the forest and nature to be rich as before we have to protect and not cutting the tree and growing the tree more in the bare area. If we don’t do like this in the future we could not live any more.

BRK15

Date of collection of “ water Voice” 13 October, 2005 Region and country where you collected Water Voice: Phonsavan village, Thaphabat district, Borikhamxai province. Name of voice sender: Mr. Bountem Thammavong, Age: 35 years. Voice sender: Adult , Male Occupation of Voice sender: Teacher. Number of member in the family: 5 , Male 2, Female 3 How long do you live in this village: 12 years.

Title: Watershed and forest

The forest area in the village were destroyed a lot, when we compare with the establishment of the village and now, in the time before the forest were rich with many big tree and other bio-diversity, but now the big tree were cut for trading by some wood traders and more than that many people were conducted slash and burn when the people had moved here at the beginning, they have no lowland rice field , only conducting slash and burn. These are the causes which make the climate changed, the rain fall was not fall according to the season, some years were late, some years were early which make the farmers very difficult for growing rice and other crops. And the river was also changed not the same as before, in Namching river before there rich with natural, the water was deeper and many kinds of fish, very easy for fishing but now the ricer became shallow and many kinds of fish could not live. Forest make the soil humid and save the water for dry season. I f we want to make the nature come back again we should grow many trees and stop cutting it and in dry season we should burn the forest.

9/9 Water Voices in Lao PDR - Final Report -December 2005

JICA Laos Office Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry National Agriculture and Forestry Institute

Water Voices in the Lao PDR

Champasack Province ( CPS)

December, 2005

All copy right reserved by JICA. In the case of using the data, contact the JICA Laos Office

1/8 Water Voices in Lao PDR - Final Report -December 2005

Champasack Province ( CPS)

CPS1 Date of collection of “ water Voice”* 5, September, 2005 Region and country where you collected Water Voice: Boung-Oudom village, Pakse district, Chapasack province. Name of voice sender: Mr Samlieng Vonchantha , Age: 49 years. Voice sender: Adult , Male Occupation of Voice sender: Head of Village Number of member in the family: 4, Male 3, Female 1 How long do you live in this village: 23 years.

Title : Water Pollution

Water pollution in the village has many causes,1. there were some garbage flowed from the others village and because this village area was lower than other village when the garbage flowed from the higher places and stuck at the culvert in the village then make the water polluted. The causes of the water pollution was from the garbage of each households which they still not pay attention to the cleanliness and threw away the waste along the road sides and canal. and due to the villages still have no strictly regulation on this matter. Spoiled water cause the health problem for example diahrrea, malaria and dengue fever and other diseases. The main causes of the polluted water was the garbage from the households use in each day and the main cause of the health problem was that: many households in the villages has no latrine for use. For tourism there was no problem because this area was not the tourist site.

CPS2 Date of collection of “ water Voice”* 5, September, 2005 Region and country where you collected Water Voice: Boung-Oudom village, Pakse district, Chapasack province. Name of voice sender: Mr Inpanh Bouaheuang , Age: 54 years. Voice sender: Adult , Male Occupation of Voice sender: Driver Number of member in the family: 11, Male 5, Female 6 How long do you live in this village: 54 years.

Title: Climate change, flood and drought

The climate now was not the same as before, if it rain it will be very heavy and delay to seven or more days, but now it rain but not so much and not delay for many days, and in summer it was very hot than before which caused the health problem for people. The climate in the previous 20 years was better than now , especially in summer the weather not so hot like now. Now the weather in summer was very hot. In this village at the time before the rain was very heavy and the flood was higher than now, if it was flood the people had to move to higher places. Now it flood but still can live in the houses no need to move. and because of the urban development plan had made the water gate at the Sedon river they close if the water level of Sedon river was higher.It would be better if the officials has the water pump to drain the water out when it flooded.

CPS3

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Date of collection of “ water Voice”* 5, September, 2005 Region and country where you collected Water Voice: Boung-Oudom village, Pakse district, Chapasack province. Name of voice sender: Mrs Onesy Vongchantha , Age: 48 years. Voice sender: Adult , Female Occupation of Voice sender: Housekeeper Number of member in the family: 5, Male 2, Female 3 How long do you live in this village: 24 years.

Title: Fish Products

The fishes in Sedon river had decreased a lot, in the past in Sedon river we can catch the fish in each year too much enough for making salty fishes about 3-4 jars in a year and the fishes was big , but now we can catch the fishes just for each day consumption and the fishes was small fishes. Some kind of fishes was extinct. The fishing tool mainly we used was dipping nets. The amount of fishes was decreased than before but we could not know why it was decreased, now we can not see “ Pakheung”(Hemibagras aubentoni) before we can catch it by dipping net. When it was flood like this years we can catch many fishes before, but now just fishing for daily meal is very hard. In the village there was no regulation for fishing they only have the reserved area for reserving fishes. The extinct fishes was “ Pasoy”(Poropuntius deauratus), “ Pakheung” and “Pakuang”(Boesemania microlepis).

CPS4 Date of collection of “ water Voice”* 5, September, 2005 Region and country where you collected Water Voice: Boung-Oudom village, Pakse district, Chapasack province. Name of voice sender: Mrs Deng Xayavong , Age: 19 years. Voice sender: Youth, Female Occupation of Voice sender: Weaving Number of member in the family: 3, Male 2, Female 1 How long do you live in this village: 19 years.

Title: Flood

The situation of flood in this village had occurred almost every years, because the location of this village was the low area. The level of the flood this year was not so high as last year. Last year the flood was severe than this year and the level of water was higher, some people who has lower house had to move to high land area. The problem occurred when it flood was polluted water due to people threw their garbage into the water and some households have no latrine. Flood had caused many problem such as: no place for keeping animal like chicken, pig, they have to take them on the house, after the water got down too much bad smell, animals die and some diseases was occurred like diahrrea, pink eye and malaria, vegetable garden was damaged.

CPS5 Date of collection of “ water Voice”* 6, September, 2005 Region and country where you collected Water Voice: Thasemai village, Pakse district, Chapasack province. Name of voice sender: Mrs. BounNhong Chanvankham , Age: 57 years.

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Voice sender: Adult , Female Occupation of Voice sender: Housekeeper Number of member in the family: 5, Male 3, Female 2 How long do you live in this village: 24 years.

Title: Water Pollution

There were some water polluted water in the village area. The causes of it was the household garbage. Because there were some households still did not collect garbage for Urban development organization to take it for garbage management, some people they don’t want to pay for garbage management, then they have to cast their garbage to around their house, when it was rain the rain water had flow away to block at the culvert then make the water polluted. If we release the polluted water to the river, it will make the river polluted also and we could not use the water in the river and the fishes in the river will die. The main causes of the polluted water was the household garbage and some were from the tourist but not so much. We need to develop the tourism in our city. But we have to manage the garbage well not to throw the garbage to elsewhere. To prevent the polluted water we have to educate the villagers to collect the household garbage and pay for the garbage management to the urban development organization. There were some household did not know the important of the urban development organization who control the garbage and pick up the garbage at their house. Some households were complained about the urban development organization because some week their truck did not come for pick up the garbage which made the garbage spoiled and dogs had damaged it.

CPS6 Date of collection of “ water Voice”* 6, September, 2005 Region and country where you collected Water Voice: Thasemai village, Pakse district, Chapasack province. Name of voice sender: Mr. Soulisack Phonsena , Age: 20 years. Voice sender: Youth , Male Occupation of Voice sender: Trader Number of member in the family: 4, Male 2, Female 2 How long do you live in this village: 15 years

Title: Climate change, flood and drought

The main food which we got from the river was fishes and shrimp and other aquatic animal. The benefit that we received from the river was that we can use it in our household for our daily life such as bathing, washing and drinking. and we can use the river for transportation and fishing. There were a big change for the Sedon river now to compare with last 10 years. We can see that before five years ago there were no sand beach in Sedon river in the area of this village, but last year there were some sand beach which mean that the river had change. and we could not use bigger boat for transportation in dry season. If we have no river we can not live here, we have to move to the place where there were river. To protect the water we have to stop cutting the tree at the watershed area and we have to campaign to grow tree.

CPS7 Date of collection of “ water Voice”* 6, September, 2005

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Region and country where you collected Water Voice: Thasemai village, Pakse district, Chapasack province. Name of voice sender: Mr. Viengxay Sidala , Age: 47 years. Voice sender: Adult , Male Occupation of Voice sender: Construction worker Number of member in the family: 4, Male 3, Female 1 How long do you live in this village: 21 years.

Title: Fish products

Of course when we compare the fishes in Sedon river in this village area now it was very different from last 10 years ago. Last 10 years ago we can catch fishes as much as we need even what kind of fishing equipment we use. But now we can catch fishes just for consumption in our household also not enough in each time we went to fish. The fishing equipment we use now there were casting net, dipping net, fishing hook and other fishing traps equipment, among these equipment the most common equipment was the dipping nets. The species of fish in the past 10 years, we have seen many kinds of fishes which available in Sedon river but now there were many kinds of fishes that we can not see as we can see before.

CPS8 Date of collection of “ water Voice”* 6, September, 2005 Region and country where you collected Water Voice: Thasemai village, Pakse district, Chapasack province. Name of voice sender: Mr. Somphone Soukhaphakdy , Age: 48 years. Voice sender: Adult , Male Occupation of Voice sender: Laborer Number of member in the family: 8, Male 3, Female 5 How long do you live in this village: 48 years.

Title: Climate change, flood and drought

The climate now and before had change a lot. The climate in the past if it flood, it had a big flood, but if it drought not so severe, now it changed, flood but not so severe and if it drought it was very severe. In winter, in the past at the day time it was windy and at night it stop and foggy , but now in winter we can not see fog in the morning time. Cold in the time before it was humid, but now cold with no humid but dry instead. The climate change we had faced so often in the past up to now there were flood not drought. Before in this village 3-4 years there was flood one time, but now there were not flood about 5-6 years ago. The damages from the flood was not so much only some plant and vegetable in the kitchen garden was damaged and it caused the trouble for transportation and some diseases was occurred. For myself, I understand that the causes of the climate change was the tree cutting at the watershed area for example the people at the watershed area conducted slash and burn too much.

CPS9 Date of collection of “ water Voice”* 7, September, 2005 Region and country where you collected Water Voice: KengNhao village, Bachieng district, Chapasack province. Name of voice sender: Mr. Bouathong Phommachanh , Age: 68 years. Voice sender: Elderly , Male Occupation of Voice sender: Farmer Number of member in the family:3 , Male 1, Female 2 How long do you live in this village: 45 years.

Title: Climate change, flood and drought

The climate had changed comparing now and in the past, now we cannot see a big tree any more, before when we traveled to another village we go by walk and can take a rest at the shade of the big tree it feel

5/8 Water Voices in Lao PDR - Final Report -December 2005 very cool. Up to now due to there were too many people cutting the big tree and it made the climate change and many things was shortage, especially water and fishes. and the rain fall was not accurately to the season, normally the rainy season started at May and in May most of the farmer have to make the bed seed for planting rice, but now in some year until June or July the bed seed of rice was not finished yet which make the transplanting delay until August. The rice plant was not grow enough but the rainy season was ready to end up. Therefore it make the production of rice was not good. Other crops production also had changed due to the rainfall was not good enough. So far there was flood in 1972 because heavy rain the water was overflow to the village and many people lost their chicken and pig, but the water was got down rapidly in a day. We know a little about the causes of the climate change, the main cause was the forest invasion for making slash and burn.

CPS10 Date of collection of “ water Voice”* 7, September, 2005 Region and country where you collected Water Voice: KengNhao village, Bachieng district, Chapasack province. Name of voice sender: Mr. Khamlai Vilaisane , Age: 52 years. Voice sender: Elderly , Male Occupation of Voice sender: Farmer Number of member in the family:8 , Male 3, Female 5 How long do you live in this village: 35 years.

Title: Climate change, flood and drought

Living with water we have much convenience, we use the water in the river for our daily life such as: washing bathing, fishing and taking the water from the river for agriculture. When comparing with 10 years ago it had a big change, in the past the level of water in the river in dry season was higher than now and the number of fishes were too much, but now the level and volume of water was decreased and the number of fishes was very few. The cause that make the water decreased was the forest invasion. Because some households in this village they had no low land rice area. therefore they still slash and the forest for planting rice. The river is very important for our daily life we could not live without river. To protect the river we have to stop cutting the tree and we have to plant the tree instead of cutting.

CPS11 Date of collection of “ water Voice”7 September, 2005 Region and country where you collected Water Voice: KengNhao village, Bachieng district, Chapasack province. Name of voice sender: Mrs Bounmy , Age: 45 years. Voice sender: Adult , Female Occupation of Voice sender: Farmer Number of member in the family:8 , Male 4, Female 4 How long do you live in this village: 45 years.

Title: Fish product:

When we compare now and last 10 years ago the amount of fishes in Palay Stream was very different, because in the last 10 years ago we can catch fishes easily even we did not use any fishing equipment. we can use our hand to catch fishes along the stonehole in the river. But now if we want to eat fishes we have to go to buy it at the district market. The fishing equipment for a woman like me I used scoop net to catch only small fishes and shrimp. In the village there were no regulation for fishing anybody can go to fish as they want. The species of fishes which had extinct like Pa Khwa(Tor sp). In the past the number of fishes in

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the Houay Palay were too many fishes so that they called this stream Houay Palay ( Stream with many fishes).

CPS12 Date of collection of “ water Voice” 8 September, 2005 Region and country where you collected Water Voice: Makgnaew village, Bachieng district, Chapasack province. Name of voice sender: Mr.Thongkham Keochanthy , Age: 53 years. Voice sender: Adult , male Occupation of Voice sender: Farmer Number of member in the family: 9 , Male 5, Female 4 How long do you live in this village: 29 years.

Title: Watershed and forest

The watershed and forest had destroyed by the villagers who had no lowland area, they made slash and burn for planting rice. But did not slash everywhere they just make at the allocated area , the water in the river in some year if there were too much rain the river will have much water and if there were no rain in the river the water will get down and remain very few. from the previous time the water in the river even there were no rain but the water still remain flowing all the time because the watershed area were not destroyed. To reserve the forest we should not cut the tree and slash and burn and we have to grow the tree instead of cutting it.

CPS13 Date of collection of “ water Voice”8 September, 2005 Region and country where you collected Water Voice: Makgnaew village, Bachieng district, Chapasack province. Name of voice sender: Mr.Khemphone Khamsengaloun , Age: 53 years. Voice sender: Adult , male Occupation of Voice sender: Farmer Number of member in the family: 13 , Male 8, Female 5 How long do you live in this village: 29 years.

Title: Water supply shortage

The villagers of this village take the water from drilling well which have only one borehole in this village which causes many trouble for fetching water and other work , especially in dry season many people have to wait in line for getting water which make them delay for going to farming or other works. The water from the borehole just for drink only not enough for growing kitchen garden. The borehole were not far from the village , it is in the village each day we took the bucket to take the water and take home. For maintenance of the drilling well we have to warn every households to keep the area clean, and when it has some part broken we have to collect money from villagers for buying the spare parts for repairing it. If the drilling well dry we have only the stream for getting, but the stream was far away from the village it will take much time to get the water.

CPS14 Date of collection of “ water Voice”8 September, 2005

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Region and country where you collected Water Voice: Makgnaew village, Bachieng district, Chapasack province. Name of voice sender: Mrs. Sifong , Age: 43 years. Voice sender: Adult , Female Occupation of Voice sender: Housekeeper Number of member in the family: 10, Male 5, Female 5 How long do you live in this village: 29 years.

Title: The climate change, flood and drought

The climate in this village has changed, mainly it was drought so far about 3 -4 years had drought one time, in this village had never flood because the area of this village was higher than the other places. the cause of the drought due to cutting the tree too much which make the rain not falling according to the season, when it drought it caused many problem for crops, the production of rice in the farm was not give production as much as it should be. In the year when it drought the production of the rice will not enough for consumption in the villages. To solve the problem of hunger we request to the district officers distribute the rice from the rice bank to people in the villages, because in the village district concerning officers had set up the rice bank for this village for solving the problem of hunger when it drought. They distribute the rice to people then they collect back after the next harvest season with 30% of interest.

CPS15 Date of collection of “ water Voice” 8 September, 2005 Region and country where you collected Water Voice: Makgnaew village, Bachieng district, Chapasack province. Name of voice sender: Mr.Lae , Age: 41 years. Voice sender: Adult , male Occupation of Voice sender: Farmer Number of member in the family: 8 , Male 4, Female 4 How long do you live in this village: 29 years.

Title: Wetland

The wetland or swamp in the village, we have to reserve not to fish illegally. This swamp was at the higher place than the level of the stream. in rainy season the fish cannot get up for breeding in the swamp, therefore the people in the village have to bring the fishes from others place to release in the swamp. The species of fishes which release in the swamp was the natural fishes. When we want to fishes we have to announce to people not only in this village but also the other villagers for fishing here by paying for each fishing equipment 10.000 k. The regulation for reserving the swamp after release the fishes to the swamp then we announce to people in the village and nearby villages not to fishes in the swamp, if there were anybody violate the regulation to fish if the authorities in the village saw them they will be fined , the first time will be fined 20.000 k per 1 time, if violated again the second time will be fined about 100.000 k. and educate them and punish them to saw the wood for making public property of the village.

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JICA Laos Office Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry National Agriculture and Forestry Institute

Water Voices in the Lao PDR

Houaphanh Province (HP)

December, 2005

All copy right reserved by JICA. In the case of using the data, contact the JICA Laos Office Houaphanh Province (HP)

HP1 Date of collection of water voice: 19 October, 2005 Region and country where your collected “ Water Voice “ Tham Village, Xamneua District, Houaphanh Province , Lao PDR. Name of voice sender: Mr. Vanhsy Age: 55 years old Occupation: Farmer, (Village leader) Number of family member: 7, Female: 6 How long do you live in this village: 33 years.

Title: Water pollution Tham village is located along the Xam river and far from Xamneua District about 12 km by Phathy road. Usually our villagers have access to water from the river for all use. In the last few year, from 1995 the river’s water has polluted due to animal waste, all of cattle of the villagers are fed along the Xam river and its tributaries and human waste from the villagers who are living a long the Xam river, they throw and discharge every thing into the river. So we are people who are living downstream can not use the water for drinking any more. Now we can be used this water for only take bath and wash clothes. HP2 Date of collection of water voice: 19 October, 2005 Region and country where your collected “ Water Voice “ Tham Village, Xamneua District, Houaphanh Province , Lao PDR. Name of voice sender: Mr. Phiphak Age: 77 years old Occupation: Farmer Number of family member: 7, Female: 3 How long do you live in this village: 77 years.

Title: Water supply shortage

Long time ago, number of people around this area is not so high, Our villagers had utilized Xam river’s water for all use like drinking, wash clothes, take bath, practice fishery, agriculture and etc,… . Now we can not be used the river’s water for drinking, we can be only used for take bath and wash clothes because of number of people is high and number of animal is also high too, especially is cattle. So nowadays, every year the villagers of our village have suffered a serious from water shortage. Although in 1993 the UNICEF had built 2 pond for us, but now we can use for only one pond because the water is poor of quality, it is high concentration of turbidity and smell is also not so good. We need assistant from the government and other organizes to make spring water system, drill the tube wells or dig the ponds.

HP3 Date of collection of water voice: 19 October, 2005 Region and country where your collected “ Water Voice “ Tham Village, Xamneua District, Houaphanh Province , Lao PDR. Name of voice sender: Mr. Thongsy Age: 53 years old Occupation: Farmer Number of family member: 7, Female: 3 How long do you live in this village: 53 years.

Title: Climate change, flood and drought

Long time ago, around this area has abundant of water resources and forest and the weather is also regular. Nowadays, because of increasing of population and most of this area is highland. Every year the villagers have grown their rice and other crop by cutting to much of the trees. Many year ago, villagers of our village were facing problems of climate change such as floods and droughts. This year(2005), we had suffered a severely from flood and drought in the same year. Normally, we grow rice in lowland area in June but this year the rainfall is coming late for one month. Oppositely, the wet season is heavy rainfall, the rice fields of villagers are eroded. The impacts of the flood are lost of rice production field and food shortage.

HP4 Date of collection of water voice: 20 October, 2005 Region and country where your collected “ Water Voice “ HouaXieng Village, Xamneua District, Houaphanh Province , Lao PDR. Name of voice sender: Mr. Bouaphone Age: 48 years old Occupation: Farmer, (village leader ) Number of family member: 5, Female: 4 How long do you live in this village: 48 years.

Title: Crop production and irrigation

HouaXieng village is located along the Phathy road and it is a highland area where we can plant only rice crop in the wet season. There are a lot of traditional irrigation in our village that make by villagers but most of these irrigation are damaged of heavy rainfall in wet season. So we can say that our rice crop depends on rainfall, if there is enough rainfall the villagers can be grown their rice and enough rice for food. In the dry season we can not grow rice because of small of river, water resources is far from the rice field and lack of a standard irrigation.

HP5 Date of collection of water voice: 20 October, 2005 Region and country where your collected “ Water Voice “ HouaXieng Village, Xamneua District, Houaphanh Province , Lao PDR. Name of voice sender: Mr. Philta Phimavong Age: 55 years old Occupation: Farmer Number of family member: 14, Female: 7 How long do you live in this village: 55 years.

Title: Fish products

Long time ago, around this area had abundant of water resources and many kinds of fish. We can caught fish as much as we need because of small number of fisher and fishing tools are also still not developed. Villagers did not have enough of time for catching fish, all of villagers lived in the cave because of American war. From 1981-82 number of fish was reduced because of people are started to increase in this area, people who lived in the cave in the past are returned to their old village. In addition, from 1991 villagers catch fish by using modern fishing tool such as fishing net, casting net and etc,…that make by nylon. Some kinds of fish are extinct such as King, Phy, Pheng and Moun. The reason of these fishes are extinct may be due to 1. Number of fisher are increased; 2. Some villagers catch fish by using bomb and electricity shock.

HP6 Date of collection of water voice: 20 October, 2005 Region and country where your collected “ Water Voice “ HouaXieng Village, Xamneua District, Houaphanh Province , Lao PDR. Name of voice sender: Mr. Vanhthong Phengviphanh Age: 50 years old Occupation: Farmer Number of family member: 8, Female: 4 How long do you live in this village: 50 years.

Title: Bank erosion

The lowland rice production field of HouaXieng village is located a long the Xam river. In the past, number of people are not so high and around this area has abundant of water resources and forest. Now population is increased and most of these people are poor villager, lowland for rice production is not enough for them. So every year, villagers around this area are cut to much of trees for their growing rice and other crops especially villagers who lived in upper of the river. These change the land cover affect the weather around this area and eventually affect bank of the Xam river. Up to now, our rice field is damaged around 3 ha, especially in this year is about 1 ha include bank erosion and rock cover the rice field.

HP7 Date of collection of water voice: 20 October, 2005 Region and country where your collected “ Water Voice “ HouaXieng Village, Xamneua District, Houaphanh Province , Lao PDR. Name of voice sender: Mr. Phanhsy Phouthavong Age: 52 years old Occupation: Farmer Number of family member: 8, Female: 2 How long do you live in this village: 52 years.

Title: Water supply shortag

Long time ago, around this area has abundant of water resources and forest. Generally, villagers use the water in this river for drinking, take bath, wash clothes and etc,…Now quality of this river’s water is very poor, we can not use this water for drinking any more. The problems are that: 1. People are increased a long of the river, they throw and discharge every thing into the river. 2. Villagers are fed animals such as cattle a long the river which make waste water in the river. Although in 1993 the UNICEF had built of 3 ponds for our village, but we still not enough of water for domestic use. The ponds are used for only one now, other ponds are very poor of quality, they are high concentration of turbidity and smell is not so good in wet season and in dry season the water is running out of the pond. The villagers are very difficult and need assistant to make a spring water system.

HP8 Date of collection of water voice: 21 October, 2005 Region and country where your collected “ Water Voice “ Phonxay Village, Viengxay District, Houaphanh Province , Lao PDR. Name of voice sender: Mr. Vayphone Age: 37 years old Occupation: Teacher Number of family member: 7, Female: 3 How long do you live in this village: 37 years.

Title: Watershed and forest

We live in the remote highland area, in the past number of villagers are not so high thus the water can be flowed for whole year as well as the forest it has a lot of big trees. Now population is increased, the trees are cut to much of villagers for their agriculture, every year around 30 to 40 ha especially is rice production because they live in poor condition. The impacts of slash and burn for agriculture on the village are water shortage, climate change and drought. In 2005, during April and May our villagers are lacked of drinking water and for other uses, villagers can not be grown their rice on time and may be the yield is reduced.

HP9 Date of collection of water voice: 21 October, 2005 Region and country where your collected “ Water Voice “ Phonxay Village, Viengxay District, Houaphanh Province , Lao PDR. Name of voice sender: Mr. Vayphone Age: 37 years old Occupation: Teacher Number of family member: 7, Female: 3 How long do you live in this village: 37 years.

Title: Concept of rural development ( Others) Many year ago before the village has not developed, villagers are very difficult and poorest. They lack every things like road, food and etc,…In 1994-95 our village had helped from Mennonite Cooperation Center project( MCC )by giving rice and animals such as cattle, pig, duck and chicken as bank of the village, built school, built spring water system. In addition, the villagers had trained fore planting crops and the livelihood of villagers have improved step by step. In 2004 our village had also helped from Poverty Reduction Fun project( PRF ) by road construction. However, up to now many of villagers are still poor. According to my opinion, to solve poverty of villagers in our village I have some recommended like this next few year the villagers do not have enough of forest for their growing rice. So fun for feeding animals is best way. Although MCC had already helped, but the villagers still not have enough, many of villagers have to wait a queue.

HP10 Date of collection of water voice: 21 October, 2005 Region and country where your collected “ Water Voice “ Nakhao Village, Viengxay District, Houaphanh Province , Lao PDR. Name of voice sender: Mr. Khoualylo Age: 47 years old Occupation: Farmer, ( village leader ) Number of family member: 9, Female: 8 How long do you live in this village: 9 years.

Title: Crop production and irrigation

We live in a remote highland area that we can plant only rice crop during the wet season. There is one of irrigation system in our village that supported by Houaphanh province Agriculture and Forest Office in 1996. During wet season, villagers can be used water from the irrigation system for only 3.5 ha, so other rice field of the villagers is depended on rainfall. The reason that villagers do not have enough water for their growing rice may be due to 1. pipe for distributing water is small; 2. irrigation system does not have enough water for storage because of slash and burn for agriculture of poor villagers, especially is this year 2005 we are facing serious drought during wet season.

HP11 Date of collection of water voice: 21 October, 2005 Region and country where your collected “ Water Voice “ Nakhao Village, Viengxay District, Houaphanh Province , Lao PDR. Name of voice sender: Mr. Yongyearlo Age: 48 years old Occupation: Upland farmer Number of family member: 6, Female: 4 How long do you live in this village: 9 years.

Title: Watershed and forest

Long time ago, around this area had abundant of water resources and forest because number of villagers are not high. Now population is increased and some villagers are moved from other village. Slash and burn for agriculture of these villagers is between 16 to 36 ha per year. The impacts of slash and burn for agriculture on the village are lack of water for all use, especially is in dry season of this year( April and May ), climate change which make high of temperature. To protect forest villagers will grow rice by un-shifting.

HP12 Date of collection of water voice: 21 October, 2005 Region and country where your collected “ Water Voice “ Nakhao Village, Viengxay District, Houaphanh Province , Lao PDR. Name of voice sender: Ms. Chanh Age: 18 years old Occupation: Upland farmer, (village leader of women union) Number of family member: 6, Female: 3 How long do you live in this village: 8 years. Key words: Water shortage

Title: Water supply shortage In the past, water for domestic use of our village is from the Sim river. We are very difficult because the water resource is far from our village and hard to collect. In addition, quality of the river’s water is very poor, it is high concentration of turbidity and other waste from upstream. In 1997 the villagers had used water from spring water system that made at Nahear village. This spring water system is used for 4 villages, the beginning of this project water is enough for all villages. Now population is increased and villagers have utilized water for various activities, so our village is lack of water for domestic use especially is in dry season. The villagers will back to collect water from the river again when spring water system can not be supplied. Although having known about the fact, the river’s water is still for domestic use but it is boil before drinking.

HP13 Date of collection of water voice: 22 October, 2005 Region and country where your collected “ Water Voice “ Phounmay Village, Viengxay District, Houaphanh Province , Lao PDR. Name of voice sender: Mr. Thong phian Age: 52 years old Occupation: Farmer, (village leader) Number of family member: 7, Female: 5 How long do you live in this village: 52 years.

Title: Climate change, flood and drought

Long time ago, it was regular weather around this area, we had enough of water for all use as well as the forest, it had a lot of big trees. It is big different if compare to the past, every year the villagers have suffered from climate change, some year floods and some year droughts, especially in 1996 and 2005 the villagers have suffered a serious from season flooding. The impacts of floods and droughts on the village are bank erosion, lost of rice production field including soil erosion and rice field is covered by rock and food shortage. The reason of climate change may be from increasing of population around this area and slash and burn for agriculture of poor villagers.

HP14 Date of collection of water voice: 22 October, 2005 Region and country where your collected “ Water Voice “ Phounmay Village, Viengxay District, Houaphanh Province , Lao PDR. Name of voice sender: Mr. Vongkham Age: 45 years old Occupation: Farmer Number of family member: 5, Female: 2 How long do you live in this village: 22 years. Key words: Crop production and irrigation

Title: Crops production and irrigation

Our village is Phounmay, it is located along the Phoun river where villagers can have water from the river and rainfall for domestic and agriculture cultivation especially rice. There is not standard irrigation system in our village, every year villagers are difficult to grow the rice because their traditional weirs are not control the water in wet season and damaged by season flooding and oppositely in dry season the traditional weir also can not drain water to their rice field. We need assistant from the government and other organization to make a standard irrigation system.

HP15 Date of collection of water voice: 22 October, 2005 Region and country where your collected “ Water Voice “ Phounmay Village, Viengxay District, Houaphanh Province , Lao PDR. Name of voice sender: Mr. Viengkham Age: 45 years old Occupation: Farmer Number of family member: 8, Female: 6 How long do you live in this village: 45 years.

Title: Soil erosion

Our village is Phounmay, it is located along the Phoun river and it is highland area. Traditional irrigation canals of the villagers are located along the river and upland area. Every year these canals are damaged and the villagers lost much of time to fix, especially is in this year(2005)the canals are damaged by soil erosion around 650 m. Some fields are lack of water and may affect the yield of villager’s rice production. The reason of soil erosion may be from slash and burn for agriculture of villagers and heavy rainfall. To solution of the villagers for draining water to the rice field at the moment is to fix the canal by picking out the soil.

Water Voices in Lao PDR - Final Report -December 2005

JICA Laos Office Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry National Agriculture and Forestry Institute

Water Voices in the Lao PDR

Khammouane province (KM)

December, 2005

All copy right reserved by JICA. In the case of using the data, contact the JICA Laos Office

1/9 Water Voices in Lao PDR - Final Report -December 2005

Khammouane province (KM)

KM1

Date of collection of “ water Voice” 3 October, 2005 Region and country where you collected Water Voice: Thakhektai village,Thakhek district, Khammouane province. Name of voice sender: Mr. Siphone Khampanya, Age: 42 years. Voice sender: Adult , Male Occupation of Voice sender: Farmer , TookTook driver Number of member in the family: 6 , Male 4, Female 2 How long do you live in this village: 42 years.

Title: Crops production and irrigation

The total area which can cultivate dry season rice production in this village was about 8 ha. but can cultivate only 4 ha. because of the canal was damaged a lot and lower than the rice field area which make the water lost a lot and used much time to drain the water into the field and we have to pay much for the electricity power, this is the cause that make high investment but low income. Many people have to stop because of losing too much. If we have the standard canal which could supply enough water without losing, many people want to do, because this village was located in the low area, there were flood almost every years, many people could not do rainy season rice production, to survive for their living they have to grow other crops instead like vegetable along the irrigated area and along the Mekong river bank. Now we need the concrete main canal to protect water losing, the irrigation system was by electric pumping, the source of water which we used was from the Mekong river. The irrigation system had much benefit for people, especially for our village which often flood in rainy season, we have the irrigation system we can solve the problem of rice shortage and we can grow other crops as well. If we have no irrigation system our villagers have to face with a big problem for their cost of living. The maintenance for the pump or headway we used the fund from the saving account of villagers which we have to save in each years.

KM2

Date of collection of “ water Voice” 3 October, 2005 Region and country where you collected Water Voice: Thakhektai village,Thakhek district, Khammouane province. Name of voice sender: Mr. Anongsack , Age: 58 years. Voice sender: Adult , Male Occupation of Voice sender: Trader Number of member in the family: 2 , Male 1, Female 1 How long do you live in this village: 37 years.

Title: Bank Erosion

The length of the Mekong river bank in the area of this village was about 2000 meters, the bank had eroded in each year. Many years before it was not so severe it had eroded about 1-2 meters each years , during 2-3 years ago it was very severe which eroded about 2-3 meters. In my opinion, the cause of severe

2/9 Water Voices in Lao PDR - Final Report -December 2005 erosion maybe due to in the Mekong river bank in another side of Mekong river they made the bank protection stretched out about 30-40 meters which made the tide changed the way to eroded at Lao side severely. Severe bank erosion caused the problem for the villagers who made the garden along the river bank. Many years before there was a road along the river bank but now it had eroded inside the road more than 10 meters, many fruit tree had fallen down into Mekong river, many houses had moved away from the river bank. Only one way to protect it that was we have to make the bank protection, therefore we have to request to the upper part to help us making the bank protection to stop the damages of our country.

KM3

Date of collection of “ water Voice” 3 October, 2005 Region and country where you collected Water Voice: Thakhektai village,Thakhek district, Khammouane province. Name of voice sender: Mr. Khoum Phomma, Age: 57 years. Voice sender: Adult , Male Occupation of Voice sender: Farmer Number of member in the family: 6 , Male 4, Female 2 How long do you live in this village: 48 years.

Title: Flood

The situation of flood in this village in many years before it was also flood but not so often as during 10 years ago which was so often almost every years, why I don’t know due to my technical was not high enough to know about this matter, but only one thing that I know that was because of the forest had destroyed a lot. In this year the flood was very severe as I and the concerned section had surveyed in this village area there were no rice field area could harvested in this year. The level of water in the center of the village was about 1,60 meters, but so far it was more severely than this like in 1995 the level of water in the center of the village was about 2-2,20 meters. The water from the Mekong river was over flow to the village and rice field which damaged all. and there were some animal was die. To survive after the flood the villagers had to grow other crops instead like vegetable and corn, cucumber, if the irrigation water more convenient than now many households cultivate dry season rice production in order to earn for their living.

KM4

Date of collection of “ water Voice” 4 October, 2005 Region and country where you collected Water Voice: Lamalath village,Thakhek district, Khammouane province. Name of voice sender: Mr. Chan Sang, Age: 72 years. Voice sender: Elderly , Male Occupation of Voice sender: Farmer Number of member in the family: 5 , Male 2, Female 3 How long do you live in this village: 50 years.

Title: Climate change, flood and drought

The climate now was not the same as before, it had a big change. In the time before the flood often occurred during the mid of 9 or 10 of Lao month, during this time the rice stock in the field was already strong enough to protect itself from flood if it was not so severe, but now the climate had change the flood or drought will come at any time even in the mid of 7 or 8 of Lao month which during this time the rice stock was newly transplanting when it was flood it will be easily damaged because it was not strongly enough, the causes because of cutting a lot of big tree. Many years ago in the area of the village there were

3/9 Water Voices in Lao PDR - Final Report -December 2005 a lot of big tree even in the around the village but now it was all cut. In winter it was very cold with foggy in the morning and in summer it was very hot the temperature was very high because there were no big tree. In order to solve the problem I thought that if the upper part think that it is useful for people, we need the irrigation system for dry season production in this village will help the better living condition for villagers. For drinking water there were no problem we have enough sources of drinking water from wells.

KM5

Date of collection of “ water Voice” 4 October, 2005 Region and country where you collected Water Voice: Lamalath village,Thakhek district, Khammouane province. Name of voice sender: Mr. Siphom, Age: 63 years. Voice sender: Elderly , Male Occupation of Voice sender: Farmer, pensioner Number of member in the family: 10 , Male 5, Female 5 How long do you live in this village: 63 years.

Title: Crops production and irrigation

The crops production in the village mainly we did in rainy season because it depend on rain water only. In dry season the villagers they only grew very few crops and vegetable just only for household consumption not only for trading because there were not convenient water sources, they used the water from wells and some people used the water from streams. There were two stream in the village but small stream. the water will dried up in dry season if we did not make dam to block the water. In each year the villagers have to make the earthen dam to block the water for animals and for some kitchen gardening and for reserving fishes. In the village there were no irrigation system, if we have enough sources of water there were many people want to produce dry season crops production for consumption and for trading.

KM6

Date of collection of “ water Voice” 4 October, 2005 Region and country where you collected Water Voice: Lamalath village,Thakhek district, Khammouane province. Name of voice sender: Mr. Somdy, Age: 53 years. Voice sender: Adult , Male Occupation of Voice sender: Teacher Number of member in the family: 6 , Male 3, Female 2 How long do you live in this village: 53 years.

Title: Fish products

The fishes in the time before there were a lot due to in that time there were not so crowded and people did not fish for trading as the present time and another reason because of in the time before the nature was still abandunt which make the fishes had many shelter to live and for breeding, but now there were many people and most of them not fish only for consumption but for trading. Many people had cleared the area too much for making rice field, they have to cut tree even along the stream. The fishing gears now had many kinds which they used to fish, each fishing gear was very tight which can catch even a very small fish. In the time before they did not catch small fishes they took only big fishes. And the fishing gear in the time before they

4/9 Water Voices in Lao PDR - Final Report -December 2005 used together 4-5 households used only one casting net, but now in one household had 3-4 casting nets for catching many sizes of fishes. The causes that make fishes reduced had many reasons, for example the nature had destroyed, there were many people and many kinds of fishing gear, fishing for trading, and in some years there were drought which make fishes died. In this villages we can fishing both in dry and rainy season, in rainy season we used fishing hook to catch fishes and in dry season we used casting nets and lifting swing to catch fishes. In dry season we have to make dams to block the water and fishes for dry season. In front of the dams we had reserved the area for village, prohibited to fish privately, in the village we had 3 dams area, we have the regulation to protect the reserved area. When we want to fish in the reserved area we have to announce to all villagers to fish in caravan, but if we need some fund to used for public purposes we have to sale the reserved area to private fisherman.

KM7

Date of collection of “ water Voice” 5 October, 2005 Region and country where you collected Water Voice: Hinbouneua village,Hinboun district, Khammouane province. Name of voice sender: Mr. Pheng Sisoukhalath, Age: 63 years. Voice sender: Elderly , Male Occupation of Voice sender: Farmer Number of member in the family: 6 , Male 2, Female 4 How long do you live in this village: 63 years.

Title: Water pollution

In the time before from the ancestor the people in this village used to live with Hinboun river for the better of their living, from that time the water of Hinboun river was very clear in dry season, we can use for drinking, for cooking and for other purposes using like bathing and washing because in that time we still have no drilling well and other sources of water for drinking and using and in that time the quantity of fishes in the Hinboun river was a lot and many species. Now after they had constructed the hydro electric dam ( Theun Hinboun ) upstream the Hinboun river had changed, the water was unclear even in dry season, we cannot use for drinking and cooking only for washing and many species of fishes had disappeared. Therefore now most of the villagers had turned to use water from drilling wells for drinking and cooking, but the water from drilling boreholes was not enough in dry season, villager had proposed to the Theun Hinboun Hydro Electric Dam Authority to help us about water, so in this year they decided to support us 5 wells, but the water from well was not clear even in dry season cannot use for drinking and cooking.

KM8

Date of collection of “ water Voice” 5 October, 2005 Region and country where you collected Water Voice: Hinbouneua village,Hinboun district, Khammouane province. Name of voice sender: Mr. Latana Xayavong, Age: 66 years. Voice sender: Elderly , Male Occupation of Voice sender: Farmer, pensioner staff Number of member in the family: 2 , Male 1, Female 1 How long do you live in this village: 63 years.

Title: Fish products

5/9 Water Voices in Lao PDR - Final Report -December 2005

Fishing in the time before and now was very different, in the time before we fish for household consumption, but now we fish for trading. The fishing gear which we used to fish in this village was casting net, gill net, spear, and other kinds of fishing traps. In our village never used illegal fishing gear like bombing, poisoning and electric shock, because in our village we have announced the regulation to all villagers not to used prohibited fishing gears and fishing in the fish breeding seasoning. The number of fishes in the time before there were a lot and many species of fishes, due to in that time the river was deeper and the tide of water was not very strong the same as now, after they had constructed the hydro power electric dam there were some chemical from the dam the tide of water in Hinboun river was very fast and stronger which made the fishes cannot live, many species had fled to another river. The species of fishes that we cannot see any more this Hinboun river was Pa sanak( Aaptosyax grypus Rainboth) , Pa Hangfa, Pa Khouang.

KM9

Date of collection of “ water Voice” 5 October, 2005 Region and country where you collected Water Voice: Hinbouneua village,Hinboun district, Khammouane province. Name of voice sender: Mr. Khamkongta Vongsayalath, Age: 45 years. Voice sender: Adult , Male Occupation of Voice sender: Farmer, Head of village. Number of member in the family: 7 , Male 3, Female 4 How long do you live in this village: 20 years.

Title: Crops production and irrigation

The situation of the crops production and irrigation in this village, first of all I would like to inform about the location of the village. Hinbouneua village was located in the lower area which had faced with flood almost every years, this is the cause of inconvenience of this villagers. Therefore the upper parts had seen the difficulty of the villagers, they had installed the irrigation system for the villagers to cultivate dry season rice production by installing electric pumping station with villagers participation in constructing the earthen main canal, but we had faced with problem that is because the pumping station or the head way of the irrigation was located in lower area, villagers had to make the floating earthen main canal, in the first year we can do only 14 ha. and in the next years we can do in 23 ha. the total of irrigated area was about 30 ha. but we cannot do all due to the water was not enough because the water could not supply to all 30 ha. the cause that is because of the main canal was lower if we will drain water to all irrigated area, the water at the headway canal will be overflow. If we have the standard of main canal by concrete which can protect water losing we can do the dry season rice cultivation more than 100 ha. The benefit that the villagers received from the irrigation system was a lot, especially for the farmers who has the lower area, but if we have standard main canal we can do more than 100 ha. other than rice we will produce other crops as well. And if the water enough for the area the yield will be higher than now. Most of the villagers want to do dry season rice cultivation, so far there were no complain about it, especially for electric fees.

KM10

Date of collection of “ water Voice” 5 October, 2005

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Region and country where you collected Water Voice: Hinbouneua village,Hinboun district, Khammouane province. Name of voice sender: Mr. Souphasack Oranan, Age: 45 years. Voice sender: Adult , Male Occupation of Voice sender: Farmer, Deputy Head of village. Number of member in the family: 8 , Male 4, Female 5 How long do you live in this village: 45 years.

Title: Water supply shortage

In the former time, the villagers in this village had used water from Hinboun River for drinking and using, until to 1972 USAID had constructed 2 boreholes of drilling wells by using hand pump and then those two boreholes the pump was out of order cannot use, in 1996 Khammouane water supply section had repaired those pump but can use only two years. After that Provincial water supply section had drilled 5 boreholes with hand pump which make more convenience for the villagers a lot , in 1998 there were 3 boreholes out of order, only 2 boreholes can use, which caused the trouble for villagers too much for water supply shortage. This year Theun Hinboun Hydro Electric Power Dam had supported 5 wells for the village, but the quality of water was not good, it was unclear and the well was very deep the soil was collapsed down which make the water cannot used. In the future if we want to solve the problem of water in this village only the water supply system, and now some households had used the pure water for drinking. To maintenance the wells our village had the regulation for keeping clean around the area and if there were some pump was broken we used the budget from the village fund to repair or buying some spareparts if there was available, but now the broken pumps has no spare parts for repairing.

KM11

Date of collection of “ water Voice” 6 October, 2005 Region and country where you collected Water Voice: Vangkhong village,Hinboun district, Khammouane province. Name of voice sender: Mr. Bounkan Kongsaisy, Age: 58 years. Voice sender: Adult , Male Occupation of Voice sender: Farmer. Number of member in the family: 10 , Male 5, Female 5 How long do you live in this village: 58 years.

Title: Water pollution

I would like to mention about the Hinboun river as I was born here in this village, living near river it has much more convenience therefore our ancestor want to habitat near river. Hinboun river in the former time it was in a good condition, the tide was not very strong as at the present time, most of the villagers used the water from Hinboun river for drinking and cooking, and used the river for fishing and made kitchen gardening along the bank of Hinboun river for their living. Now after they had constructed the Hydro Electric Power Dam ( Theun Hinboun) The river had changed the water was unclear with muddy water , people could not used for drinking and cooking, fishing also very difficult because the tide of water was very strong in both seasons, the fishes could not live which make the number of fishes decreased. Making kitchen gardening along the river bank also very difficult because when they released the water from the dam the water had flown away the garden. In the time before Hinboun river was very deep which good for fishes to live in, after they made the dam the river became shallow, the tide was very strong cannot used gillnet to fish as before.

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KM12

Date of collection of “ water Voice” 6 October, 2005 Region and country where you collected Water Voice: Vangkhong village,Hinboun district, Khammouane province. Name of voice sender: Mr. Sisavan Inthavong, Age: 44 years. Voice sender: Adult , Male Occupation of Voice sender: Farmer. Number of member in the family: 5 , Male 1, Female 4 How long do you live in this village: 44 years.

Title: Crops production and irrigation

In Vangkhong village had irrigation system with electric pumping station with 2 pumps, each pump had 37 HP which has the capacity to irrigate about 50 ha of dry rice cultivation, but the real production was only 10 ha. due to the main canal was lower than the irrigated area., if we have the floating canal and no losing water we can supply the water to 50 ha. After installing the irrigation system, we had much benefit from it, for example in dry season we can cultivate dry season rice production and grow other crops like chilly, eggplant, cucumber, water melon, bean and other kind of vegetable which can solve the problem of living condition of each family a lot. For rice cultivation we had made in two season, first season we cultivated late of rainy season after the flood was over, in this season we can get the higher yield 4,4 tons/ha. because the soil had still enough water from the rain which make the irrigation system can supply enough water and the water can remain in the rice field for many days, second we cultivated in dry season which we can get lower yield 4,3 tons/ha. because in this season the soil was dried up when we supply the water it can remain for only one day. The source of water was from Hinboun river.

KM13

Date of collection of “ water Voice” 6 October, 2005 Region and country where you collected Water Voice: Vangkhong village,Hinboun district, Khammouane province. Name of voice sender: Mr. Keudmy Pakobkeo, Age: 42 years. Voice sender: Adult , Male Occupation of Voice sender: Farmer, Head of village Number of member in the family: 8 , Male 3, Female 5 How long do you live in this village: 42 years.

Title: Water supply shortage

In the time before in this village used the water from the small stream ( Houay Yen) and dig for making well near the stream and Hinboun river for drinking and using. But at the present time after the district had moved the capital city of Hinboun district to locate here which covered to Vangkhong village and the stream became polluted cannot used the water and Hinboun river had changed after they constructed the electric dam cannot used the water also. In the village some people tried to dig the well but can dig only about 3-4 meters because of stone underground, the well can use the water only in rainy season. In dry season now many households had bought the pure drinking water for drinking and using water from drilling boreholes which supported 2 boreholes by Theun Hinboun Hydro Electric Power Dam which could not supply enough water for people in the village, if we have 4 boreholes it could be supplied enough water in dry season, in rainy season many households using and drink rain water.

8/9 Water Voices in Lao PDR - Final Report -December 2005

KM14

Date of collection of “ water Voice” 6 October, 2005 Region and country where you collected Water Voice: Vangkhong village,Hinboun district, Khammouane province. Name of voice sender: Mr. Bounnhong Phommavong , Age: 57 years. Voice sender: Adult , Male Occupation of Voice sender: Farmer. Number of member in the family: 7 , Male 3, Female 4 How long do you live in this village: 15 years.

Title: Bank Erosion

In Hinboun river when I had moved to live here at first, the bank of the river was rich with nature it had eroded but very little, now after they constructed the dam the bank of Hinboun river had eroded a lot due to strong tide in both season, it was not eroded only in rainy season, in dry season also eroded when they released the water from the dam the tide was very strong and eroded the bank and damaged the kitchen garden of villagers along Hinboun river bank. The bank erosion area was far from the village about 70 meters. No households located near eroded bank. If my house near eroded bank I will move away. In order to protect the bank erosion we have to plant the tree.

9/9 Water Voices in Lao PDR - Final Report -December 2005

JICA Laos Office Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry National Agriculture and Forestry Institute

Water Voices in the Lao PDR

Luangprabang Province ( LP)

December, 2005

All copy right reserved by JICA. In the case of using the data, contact the JICA Laos Office

1/9 Water Voices in Lao PDR - Final Report -December 2005

Luangprabang Province ( LP)

LPB1 Date of collection of water voice: 06 September, 2005 Region and country where your collected “ Water Voice “DoneKao Village, Louangphabang District, Louangphabang Province , Lao PDR. Name of voice sender: Mr. Sompheth Chanthy Age: 68 years old Occupation: Farmer Number of family member: 3, Female: 2 How long do you live in this village: more than 30 years.

Title: Crop production and irrigation The irrigation scheme in our village had established in 1978, it is an electric pumping irrigation system. At the beginning of this project, farmers were very glad to get the water for growing rice, the yield of growing rice is about 3,5 to 4 tons per hectare. Up to 1998 the farmers could not be continued to use this irrigation project by many reasons like: First, the cost of the electricity is high, it was from 14 kip/ kwh at the beginning of the project, the cost of the electricity was increased up to late of 1998 and high than 100 kip/ kwh so the farmers did not have enough money for cost of the electricity. Second one, the irrigation system is small so the water does not enough for rice cultivation, especially in the dry season.

LPB2 Date of collection of water voice: 06 September, 2005 Region and country where your collected “ Water Voice “DoneKao Village, Louangphabang District, Louangphabang Province , Lao PDR. Name of voice sender: Mr. Bounthanh Chaiyavong Age: 45 years old Occupation: Driver Number of family member: 3, Female: 2 How long do you live in this village: more than 20 years.

Title: Water supply shortage Long time ago, people in this village using water from the Mekong river and rainwater for agriculture. It was very difficult to collect the water from the Mekong river, especially in wet season. The river bank is very dirty and dangerous to collect the water. In addition, in wet season water quality of the Mekong river is not so good , it was muddy. It is better now because we have a water supply system, almost of household in our village have utilized the water from this system. Although we have a water supply system in our village, but we still not enough of the water because the population is increased, people use more of the water for various purposes. In addition, our village is located far from main pipe, during February to March our village lack of water so much because the water is slow flowed through our village’s pipe.

LPB3 Date of collection of water voice: 06 September, 2005 Region and country where your collected “ Water Voice “MouangKhay Village, Louangphabang District, Louangphabang Province , Lao PDR. Name of voice sender: Mr. Southy Silatana Age: 49 years old Occupation: Farmer Number of family member: 5, Female: 2 How long do you live in this village: 49 years.

2/9 Water Voices in Lao PDR - Final Report -December 2005

Title: Fish production

If mention to catching fish in our village at the present time and compares to the last 10 years or more than 10 years ago it was big difference. Because in the past we caught fish for only eat and not so many of fishing materials, there were only fishing net, formerly called “ Nam ” which is made by a kind of wood called “ Pane “, fish hook and fishing line some things like this. Nowadays, number of fishermen are increased, people catch fish not only for eating but for selling in the market and fishing material is also improved. Around 150 or 200 kg of fish like Pa Beuk and PaLerm are extinct right now. Fishing modern materials are caused for reducing of the fishes in our village. In addition, reducing of the fish probably due to there were some people who are living along the river catch fishes by using bomb and electric shock.

LPB4 Date of collection of water voice: 06 September, 2005 Region and country where your collected “ Water Voice “MouangKhay Village, Louangphabang District, Louangphabang Province , Lao PDR. Name of voice sender: Mr. Keanchanh Sayasavanh Age: 65 years old Occupation: Farmer Number of family member: 5, Female: 3 How long do you live in this village: 41 years.

Title: Navigation

After improvement of navigation canal, the navigation was more convenient if compares to the last few year and we are very proud to this improvement. In the past, many of boats had an accident in the Mekong river because of stone island. But this improvement there are some effects to the people who are living along the Mekong river like cultivation areas are damaged by wave of the big boats, number of fish is reduced because they lack of habitat, lack of nutrition and afraid of machine’s sound of the boats.

LPB5 Date of collection of water voice: 06 September, 2005 Region and country where your collected “ Water Voice “MouangKhay Village, Louangphabang District, Louangphabang Province , Lao PDR. Name of voice sender: Mrs. Bouatum Phansavang Age: 35 years old Occupation: Farmer Number of family member: 5, Female: 4 How long do you live in this village: 14 years.

Title: Water supply shortage In the past, water of the Mekong river was utilized for drinking by the people in the Mouangkhai Village. Although the Mekong river is not so far from our village, but it is difficult to collect the water, especially in wet season. It is better now because the government has built a spring water system by sharing water with the irrigation canal for us. However, we still not have enough water for drinking, especially in the dry season. Every year, during March to June spring water system is cut out of our

3/9 Water Voices in Lao PDR - Final Report -December 2005 village because the water in the irrigation canal is used for growing rice and other crops on the field. We can not use both way of the water at the same time in this canal because volume of the water in the canal is very small.

LPB6 Date of collection of water voice: 06 September, 2005 Region and country where your collected “ Water Voice “MouangKhay Village, Louangphabang District, Louangphabang Province , Lao PDR. Name of voice sender: Mr. Kham phai Phonsavanh Age: 49 years old Occupation: Farmer Number of family member: 5, Female: 3 How long do you live in this village: 49 years.

Title: Crops production and irrigation

In 2002 concrete weir was built by the Lao government on the Xy river, which can be used for 7 villagers. There are enough water for growing rice in the wet season for almost these villagers, which is big difference if compares to the last few year. We had been built earth weirs a long the Xy river but we could not control the water when it flood . So in the past growing rice in our village was only waiting for rain. However, even though there is a standard of weir but the agriculture area is larger the water was not enough for growing rice as well as other crops in the dry season. In 2004 we tried to grow rice in dry season more than 200 ha on areas of 7 villages but we could harvest only 50%. The water was not enough for agriculture but water for drinking was also not enough too. Because drinking water of our village is also collected from the irrigation canal.

LPB7 Date of collection of water voice: 07 September, 2005 Region and country where your collected “ Water Voice “ Thapaen Village, Louangphabang District, Louangphabang Province , Lao PDR. Name of voice sender: Mr. sing Siviengphone Age: 56 years old Occupation: Farmer Number of family member: 8, Female: How long do you live in this village: 30 years. Key words:

Title: Water pollution, tourism We are living along the Xy river, which is located downstream of water fall called “ Tad Kouang Xy “. Every year a lot of tourist including internal and external tourist are visiting this area. Usually our villager has enough water for all using purposes. Many years ago we had no problem with the water quality, but now things have changed . In the last few year, the river water has been polluted due to of garbage of tourist, waste water from tourists take bath, human waste from the village who is living along

4/9 Water Voices in Lao PDR - Final Report -December 2005 the Xy river. Nowadays, we can not use this water for drinking again, especially in the dry season because of low quality. So we can use this water for only take bath and wash clothes. This problem come from the poor management from local authorities. To solve these problems we are calling for provincial authority to help us as soon as possible.

LPB8 Date of collection of water voice: 07 September, 2005 Region and country where your collected “ Water Voice “ Thapaen Village, Louangphabang District, Louangphabang Province , Lao PDR. Name of voice sender: Mr. Thong bay Lataphone Age: 59 years old Occupation: Farmer Number of family member: 5, Female: 3 How long do you live in this village: 59 years.

Title: Crops production and irrigation

There is an irrigation system in our village, which is a concrete wier. We are used Xy water for growing rice and some crops in the wet season. Rice and some crops are not enough water for growing in the dry season because the water is very low in this time. Slash and burn for agriculture at the watershed area which caused climate change, so weir does not have enough water for storage and make us do not have enough water for growing rice and some crops for our field.

LPB9 Date of collection of water voice: 07 September, 2005 Region and country where your collected “ Water Voice “ Thapaen Village, Louangphabang District, Louangphabang Province , Lao PDR. Name of voice sender: Mr. Viengxay Lathaphone Age: 18 years old Occupation: Farmer Number of family member: 3, Female: 1 How long do you live in this village: 26 years.

Title: Soil erosion

There are three points of soil erosion in our village but only one is a serious damaged because the soil was slide down and covered the irrigation canal. The reason of soil erosion probably due to of: First people cut the threes around this area to much and second one ground of soil is rock and it is high of slop so when heavy rainfall, it was made soil slide down. The soil erosion made us very difficult because we waste lot of time for repairing the canal, it is around 10 times for a season, lack of water for growing rice and etc. To protect soil erosion we will mobilize people to grow some plant or grass on the canal and its slop.

LPB10

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Date of collection of water voice: 07 September, 2005 Region and country where your collected “ Water Voice “ Thinxom Village, Louangphabang District, Louangphabang Province , Lao PDR. Name of voice sender: Mr. Thongsy Age: 68 years old Occupation: Farmer Number of family member: 6, Female: 2 How long do you live in this village: 68 years.

Title: Water supply shortage In our village, Thinxom, the villagers using water from the Mekong river and rainfall for household uses and agriculture cultivation especially rice production. We are lacking of clean water in both wet and dry season. The village does not have any source of water except the Mekong river, so water for drinking and water for other using are also took from the Mekong. In the wet season water from the Mekong river is not so good of quality because of human waste water from upstream and it is much of sediment. To solve this problem, in the rainy season the villager collect and store the rainwater as much as they can do, but they could not build big water reservoir by themselves because they are living in poor condition.

LPB11 Date of collection of water voice: 07 September, 2005 Region and country where your collected “ Water Voice “ Thinxom Village, Louangphabang District, Louangphabang Province , Lao PDR. Name of voice sender: Mr. Thongdy Age: 55 years old Occupation: Farmer Number of family member: 12, Female: How long do you live in this village: 55 years. Key words: Bank erosion

Title: Bank erosion

In the past, bank erosion had never been in our village , it is only last few years it has occurred a bank erosion in our village. The reason of bank erosion may be due to 1.slash and burn for agriculture of poor people; 2. heavy rainfall in the upstream of river; and 3. the velocity of the water is very fast. To reduce or protect bank erosion of the river we have to grow some trees or other plants for blocking surface run off.

LPB12 Date of collection of water voice: 08 September, 2005 Region and country where your collected “ Water Voice “ No. 11 Village, XiengNgeun District, Louangphabang Province , Lao PDR.

6/9 Water Voices in Lao PDR - Final Report -December 2005

Name of voice sender: Mr. Onsy Xayalid Age: 60 years old Occupation: Farmer Number of family member: 4, Female: 3 How long do you live in this village: 5 years.

Title:Climate change, Floods and drought

Lak 11 village is locate along the road No. 4 of Xieng Ngeun District, its agriculture field is lowland area and locate with Khanh river. Every year, this village faced with flooding that causes severe damage to the property and crops production. . This leads to food shortage, disease, and consequently serious starvation and the living condition is getting worse. The problem is that, when flood arrives, the water rises up rapidly and flows very fast that erodes the riverbank and damages the rice field and other crops production. This problem can be due to poor people are cutting to much of tree. To solve the problem, the villagers have grown some crops like bean, corn and etc. In addition, some people are leaving their homeland to the city to find jobs because they need food to support their family.

LPB13 Date of collection of water voice: 08 September, 2005 Region and country where your collected “ Water Voice “ No. 11 Village, XiengNgeun District, Louangphabang Province , Lao PDR. Name of voice sender: Mr. Bounmy Age: 43 years old Occupation: Farmer Number of family member: 8, Female: 5 How long do you live in this village: more than 30 years.

Title: Watershed and forest Almost of people who are living in Lak 11 village are growing rice and other crops by cutting the tree because of lowland area does not have enough for them. Total of upland area in this village is about 50 ha, and for a lowland area is about 42 ha. We don’t have any choice except cut the tree for rice production because we are poor people and no have any job to do. Deforestation is caused climate change we have many problem now from the weather that is affecting the people in our village, some time we had floods and some time we had droughts. To protect the forest the villagers are grown rice at upland by sifting cultivation as policy of the local agriculture authority.

LPB14 Date of collection of water voice: 08 September, 2005 Region and country where your collected “ Water Voice “ Simonkhoun Village, Nane District, Louangphabang Province , Lao PDR. Name of voice sender: Mr. Bounsian Oundala Age: 46 years old Occupation: Farmer Number of family member: 5 , Female: 2 How long do you live in this village: 46 years.

7/9 Water Voices in Lao PDR - Final Report -December 2005

Title: Floods We are people living in the Simonkhoun Village, and have suffered a lot from seasonal flooding. Every year, this village faces annual flooding that causes severe damage to the property, crops production, and livestock, especially in this year on 17 of August, 2005 villagers have suffered a serious from annual flooding. They lost many things and were calculated roughly at 470,400,000 kip. The impacts of flood on the village are food shortage, disease, and consequently serious starvation as the living condition is getting worse and worse. The problem may come from people are cutting to much of tree at watershed area and caused climate change. Some time it has floods and some time it has drought.

LPB15 Date of collection of water voice: 09 September, 2005 Region and country where your collected “ Water Voice “ Hadmark Village, PakOu District, Louangphabang Province , Lao PDR. Name of voice sender: Mr. Khamphanh Age: 70 years old Occupation: Farmer Number of family member: 7 , Female: 4 How long do you live in this village: 70 years.

Title: Climate change, flood and drought

We are farmers living in the Hadmark village, this year we have a serious drought that has prolonged from dry season to the wet season (July, August and September). The changing of rainfall is caused by illegal deforestation around this area and there is no control over how much wood that people can cut from the forest. The impacts of drought on the village are food shortage, and consequently serious starvation and the living condition is getting worse. To solve the problem, villagers are grown soybean and corn that supported by the government but they can not be harvested because of a lot of mice destoyed it..

LPB16 Date of collection of water voice: 09 September, 2005 Region and country where your collected “ Water Voice “ Hadmark Village, PakOu District, Louangphabang Province , Lao PDR. Name of voice sender: Mrs. Chanthy Age: 46 years old Occupation: Farmer Number of family member: 9 , Female: 3 How long do you live in this village: 46 years.

Title: Water supply shortage Hadmark village is one of the villages in PakOu district that is always suffered from water shortage during the dry season. In 1996 we had received help from government to make a spring

8/9 Water Voices in Lao PDR - Final Report -December 2005 water system but we can use for 2 years only because many of villagers were cut to much of trees at head water and it caused climate change, so main of water for drinking and for other uses of the villagers is Nam Ou. Normally, in the wet season, we have had enough water to use in the household and for our rice field. We spent a lot of time and difficult to fetch the water for our household use such as cooking and drinking, and we couldn’t waste any water for washing. . Our Villagers are calling for help from NGOs or Government to dig some ponds or wells for us to collect rainwater for use in summer.

9/9 Water Voices in Lao PDR - Final Report -December 2005

JICA Laos Office Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry National Agriculture and Forestry Institute

Water Voices in the Lao PDR

Luangnamtha Province ( LNT)

December, 2005

All copy right reserved by JICA. In the case of using the data, contact the JICA Laos Office

1/9 Water Voices in Lao PDR - Final Report -December 2005

Luangnamtha Province ( LNT)

LNT1 Date of collection of water voice: 20 September, 2005 Region and country where your collected “ Water Voice “ Nam Ngean Village, Luangnamtha District, Luangnamtha Province , Lao PDR. Name of voice sender: Mr. Sengvixay Age: 47 years old Occupation: Farmer Number of family member: 11, Female: 5 How long do you live in this village: 47 years. Key words: Water, Irrigation

Title: Water for agriculture

-Now villagers of Nam Ngean village use water from rainfall and water from the canal of irrigation for rice cultivation and for other crops such as soil been, onion, garlic. Villagers have started to use water from irrigation system since 1985 which supported by the government of Vietnam, but at that time it was not standard of irrigation system. Later then 1996 this irrigation had improved and become standard irrigation system which supported by the government and other organization. However, up to now villagers still not have enough of water for rice production, especially in dry season. The problem may be due to small source river.

LNT2 Date of collection of water voice: 20 September, 2005 Region and country where your collected “ Water Voice “ Nam Ngean Village, Luangnamtha District, Luangnamtha Province , Lao PDR. Name of voice sender: Mr. Chanteuai Thongsing Age: 32 years old Occupation: Farmer Number of family member: 7, Female: 4 How long do you live in this village: 32 years. Key words: Drinking water

Title: Drinking water -In the past as in the present, villagers of Nam Ngean village have used water from rainfall and from the Ngean river for local uses in both wet and dry seasons. In the wet season it is much of water but we can not use because the quality of water is poor. In dry season we have to spend more time to go to collect the water from ponds that is across of the Ngean river and the water also does not have enough for villagers use. There are many ponds in our village but we can not use because the quality of water is not good, it is yellow color water and bad of smell. We live in suburb of Luangnamtha province and only 4 km far but we lack of clean water. In the past , villagers had been submit the proposal regarding water supply but up to now we do not get any answer.

2/9 Water Voices in Lao PDR - Final Report -December 2005

LNT3 Date of collection of water voice: 20 September, 2005 Region and country where your collected “ Water Voice “ Nam Ngean Village, Luangnamtha District, Luangnamtha Province , Lao PDR. Name of voice sender: Mr. Peuanghum Sosengvanh Age: 54 years old Occupation: Farmer, Village leader Number of family member: 5, Female: 3 How long do you live in this village: 54 years. Key words: Climate change, Floods, droughts

Title: Floods and droughts are caused climate change -Long time ago, this area had abundant of water resources and forest. We are never faced with drought and flood. Now the climate had big different changed if compare to the past, some year had heavy rainfall which is caused flood and some year has less of rainfall which caused drought. The reason of climate change may be from slash and burn for agriculture of poor villagers who are lived at the watershed area and along of the river. For example: in 2002 we were faced with serious drought event, the water does not have enough for agriculture cultivation. Oppositely, in 2003 the villagers had suffered a serious from flood and it is first time for our village. The impacts of the flood on the village were 5 rice storing houses was damaged , houses was moved to upland area for 5 houses, lost agriculture land around 17 ha and food shortage. In addition, animals and other things of villagers were damaged and calculated roughly at 700 to 800 million kips.

LNT4 Date of collection of water voice: 20 September, 2005 Region and country where your collected “ Water Voice “ Pouong Village, Luangnamtha District, Luangnamtha Province , Lao PDR. Name of voice sender: Mr. Khoud Lovankhith Age: 45 years old Occupation: Farmer, Village leader Number of family member: 7, Female: 3 How long do you live in this village: 45 years. Key words: Bank erosion

Title: Heavy rainfall is destroyed bank of river

In the past bank erosion in our village was also eroded but not so much. Now every year we have suffered a serious from bank erosion. The reason of bank erosion may be come from heavy rainfall and strong flowing of water and slash and burn for agriculture of poor villagers at head of the river. There are 4 point of bank erosion in our village now. The impacts of bank erosion of the village are 6 houses and many of rice stores were moved to upland area, footbath along the river is damaged and lost much of agriculture land. In addition more than 10 m of cemetery in the village is also damaged. Some villagers could not find place for their house’s building because it is limited of land. To reduce of bank erosion villagers try to dig new canal for draining of water but they are not succeeded because of they lack of instruments.

LNT5

3/9 Water Voices in Lao PDR - Final Report -December 2005

Date of collection of water voice: 20 September, 2005 Region and country where your collected “ Water Voice “ Pouong Village, Luangnamtha District, Luangnamtha Province , Lao PDR. Name of voice sender: Mr. Sompeuang Age: 70 years old Occupation: Farmer Number of family member: 12, Female: 5 How long do you live in this village: 70 years. Key words: Water shortage

Title: Water shortage Many years ago, our village had enough of water for domestic use in both wet and dry seasons. Nowadays, we are facing a serious with water shortage because of a lot of villagers are cutting to much of tree for their agriculture cultivation at the head of river. In 2000 our village had helped from ADRA project by drilling wells but the quality of the water in these wells is poor, there is yellow color and very bad of smell. So now villagers are still lack of clean water for domestic use in both wet and dry seasons. Many of villagers are collected water from Pouang river by digging pond a long the river, but in wet season these ponds are flooded. Oppositely, in dry season the water is running out of ponds. To solve of water shortage, some villagers are collected rainfall in wet season, but most of villagers are not collected because they do not have any instrument for collecting and living in poor condition.

LNT6 Date of collection of water voice: 20 September, 2005 Region and country where your collected “ Water Voice “ Pouong Village, Luangnamtha District, Luangnamtha Province , Lao PDR. Name of voice sender: Mr. SengNe Age: 57 years old Occupation: Farmer Number of family member: 7, Female: 3 How long do you live in this village: 57 years. Key words: Water, irrigation and drought

Title: Water for rice production

We are people living in Pouang village where we can plant rice and other crops such as maize, soy been, salad and vegetables by using water from rainfall and water from canal of irrigation system. There is one of irrigation in this area, it is soil dam that supported by the government in 1982. Some year we could not grow our rice because of drought event. For example, in 2000 some part of agriculture land could not grow any thing, some part of rice production is not good harvest because it is not enough of water. The problem of water for agriculture may be due to large of agriculture land in this area and slash and burn for agriculture of poor villagers in at the head of the river.

LNT7 Date of collection of water voice: 21 September, 2005

4/9 Water Voices in Lao PDR - Final Report -December 2005

Region and country where your collected “ Water Voice “ Pangthong Village, Sing District, Luangnamtha Province , Lao PDR. Name of voice sender: Mr. Maykhanh Age: 50 years old Occupation: Farmer Number of family member: 6, Female: 2 How long do you live in this village: 12 years. Key words: Water and irrigation

Title: Water for rice production The villagers of Pangthong village are grown rice and other crops such as maize, soy been, ground nut, onion, garlic and other vegetables by using rainfall. There are no irrigation system in our village, some villagers try to build irrigation by digging small of canal and building weir by using wood. Every year, we are very difficult for growing rice because our irrigation can not control the water, almost of water is leaked of the system. We need to grow rice in dry season but we can’t. It was only in 2003 the villagers try to grow rice in dry season for 3 ha but they could not harvest because we can not drain water to our field. We need assistance to built a standard of irrigation and we need to grow rice for two seasons.

LNT8 Date of collection of water voice: 21 September, 2005 Region and country where your collected “ Water Voice “ Pangthong Village, Sing District, Luangnamtha Province , Lao PDR. Name of voice sender: Mr. Nanchom Age: 43 years old Occupation: Upland farmer Number of family member: 6, Female: 2 How long do you live in this village: 13 years. Key words: Water shortage

Title: Water shortage Pangthong village is located a long the road of number 17 and it is highland area. Every year the villagers are facing a serious with water shortage in both wet and dry seasons. In wet season water in ma river is polluted, we can not use this water for domestic because the rain leaches every things waste into the river including human and animals waste. So villagers have to find and collect water from spring water along upland of the mountain. In dry season water of spring water is dried. The problem may be due to slash and burn for agriculture of poor villagers. We need assistance from the government and other organizes to build spring water system or drill wells, we need clean water.

LNT9 Date of collection of water voice: 21 September, 2005 Region and country where your collected “ Water Voice “ Pangthong Village, Sing District, Luangnamtha Province , Lao PDR. Name of voice sender: Mr. Ounheuane

5/9 Water Voices in Lao PDR - Final Report -December 2005

Age: 47 years old Occupation: Upland farmer, Village leader Number of family member: 3, Female: 1 How long do you live in this village: 5 years. Key words: Slash and burn for agriculture

Title: Slash and burn for agriculture of poor villagers

Pangthong village is located a long the road of number 17, it is highland area and far from Sing District around 15 km. In the past, this village had abundant of water resources and forest. Now the natural resource is big different if compare to the past. The villagers are very poor and they do not have any job to do. Every year around 22 ha of forest is cut for agriculture cultivation by villagers. The impacts of slash and burn for agriculture on the village are irregular climate change and water shortage. To protect water resources and forest, the irrigation system in this village is needed.

LNT10 Date of collection of water voice: 22 September, 2005 Region and country where your collected “ Water Voice “ KokHinh Village, Long District, Luangnamtha Province , Lao PDR. Name of voice sender: Mr. Aly Age: 26 years old Occupation: Upland farmer, Village leader Number of family member: 8, Female: 4 How long do you live in this village: 26 years. Key words: Water and irrigation

Title: Water for rice production

The villagers in our village have used rainfall and water from the river for domestic consumption and for agriculture, especially is rice cultivation. There are no irrigation system in our village, so almost of rice production in our village is depended on rainfall. Now it is only 6 ha out of 30 ha the villagers can be grown rice in wet season. Most of villagers are cut trees for agriculture because they do not have any choice. The impacts of water shortage on the village are food shortage and consequently serious starvation as the living condition is getting worse.

LNT11 Date of collection of water voice: 22 September, 2005 Region and country where your collected “ Water Voice “ KokHinh Village, Long District, Luangnamtha Province , Lao PDR. Name of voice sender: Mr. Soyong Age: 48 years old Occupation: Upland farmer Number of family member: 5, Female: 2 How long do you live in this village: 6 years. Key words: Water shortage

Title: Water shortage

6/9 Water Voices in Lao PDR - Final Report -December 2005

In the past as in the present, the villagers of Kokhinh have used water from ma river for drinking and for other using. In wet season the water of ma river is very poor and difficult and dangerous for villagers who will collect the water. Although having known about this fact, the river’s water is still for drinking and for other use but it is boiled before drinking. In 2001 around this area had helped from JICA project by building a spring water system but we can use water from this system for only 8 months. The problem may be due to level of head of spring water system is low, long distance and many villages are used water from this system.

LNT12 Date of collection of water voice: 22 September, 2005 Region and country where your collected “ Water Voice “ KokHinh Village, Long District, Luangnamtha Province , Lao PDR. Name of voice sender: Mr. Yomeu Age: 30 years old Occupation: Upland farmer Number of family member: 6, Female: 3 How long do you live in this village: 10 years. Key words: slash and burn for agriculture

Title: Slash and burn for agriculture of poor villagers

-When I was young, around this area had abundant of water resources and forest. Now those forest does not have any more and water in the rivers is also dried. The problem may be from cutting tree to much for agriculture of villagers. Every year around 20 ha of forest in this village are destroyed. In addition, some part of agriculture land of villagers can not plant any crops because lack of water. There are no irrigation system in our village and the rice production of villagers is depended on rainfall. To survive, some of villagers have to continue cut the trees for agriculture cultivation.

LNT13 Date of collection of water voice: 23 September, 2005 Region and country where your collected “ Water Voice “ May Village, Luangnamtha District, Luangnamtha Province , Lao PDR. Name of voice sender: Mr. Somdeng Lokhamsy Age: 55 years old Occupation: Farmer Number of family member: 9, Female: 7 How long do you live in this village: 37 years. Key words: Fish, fisher, bomb and electricity shock

Title: Catch fish by modern tool

Many years ago, villagers caught fish as much as they need in May village because at that time number of fisher does not high, low and no modern of fishing tool. From 1975-76

7/9 Water Voices in Lao PDR - Final Report -December 2005 number of fish was started to reduce because the fishing tool was improved, it is made by nylon. In 1990- 93 number of fish was a serious reduced because the village does not have rule of catching fish. The villagers, polices and militaries caught fish by using bomb, diving mask, poisoning and electric shock. So now some fishes are extinct like Chath, Phao and My. To protect fishes, in 2000 May village had reserve area.

LNT14 Date of collection of water voice: 23 September, 2005 Region and country where your collected “ Water Voice “ May Village, Luangnamtha District, Luangnamtha Province , Lao PDR. Name of voice sender: Mr. Bathyiao Lokhamtom Age: 45 years old Occupation: Farmer Number of family member: 6, Female: 4 How long do you live in this village: 45 years. Key words: Bank erosion

Title: Bank erosion -May is one of many villages that are located along the tha river. Many years ago, the climate around this area had regular change. At that time, some year it had flooded and flooded through our village and our rice field but the bank of river was not damaged. Now it is less of rainfall if compare to the past, rice field and village are also not flooded. But oppositely, villagers have suffered a serious from bank erosion, 3 houses were moved to upland area and around 1,3 ha of agriculture land was lost. The reason of bank erosion is from cutting to much of tree for agriculture along the river of villagers. To protect bank of the river, villagers will be grown some plant to cover the land.

LNT15 Date of collection of water voice: 23 September, 2005 Region and country where your collected “ Water Voice “ Bomphieng Village, Luangnamtha District, Luangnamtha Province , Lao PDR. Name of voice sender: Mr. Singkham Age: 50 years old Occupation: Farmer, Village leader Number of family member: 8, Female: 5 How long do you live in this village: more than 20 years. Key words: Water shortage

Title: Water shortage

Many years ago, villagers of Bomphieng village had used water from the thouang river for domestic consumption. They were very difficult to use this water because it is highland area and dangerous to collect, especially is in wet season. It was better after Concern World Wide had built the spring water system in our village in 2001. But villagers are still not enough water for domestic use because the spring water system can be used for only in wet season. In dry season water from spring water system is dried. Some villagers try to dig pond but the water is very poor, it is yellow color and very bad of smell. So every year we have suffered from water shortage.

8/9 Water Voices in Lao PDR - Final Report -December 2005

The reason of water shortage is from small of head work water and short of river.

9/9 Water Voices in Lao PDR - Final Report -December 2005

JICA Laos Office Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry National Agriculture and Forestry Institute

Water Voices in the Lao PDR

Oudomxay Province (OX)

December, 2005

All copy right reserved by JICA. In the case of using the data, contact the JICA Laos Office

1/8 Water Voices in Lao PDR - Final Report -December 2005

Oudomxay Province (OX)

ODX1 Date of collection of water voice: 26 September, 2005 Region and country where your collected “ Water Voice “Namor Neua Village, Namor District, Oudomxay Province , Lao PDR. Name of voice sender: Mr. Chieng Ingxay Age: 51 years old Occupation: Farmer, Village leader Number of family member: 10, Female: 6 How long do you live in this village: 51 years. Key words: Drought and flood

Title: Drought and flood -Long time ago, Namor Neua village had abundant of water resources and forest. There are a lot of big trees and the climate was also regular change. Now water as well as climate are big different if compare to the past. Every year villagers have suffered a serious from climate change, some time we have floods and some time drought, it is irregular climate changed. Last year(2004), we had suffered from drought, around 2 ha of rice production area could not harvest. Oppositely, this year we have suffered from flood, some of agriculture land and rice in the field are damaged. In addition, the flood has also destroyed irrigation system in our village. The impacts of flood and drought on the village are food shortage and consequently serious starvation as the living condition is getting worse.

ODX2 Date of collection of water voice: 26 September, 2005 Region and country where your collected “ Water Voice “Namor Neua Village, Namor District, Oudomxay Province , Lao PDR. Name of voice sender: Mr. Somphone Kavanseng Age: 49 years old Occupation: Agriculture officer Number of family member: 6, Female: 3 How long do you live in this village: 49 years. Key words: Bank erosion

Title: Heavy rainfall is caused bank erosion Namor Neua village is located along the tong river. Many years ago, around this area had abundant of water resources and forest and climate is also regular change. At that time, the rainfall was not affect the natural resource and other things of villagers. Now climate has changed, some year is flood and some year is drought. Every year villagers have suffered from these change, especially is in wet season. Heavy rainfall, strong flow and slash and burn for agriculture of villagers are caused bank erosion and damaged much of agriculture land. This year(2005), we have suffered a serious from bank erosion, around 2 ha of agriculture land along the river has destroyed.

ODX3 Date of collection of water voice: 26 September, 2005

2/8 Water Voices in Lao PDR - Final Report -December 2005

Region and country where your collected “ Water Voice “Natong Village, Namor District, Oudomxay Province , Lao PDR. Name of voice sender: Mr. Khammouan Age: 48 years old Occupation: Farmer Number of family member: 13, Female: 5 How long do you live in this village: 48 years. Key words: Water shortage

Title: Water shortage Natong village is located along the road of 13 north, it is highland area. This villagers have utilized water from Tong river for drinking and for other using in both wet and dry seasons. In wet season, water is very poor because of many villages are located at head and along the river and they discharge every thing waste into the river. In addition, collecting of water in this area is hard and dangerous, especially is children and older people because slop of bank is high. In dry season, villagers try to dig small ponds along the river to take clean water but in March and April, water from this ponds are also dried. We need assistance from the government and other organization to build spring water system.

ODX4 Date of collection of water voice: 26 September, 2005 Region and country where your collected “ Water Voice “Natong Village, Namor District, Oudomxay Province , Lao PDR. Name of voice sender: Mr. Sing Lointhavong Age: 51 years old Occupation: Farmer, Village leader Number of family member: 10, Female: 7 How long do you live in this village: 51 years. Key words: Water for agriculture

Title: Water for agriculture --Most of agriculture land of Natong village is located along the tong river. In the past, the villagers had used water from rainfall for agriculture cultivation because at that time it did not have any irrigation system. The main of crop in this village is rice. In addition, there are maize and vegetables. In dry season we could not grow any crops because it was lacked of water. In 1999 there are one irrigation in the village, which is supported by Quaker project. A few year ago the irrigation system had problem, villagers had not enough of water for agriculture cultivation, especially in this year, canal and flume are damaged. On the other hand, small of river and there are many of weirs in the same river are also caused for lacking of water.

ODX5 Date of collection of water voice: 26 September, 2005 Region and country where your collected “ Water Voice “Namor Tay Village, Namor District, Oudomxay Province , Lao PDR. Name of voice sender: Mr. Khamnoy Age: 45 years old

3/8 Water Voices in Lao PDR - Final Report -December 2005

Occupation: Farmer Number of family member: 8, Female: 5 How long do you live in this village: 45 years. Key words: Water for agriculture

Title: Water for agriculture

Namor Tay is one villages that have agriculture land along the Tong river. The main crop in wet season of the villagers is rice. Villagers are grown maize, soy been, garlic and vegetables in dry season without water from any system. In 2001 our villagers had utilized water from irrigation system for agriculture, which is supported by Quaker Agency. However, some year in wet season the villagers are still not enough of water for agriculture cultivation. For a dry season, villagers can be not used water from this system for agriculture because water from this river is dried. The reason of water shortage and do not have enough of water for agriculture is from small of river, canal and flume are damaged in flood season and slash and burn for agriculture of villagers.

ODX6 Date of collection of water voice: 26 September, 2005 Region and country where your collected “ Water Voice “Namor Tay Village, Namor District, Oudomxay Province , Lao PDR. Name of voice sender: Mr. Khamone Age: 46 years old Occupation: Farmer Number of family member: 7, Female: 4 How long do you live in this village: 46 years. Key words: Climate change, floods

Title: Climate change and floods Many years ago, water as well as climate around the Namor Tay village area had regular changed because at that time the forest did not destroy to much as today. Now population is increased around this area and almost of these villagers have not lowland for agriculture. Every year, villagers are cut to much of forest for agriculture. These change the land cover affect the hydrology process and eventually affect the water resource. Some year we have floods and some year we have droughts, it is irregular climate change. This year on 25th of July, 2005 we have suffered a serious from flood. The impacts of flood on the village are Bridge between Namor Tay and Neua is destroyed, rice production field has flooded and damaged around 10 ha, bank erosion and food shortage.

ODX7 Date of collection of water voice: 27 September, 2005 Region and country where your collected “ Water Voice “Huoychay Village, La District, Oudomxay Province , Lao PDR. Name of voice sender: Mr. Bounthay Age: 43 years old Occupation: Upland farmer

4/8 Water Voices in Lao PDR - Final Report -December 2005

Number of family member: 7, Female: 3 How long do you live in this village: 30 years. Key words: Water and turbidity

Title: Water and turbidity

Huoychay village is located along the road number 2E and along the Phak river, it is highland area. In the past, Phak river had many kind of fish and ecology system around this erea was very beautiful. Fish and some vegetables along the river are main food of villagers. In addition, villagers can be earned extra income by sieving gold. Now things have changed, 4 months ago of this year(2005) the river has much of turbidity, villagers can not catch fish and along the river has destroyed by gold mining company of china. We need assistance of the government to manage this thing as soon as possible.

ODX8 Date of collection of water voice: 27 September, 2005 Region and country where your collected “ Water Voice “Huoychay Village, La District, Oudomxay Province , Lao PDR. Name of voice sender: Mr. Khamsouk Siaphone Age: 48 years old Occupation: Upland farmer, Village leader Number of family member: 4, Female: 2 How long do you live in this village: 25 years. Key words: Bank erosion

Title: Bank erosion - Huoychay village is located along the road number 2E and along the Phak river, it is highland area. In the past, around the Chay village had abundant of forest and climate was also regular change. Now the climate has changed because of cutting to much of tree for agriculture of villagers. Every year we have suffered from bank erosion. Heavy rainfall in wet season and strong flow are caused bank erosion. In addition, The bank erosion in this village is also caused from gold mining company of china. We need assistance from the government to protect our river bank because the land in our village has limited.

ODX9 Date of collection of water voice: 27 September, 2005 Region and country where your collected “ Water Voice “Huoychay Village, La District, Oudomxay Province , Lao PDR. Name of voice sender: Mr. Bounmy Age: 53 years old Occupation: Upland farmer Number of family member: 9, Female: 4 How long do you live in this village: 25 years. Key words: Water and forest

5/8 Water Voices in Lao PDR - Final Report -December 2005

Title: slash and burn for agriculture of poor villagers

Huoychay village is located along the road number 2E and along the Phak river, it is highland area. Huoychay village does not have any lowland for agriculture cultivation, so all of villagers are cut the trees for agriculture. Every year around 40 ha of forest is cut for agriculture by villagers. This year rain started late than normal, we can not grow rice on time, usually we grow rice in May to June but this year we grow it in June to July. The impacts of slash and burn for agriculture on the village are irregular weather change, low of rice yield production and food shortage. To solve problem villagers will grow rice by unshifting mode.

ODX10 Date of collection of water voice: 27 September, 2005 Region and country where your collected “ Water Voice “Done Village, La District, Oudomxay Province , Lao PDR. Name of voice sender: Mr. Bounchanh Age: 40 years old Occupation: Driver Number of family member: 5, Female: 2 How long do you live in this village: 30 years. Key words: Fish production

Title: Fish production Donekao village is located along the road number 2E and along the La river, it is lowland area. In the past, there are a lot of fish in the La river because at that time number of fisher is not high, caught fish for only eating and fishing tool was limited. Now number of fish is reduced because number of fisher is high, catching fish is for selling and villagers catch fish by using modern fishing tool like diving mask. Some kind of fish was extinct such as Va fish and Kouane fish. The reason of these fishes were extinct is from high of fisher and temperature of water.

ODX11 Date of collection of water voice: 27 September, 2005 Region and country where your collected “ Water Voice “Done Village, La District, Oudomxay Province , Lao PDR. Name of voice sender: Mr. Siphanh Age: 48 years old Occupation: Farmer, Village leader Number of family member: 9, Female: 5 How long do you live in this village: 35 years. Key words: Flood and drought

Title: Flood and drought

6/8 Water Voices in Lao PDR - Final Report -December 2005

Water resource and climate at present time of our village is big different if compare to the past. In the past, this village was remote area and had abundant of natural resources, a lot of big trees and temperature was also cool. Now this village has developed and the road is also has improved, so number of villagers are high in this village. Most of these villagers do not have lowland for agriculture, every year they cut to much of tree for agriculture and it is caused climate change. Some year we have suffered from flood and drought, especially in 1991 our village had a serious flooded. The impacts of the flood on the village are 10 of villagers were died, 15 of houses were destroyed and food shortage. In addition, animals and a lot of trees along the river were also destroyed.

ODX12 Date of collection of water voice: 28 September, 2005 Region and country where your collected “ Water Voice “Cheng Village, Pakbeng District, Oudomxay Province , Lao PDR. Name of voice sender: Mr. Niao Age: 75 years old Occupation: House keeper Number of family member: 7, Female: 3 How long do you live in this village: 52 years. Key words: Navigation

Title: Navigation -In the past, Navigation in the Mekong river was very difficult, it is a lot of stone island and many of boats were broken in it. Now the navigation is better after the river has improved. Navigators can be transport passenger and merchandize up to 200 tones, especially in wet season. However, the navigation at the present time is affected the natural resource and human. The impacts of navigation on the village are strong sound, habitat of fish has destroyed, less of fish and some small of boats are sink.

ODX13 Date of collection of water voice: 28 September, 2005 Region and country where your collected “ Water Voice “Cheng Village, Pakbeng District, Oudomxay Province , Lao PDR. Name of voice sender: Mr. Sengkham Age: 46 years old Occupation: Trader Number of family member: 8, Female: 4 How long do you live in this village: 28 years. Key words: Fish production

Title: Fish production -In the past, there are only 40 to 50 household in our village, fishing tool was also less and low of quality. Fishing tools at that time were only fishing net and casting net, which is made by “ Pane” ( one kind of wood) and villagers caught fish for only eating. So at that time it was very much of fish. Now number of fish is reduced because population is increased, number of fisher is high, fishing tools are improved it is made by factory and villagers catch fish for sell. In addition, some people catch fish by using bomb and electric shock. To protect fish for our villagers in the future, we have reserved some area for fish a

7/8 Water Voices in Lao PDR - Final Report -December 2005 long the river.

ODX14 Date of collection of water voice: 28 September, 2005 Region and country where your collected “ Water Voice “Cheng Village, Pakbeng District, Oudomxay Province , Lao PDR. Name of voice sender: Mr. Thongchanh Age: 46 years old Occupation: Trader Number of family member: 5, Female: 3 How long do you live in this village: 46 years. Key words: Water pollution

Title: Water pollution Cheng village is located along the Mekong river, it is highland area and its land is limited. Most of villager’s occupation in this village are trade. There are a port in this village, every day they transport many kind of merchandize in here. In addition, this village is also a tourism source for foreigner. Because of limit of land, high of villager and lack of good management regarding garbage of local authority, so the water is polluted in our village. The impacts of water pollution on the village are guest houses are reduced of tourist and eventually affect the income of the villager.

ODX15 Date of collection of water voice: 28 September, 2005 Region and country where your collected “ Water Voice “Cheng Village, Pakbeng District, Oudomxay Province , Lao PDR. Name of voice sender: Mr. Chanhpheng Age: 53 years old Occupation: Trader , Village leader Number of family member: 8, Female: 5 How long do you live in this village: 53 years. Key words: Water shortage

Title: Water shortage

- Cheng village is located along the Mekong river, it is highland area. In the past, villagers had used water from the Mekong river for domestic consumption in both wet and dry seasons. In wet season, the villagers are very difficult and dangerous for collecting the water because the slop of river bank is high. In addition, the water in wet season of the Mekong river is not clean, it much of turbidity. So before use the villagers have to adapt by using acid rock. From 1978 the villagers have used water from spring water system that supported by Quaker Agency. Now we do not have enough water for domestic use because of increasing of villager, head work of water is small and pipe for distribution of water is also small.

8/8 Water Voices in Lao PDR - Final Report -December 2005

JICA Laos Office Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry National Agriculture and Forestry Institute

Water Voices in the Lao PDR

Phongsaly Province (PSL)

December, 2005

All copy right reserved by JICA. In the case of using the data, contact the JICA Laos Office

1/8 Water Voices in Lao PDR - Final Report -December 2005

Phongsaly Province (PSL)

PSL1 Date of collection of water voice: 12 October, 2005 Region and country where your collected “ Water Voice “ Hadxa Neua Village, Phongsaly District, Phongsaly Province , Lao PDR. Name of voice sender: Mr. Somchin Sisamphanh Age: 45 years old Occupation: Upland farmer, Village leader Number of family member: 9, Female: 3 How long do you live in this village: 45 years.

Title: Navigation

Hadxa Neua village is located along the Ou river. Long time ago, navigation in Hadxa Neua village was very difficult, we could be used only small both and a lot of both were broken in the river because it has stone island. It is better now, medium and big boat can be transported a long the Ou river. However, even though the river has improved and many of boats can be transported but it has some impact to people livelihood in this area like sound of boat, it is very loud.

PSL2 Date of collection of water voice: 12 October, 2005 Region and country where your collected “ Water Voice “ Hadxa Neua Village, Phongsaly District, Phongsaly Province , Lao PDR. Name of voice sender: Mr. Phui Age: 48 years old Occupation: Upland farmer Number of family member: 7, Female: 3 How long do you live in this village: 48 years.

Title: Fish products

Hadxa Neua is located a long the Ou river, far from Phongsaly province around 20 km and it is highland area. Long time ago, we caught fish as much as we need and fish is also has many kinds. The fishing tool at that time is only fishing net, casting net and fish hook that made by ” Pane”. Nowadays, number of fish is reduced because a lot of fishers and fishing tools are also improved. Especially is from 2000 year number of fish was very few. Some kind of fish was extinct like Yang fish and Eurn fish. I do not know why these fishes are extinct. In addition, number of fish is reduced at the present time probably due to villagers and government’s official catch fish by used bomb and electricity shock.

PSL3 Date of collection of water voice: 12 October, 2005 Region and country where your collected “ Water Voice “ Hadxa Neua Village, Phongsaly District, Phongsaly Province , Lao PDR. Name of voice sender: Mr. Keansy Age: 52 years old

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Occupation: Upland farmer Number of family member: 5, Female: 3 How long do you live in this village: 52 years.

Title: Bank erosion

Hadxa Neua is located a long the Ou river and it is highland area. Long time ago, people are not so many around this area and it has abundant of forest. Nowadays, population is increased, slash and burn for agriculture of poor villagers are spreading a long the river and upper of the river. It does not have anything block runoff when rainfall comes, all of water flows into the river and cause bank damage. To protect bank erosion, villagers will not cut trees a long the river.

PSL4 Date of collection of water voice: 12 October, 2005 Region and country where your collected “ Water Voice “ Hadxa Neua Village, Phongsaly District, Phongsaly Province , Lao PDR. Name of voice sender: Mr. Norseng Age: 55 years old Occupation: Trader Number of family member: 7, Female: 5 How long do you live in this village: 55 years.

Title: Watershed and forest

Hadxa Neua is located a long the Ou river, it is highland area. Long time ago, water resources and forest in this area were abundant, a lot of big trees, many kinds of fish in the river and never had drought. According to, population increase, villagers do not have any job to do except slash and burn for agriculture, especially is rice cultivation. So now the water resources and forest are big different if compare to the past, irregular weather change, some time droughts and some time floods. Changing of the weather affect the yield of rice cultivation of the villagers in our village. To protect water resources and forest villagers will grow rice by un-shifting.

PSL5 Date of collection of water voice: 12 October, 2005 Region and country where your collected “ Water Voice “ Nongkinaly Village, Phongsaly District, Phongsaly Province , Lao PDR. Name of voice sender: Mr. House Xayaseng Age: 58 years old Occupation: Farmer, (Village leader) Number of family member: 2, Female: 1 How long do you live in this village: 12 years.

Title: Crop production and irrigation

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Nongkinaly village is located a long the road of Phongsaly- Hadxa. It is highland area where villagers can plant only rice crop in thr wet season. Our rice crop depends on the rainfall, if there is enough rainfall there will be enough rice for food. Although in 1999 our village had help from Phongsaly District Development Project(PDDP) by giving pipes and cement to drain water from the river to the rice field. But we still not have enough water for our rice filed, especially is in dry season villagers can not grow anything on the field. To solve poverty of our village, a lot of villagers have grown tea now.

PSL6 Date of collection of water voice: 12 October, 2005 Region and country where your collected “ Water Voice “ Nongkinaly Village, Phongsaly District, Phongsaly Province , Lao PDR. Name of voice sender: Mr. Ountao Age: 48 years old Occupation: upland farmer Number of family member: 5, Female: 2 How long do you live in this village: 10 years.

Title: Climate change, flood and drought

The forest at the present time is very different if compares to the past, number of trees are reduced so much and the weather is also change. Formerly, the weather in Phongsaly province is cold, it is probably due to villagers are cut to much of trees, so now the weather in this area is hot. Last year(2004), our villagers have suffered a serious drought, a lot of villagers could not harvest. The impacts of drought on the village are food shortage and consequently serious starvation as the living condition is getting worse. To solve problems, villagers sold animals such as cattle, tea and sold some wood and other in the forest to buy food.

PSL7 Date of collection of water voice: 13 October, 2005 Region and country where your collected “ Water Voice “ Houaidong Village, BounNeua District, Phongsaly Province , Lao PDR. Name of voice sender: Mr. Bounpheng Thalang Age: 45 years old Occupation: Farmer,(Village leader) Number of family member: 5, Female: 1 How long do you live in this village: 38 years.

Title: Crop production and irrigation

Houaidong village is located the remote highland area where we can plant only rice crop during the wet season. Our rice depends on rainfall from the sky and the villagers are living in poor condition. According to population increases and the villagers do not have any job to do except rice production so we need water

4/8 Water Voices in Lao PDR - Final Report -December 2005 for rice production in two season. Last year(2004), I tried to grow rice in dry season by built a small earth dam to drain water to my field but I could not any harvest because it did not have enough water. We need to assistant from the government and other organizes to built irrigation system.

PSL8 Date of collection of water voice: 13 October, 2005 Region and country where your collected “ Water Voice “ Houaidong Village, BounNeua District, Phongsaly Province , Lao PDR. Name of voice sender: Mr. Xayenam Age: 49 years old Occupation: Farmer Number of family member: 5, Female: 2 How long do you live in this village: 37 years.

Title: Soil erosion

Many years ago, from 1968 around this area was abundant of water resources and forest and it did not have so many of people. In 1976-77 people started to increase in this area and almost of these people do not have any job to do except slash and burn for agriculture, especially villagers who are live in the head of river. Every year, our farmers have suffered a lot from soil and bank erosion. In 2002 is a serious year, villagers lost land for production around 3 ha, this is included bank erosion and rock cover that carried by the river water.

PSL9 Date of collection of water voice: 13 October, 2005 Region and country where your collected “ Water Voice “ Houaidong Village, BounNeua District, Phongsaly Province , Lao PDR. Name of voice sender: Mr. Phengxay Age: 39 years old Occupation: Farmer Number of family member: 5, Female: 2 How long do you live in this village: 37 years.

Title: Fish products

When I was a child, in 1968 we could catch fish as much as we need by any kind of fishing tool, like “Xay” that made by bamboo, fishing net and casting net that made by “ Pane”(one kind of wood) and at that time number of fisher is also not high. Now number of fish is reduced, it is probably due to number of fisher is high, fishing tools are improved, built the electricity dam to block the water which the fishes can not get to upstream. In addition, some villagers and the government official catch fish by used electricity shock. Some kind of fish was extinct such as Kouan, Chad, Lad and Chi. The reason these fishes were extinct may be due to number of fisher is high and villagers use modern fishing tool.

PSL10 Date of collection of water voice: 14 October, 2005

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Region and country where your collected “ Water Voice “ Bomang Village, BounNeua District, Phongsaly Province , Lao PDR. Name of voice sender: Mr. Maysy Age: 69 years old Occupation: Farmer Number of family member: 8, Female: 4 How long do you live in this village: 10 years.

Title: Water supply shortage

Bomang is highland village, locate a long the road BounNeua- BounTay. Our village was moved to here around 10 years, the villagers are facing problems of water shortage such as lack of clean water supplies, changing of raining time and lack of water for all use in the dry season. The wet season is better, we have enough water for domestic use but it is difficult to collect because source of water is far from our village. The reason of lacking water in dry season in this area probably due to less of source water, river has not long enough. We need assistant from the government and other organizes to survey water resource and make spring water system for us.

PSL11 Date of collection of water voice: 14 October, 2005 Region and country where your collected “ Water Voice “ Bomang Village, BounNeua District, Phongsaly Province , Lao PDR. Name of voice sender: Mr. Maysay Age: 49 years old Occupation: Farmer, ( Village leader ) Number of family member: 8, Female: 5 How long do you live in this village: 10 years.

Title: Fund for feeding animal (Others)

Formerly Bomang village is locate in remote area and far from the road about 15 km. Now it is located a long the road and it is highland area. We have some difficult to live here because our land for production is in old village. When we moved here many things of our village are helped from the government and other organization such as established rice bank, local first aid and built irrigation system. However, villagers of our village still very poor and difficult to live. If possible we need some fun from the government and/or other organization for feeding animals like pig, duck, chicken and other animals.

PSL12 Date of collection of water voice: 15 October, 2005 Region and country where your collected “ Water Voice “ BounTay Village, BounTay District, Phongsaly Province , Lao PDR. Name of voice sender: Mr. Norla Changon Age: 46 years old Occupation: Farmer Number of family member: 6, Female: 4

6/8 Water Voices in Lao PDR - Final Report -December 2005

How long do you live in this village: 46 years.

Title: Crops production and irrigation

We live in the lowland area where we can plant many crops in the wet and dry seasons such as rice, maize, ground nut and some vegetables. There is one irrigation system in our village that made by concrete. The villagers use this water for their growing rice in wet season. It is not have enough of water for growing rice in dry season because of increasing of population, expansion of arable land and small of river, so villagers have grown maize, ground nut and some vegetable instead in dry season.

PSL13 Date of collection of water voice: 15 October, 2005 Region and country where your collected “ Water Voice “ BounTay Village, BounTay District, Phongsaly Province , Lao PDR. Name of voice sender: Mr. Bounthong Age: 37 years old Occupation: Farmer Number of family member: 5, Female: 4 How long do you live in this village: 37 years.

Title: Bank erosion

Long time ago, our village had abundant of forest and water resources and weather was also regular change. According to population increase, expansion of arable land and deforestation a long the river and upper of the river for agriculture and for built houses. These change the land cover affect the hydrology process in the basin and eventually affect bank of the river. Impacts of bank erosion on the village are lost of land for production and house was moved to upland about 30 houses( 1988 ). The bank of the river is continued to erode year by year so we need assistant from the government and other organization to protect bank erosion for us.

PSL14 Date of collection of water voice: 16 October, 2005 Region and country where your collected “ Water Voice “ Navay Village, BounTay District, Phongsaly Province , Lao PDR. Name of voice sender: Mr. Kham oun Sengda Age: 49 years old Occupation: Farmer, ( Village leader ) Number of family member: 6, Female: 2 How long do you live in this village: 49 years.

7/8 Water Voices in Lao PDR - Final Report -December 2005

Title: Crop production and irrigation

Navay village is located a long the Lane river and it is lowland area where we can plant only rice crop in wet season. Because of it does not have enough of water in dry season, villagers are grown maize, ground nut and some vegetables instead on the rice field. In 1999 before irrigation system was built, some villagers tried to grow rice in dry season but they could not harvest by many reasons such as water does not have enough, lack of good seed and lack of experience. Although there is one irrigation system in our village but we still not have enough of water for our rice production, may be due to lost to much of water in the canal by leaking and infiltration. Other reason may be due to a lot of poor villagers are cut to much of trees in the head of river.

PSL15 Date of collection of water voice: 16 October, 2005 Region and country where your collected “ Water Voice “ Navay Village, BounTay District, Phongsaly Province , Lao PDR. Name of voice sender: Mr. Xiengsone Age: 65 years old Occupation: Farmer Number of family member: 8, Female: 5 How long do you live in this village: 35 years.

Title: Soil erosion We are people living in the Navay village, and have suffered a lot from soil erosion. Every year, the canals of our irrigation system are covered by soil, especially is in this year(2005) about 50 m of canal is covered by soil and we can not drain the water to our rice field. The reason of soil erosion is from a lot of poor villager are cut to much of trees for their agriculture around this area and other reason is from heavy rainfall. Impacts of the soil erosion on the village are canals cut out of water, Low yield of rice production, food shortage. The solution of the villagers for draining water to the rice field at the moment is to fix canal by filling out the soil.

8/8 Water Voices in Lao PDR - Final Report -December 2005

JICA Laos Office Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry National Agriculture and Forestry Institute

Water Voices in the Lao PDR

Saravan Province ( SRV)

December, 2005

All copy right reserved by JICA. In the case of using the data, contact the JICA Laos Office

1/9 Water Voices in Lao PDR - Final Report -December 2005

Saravan Province ( SRV)

SRV1 Date of collection of “ water Voice”9 September, 2005 Region and country where you collected Water Voice: Watkang village, Saravan district, Saravan province. Name of voice sender: Khammany Laokham , Age: 45 years. Voice sender: Adult , male Occupation of Voice sender: Government officer Number of member in the family: 6 , Male 4, Female 2 How long do you live in this village: 22 years.

Title: Water supply shortage

When we revised about the water situation in Saravan province, main river in this province is Sedon river, in 10 years before the level of water in Sedon river still high and deeper more than 1 meter in dry season. The water supply system in Saravan province had completed in 1987 and started to supply to social in Saravan district after that. About 3 years later the situation of water in Sedon river had changed . the volume of water was very small than before. In dry season the water were flow very little not enough to pump for making water supply in the district, we have to take the sand back to block the water up and pumping for water supply. In that time it was the same time of the province promote the farmer to make dry season rice production and they used to pump the water to irrigate the rice farm area which was one of the causes that make the river dry up. And another reason maybe because of the climate change around the world, and maybe due to the people cut the tree to much. In dry season two years ago we faced with the crisis of water scarcity sometime we stop produce water for social use in the district. In rainy season the water had much enough but the quality of water was very dirty due to heavy rain and flow away the waste on the ground to the water and make the water spoiled. And one reason that make the water polluted due to the pumping station of water supply was located under the mouth of Houaylek stream, Houaylek was flow from inside the district which people disposed their garbage to Houaylek and when the rain come it flow to Sedon river. These are the main problem of water supply production in this province.

SRV2 Date of collection of “ water Voice”9 September, 2005 Region and country where you collected Water Voice: Watkang village, Saravan district, Saravan province. Name of voice sender: Mrs. Phoua Sisengmek , Age: 68 years. Voice sender: Elderly , Female Occupation of Voice sender: Farmer Number of member in the family: 4 , Male 2, Female 2 How long do you live in this village: 21 years.

Title: Climate change, flood and drought

The climate now and before it had changed very much, in the past in winter it was very cold, for example in December the harvest season we just wait to see the sun before we can go to rice field for harvesting and in that time it was foggy at night and in the morning time. But now in winter the weather was not cold as before at night and in the morning there were no fog. And the fishes in the river was too many we can catch at any time for daily meal, and the frog also many, now the number of population had increased, and many people look for catching fishes and frog for consumption and for sale , so the number of fishes and frog had very few at present time. Now the climate

2/9 Water Voices in Lao PDR - Final Report -December 2005 changed if it rain it will rain very heavy like this years the water was flood even the market in Saravan district and caused the damages to the fish pond and rice field and other things of people. In some year there were no rain but drought instead, the causes of the drought was the people cut the tree too much. In the past on the way from Saravan district to Khongsedon district it was a big forest and many big tree, it has even the tigers, we can not go alone because of fear of tiger. But now we could not see it any more.

SRV3 Date of collection of “ water Voice”9 September, 2005 Region and country where you collected Water Voice: Watkang village, Saravan district, Saravan province. Name of voice sender: Mrs. Bouaphan Singsavang , Age: 56 years. Voice sender: Elderly , Female Occupation of Voice sender: Trader Number of member in the family: 7 , Male 3, Female 4 How long do you live in this village: 20 years.

Title: Water pollution

About the water pollution in this city still was done well, we can see the garbage everywhere in the city area, especially in the canal and in the river because the urban development organization still not covered all of the villages in the city. The cause of the polluted water was the garbage from the households, they still not recognize to the cleanliness of the city. The people in the villages still not being the ownership of themselves. The main cause of the polluted water was the waste from households use in each day and from some household who made the noodle factory and release the polluted water to the canal and flow to the river. The way to protect the polluted water is to keep the garbage from daily use in each households, if there were no urban development organization to collect the garbage each households have to dig the hole to bury it. it will be better than this.

SRV4 Date of collection of “ water Voice”9 September, 2005 Region and country where you collected Water Voice: Watkang village, Saravan district, Saravan province. Name of voice sender: Mr. Kingphet Manychansy , Age: 41 years. Voice sender: Adult , Male Occupation of Voice sender: Government officer Number of member in the family: 5 , Male 2, Female 3 How long do you live in this village: 26 years.

Title: Bank erosion

As I live here in Saravan district for many year ago I Know the situation of the water in Sedon river well. before I saw that Sedon river was not as wide as now, now the river seems wider and wider each year due to the bank erosion. Many years before the rain was heavy but the river still deeper and in that time there were too much tree and grass along the river so that the bank erosion was not so severe as in the present and another reason because of the river became shallow and the tide of the water flow was so hard and erode the bank easily. and in the river has many sand beach in dry season now. In conclusion the main causes which made the

3/9 Water Voices in Lao PDR - Final Report -December 2005 bank erosion and the water dry up in dry season due to the people invade the forest too much, cutting big tree. To protect this problem the officers have to promote most of the people in the province to grow the tree or re-afforestration which will remain the humidity and watershed area fertilize.

SRV5 Date of collection of “ water Voice”9 September, 2005 Region and country where you collected Water Voice: Soung village, Saravan district, Saravan province. Name of voice sender: Mr. Houng , Age: 65 years. Voice sender: Elderly , Male Occupation of Voice sender: Farmer Number of member in the family: 5 , Male 3, Female 2 How long do you live in this village: 65 years

Title: Water supply shortage

In this village using water from drilling wells , and there were 4 boreholes of drilling well in this villages, but not still enough for daily consumption. When it was the time for fetching water, there were many people, they have to spend some time for waiting for their turn. In this village, villagers using bucket for fetching water from the well. In fetching water sometimes has some problem for going to another work or school for children. In each day in each households they have to fetch the water at least 5-10 time a day. For the maintenance of the well. Each well in the village has to make roof and if some pump of well was broken villagers have to collect the money form each house for repairing. The drilling well in this village has constructed deep weels for 5 years ago since 2000 the fund was supported by Japan government. In the village there were no big jar for collecting rain water because they have no fund to make it. Collecting rain water for using is very good but has no fund to make jar. In dry season this village using water from irrigation for kitchen garden. If there were no water for drinking and using villagers could not do anything, just request to the higher officers to solve if they could not solve villagers will die all.

SRV6 Date of collection of “ water Voice”9 September, 2005 Region and country where you collected Water Voice: Soung village, Saravan district, Saravan province. Name of voice sender: Mr. Phone , Age: 53 years. Voice sender: Elderly , Male Occupation of Voice sender: Farmer Number of member in the family: 8 , Male 3, Female 5 How long do you live in this village: 53 years.

Title: Fish products

In the time before the number of fishes in the river had a lot because the water still a lot and abandunt with bio-diversity, now the tree was cut a lot and the water was not so much in the river. For Fishing equipment we use in the village was such as casting net, gill net, and fish hook. Some species of fishes had extinct from the river here like Palath(Mastcemberlus armatus), Pasout(Hampala dispar), Pakot(Hemibagrus nemurus) we haven seen them here in the river or stream in the village.

SRV7 Date of collection of “ water Voice”9 September, 2005 Region and country where you collected Water Voice: Soung village, Saravan district, Saravan province. Name of voice sender: Mr. Khamhang Sounthongkham , Age: 70 years. Voice sender: Elderly , Male Occupation of Voice sender: Farmer Number of member in the family: 12 , Male 7, Female 5

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How long do you live in this village: 70 years.

Title: Climate change, flood and drought

The climate had change a lot if it cold it will cold too much and if it hot it will hot too much also, the weather now it was abnormal, if it rain it will rain a lot and flooding rapidly. In the time before the weather in winter was very cold an old man like me has to set up the fire for warming, but now in winter I never set fire for warming. In rainy season also was not rain accurately to the season which start at May or June, now in some year the rain had started at July which make farmer delay for planting rice and then the rain season was end up so early, which left the rice field dry up and made the production of rice not full enough. The causes that make the climate change was that people destroyed the forest too much, some cutting the big tree for sale and some people cutting the tree for slash and burn.

SRV8 Date of collection of “ water Voice”9 September, 2005 Region and country where you collected Water Voice: Soung village, Saravan district, Saravan province. Name of voice sender: Mr. Vanh , Age: 45 years. Voice sender: Adult , Male Occupation of Voice sender: Farmer Number of member in the family: 9 , Male 3, Female 6 How long do you live in this village: 45 years.

Title: Crops production and irrigation

The crops that we grow in dry season was rice, cucumber, long bean and corn. We plant along the area near the rice planting area. The water was enough for small area if we grow in a big area the water will not be enough. In the village there were two places of irrigation system, one is at Houaypid and Houay Laha, the irrigation was by gravity system. After the construction of irrigation there were no troubles only benefit for people in the village. The water from irrigation system was not enough for dry season production in dry season, because the area that could be irrigated had more than one hundred hectares, but now we can do only 34 ha. In rainy season there were no problem because mainly we used rain water to feed the rice farm. If we want to protect the water sources we have to grow tree at the watershed area and not cutting the tree.

SRV9 Date of collection of “ water Voice”10 September, 2005 Region and country where you collected Water Voice: Nonkham village, Laognam district, Saravan province. Name of voice sender: Mr. Bounthong Phoumkhonsane , Age: 46 years. Voice sender: Adult , Male Occupation of Voice sender: Trader Number of member in the family: 7 , Male 2, Female 5 How long do you live in this village: 19 years.

Title: Water supply shortage

5/9 Water Voices in Lao PDR - Final Report -December 2005

This village had the water supply system from district water supply company, the sources of the water was from the spring water from Houay Takid and pump on to the tank and supply for people in the district city. Water supply company of Saravan province who had constructed the water supply system in this district.But the price of the water was very high, if we used about 5 cubic meter they will charge 800 kips per cubic meter but if we used more than 10 cubic meter they will charge about 2.800 k per cubic meter. Each households have to pay at least 100.000 k up to 400.000 k per months. If we want to reserve the source of the river to remain like this we have to stop tree cutting at the water shed area. There were about 4 houses which have the jar for containing the rain water for using in their house. If the source of the water was dry up , villagers has no way to do only propose to the district and provincial office who is in charge of this matter to solve and help us.

SRV10 Date of collection of “ water Voice”10 September, 2005 Region and country where you collected Water Voice: Nonkham village, Laognam district, Saravan province. Name of voice sender: Mr. Khaek Amphone , Age: 51 years. Voice sender: Adult , Male Occupation of Voice sender: Mechanic Number of member in the family: 9 , Male 4, Female 5 How long do you live in this village: 19 years.

Title: Crops production and irrigation

In the time before we have an irrigation canal , that canal was lead to construct by Luangphoun the former district governor of the old regime of Laognam district, he lead the people in the village to make it, the source of that water was from the spring water of Houay namkhoun, that canal were passed through Nonkham village, Nondou village and Laognam village. But up to the present time we could not use the water from that canal due to the canal was old and broken and the water was very little in dry season not enough for irrigated the crops production area. Only in the rainy season we can see the water flow from the canal. Maybe because of the leading of the technician did not pay attention to give advice the people to repair it. If we have the canal water as before for watering the crops it will be more convenience for people to produce their crops production for consumption and for trading. and if we want to sustain the water source we have to stop destroying the forest in watershed area.

SRV11

Date of collection of “ water Voice”10 September, 2005 Region and country where you collected Water Voice: Nonkham village, Laognam district, Saravan province. Name of voice sender: Mr. Bounlap Bounnhangkhet , Age: 49 years. Voice sender: Adult , Male Occupation of Voice sender: Trader Number of member in the family: 7 , Male 3, Female 4 How long do you live in this village: 17 years.

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Title: Fish products

Number of fishes in the river in the village in the time before was a lot of fishes we can fish easily even we use any kind of fishing equipment, but now the fishes was very scarce even in rainy season we did not have for consumption in daily meal. if we want to eat fishes we have to buy at the market which the trader brought from others places for sale. The fishing gear we use in our village were such as; casting net, gill net, fishing hook and so on. The regulation of fishing in the village we have the reserve area for the village, in each year the village chief had collect the money to buy the fingerlings for releasing to the river and prohibited to fish in the reserve area, if anybody violated the rule 1st time he/she will be fined 500.000 k per time, the second time will be fined 1,500,000k and the third time the violator will be detained. The species of fishes which we can not see now was Pa Houamaouam(Scarpiodontichthys acantopterus).it was extinct because there were number of people increases and the river was very little water in the dry season which caused some species of fishes had moved away.

SRV12 Date of collection of “ water Voice”10 September, 2005 Region and country where you collected Water Voice: Nonkham village, Laognam district, Saravan province. Name of voice sender: Mr. Bounpheng Namlakhone , Age: 39 years. Voice sender: Adult , Male Occupation of Voice sender: upland farmer Number of member in the family: 6 , Male 1, Female 5 How long do you live in this village: 18 years.

Title: Climate change, flood and drought

I would like to say about the climate in this area so far and at the present time, so far about 10 years ago the climate in this area were higher humidity which make the crops production was better than now, especially for coffee plantation and other animal raising also good in that time, now the weather had changed for example in winter the weather was not so cold as before and in summer it seemed hotter than before the temperature was higher. In our village so far we have never faced with flood only drought which impact severely to the production of people like in the year before last year, it had the drought which caused some damages to the crops production like coffee was not so fruitful. We could not know the exact reason which caused the drought maybe because of the forest was destroyed and the big tree was cut, I thought that if the forest still abandunt as fefore we may not face with flood or drought.

SRV13 Date of collection of “ water Voice”10 September, 2005 Region and country where you collected Water Voice: Nonsoung village, Laognam district, Saravan province. Name of voice sender: Mr. Bouaser , Age: 48 years. Voice sender: Adult , Male Occupation of Voice sender: upland farmer and Head of the village Number of member in the family: 4 , Male 2, Female 2 How long do you live in this village: 16 years.

Title: Climate change, flood and drought

The climate now had change a lot which make our crops production not so fruitful due to this area had faced with drought more than flood. The crops production in the village were only used rainwater in rainy season, if in any year it had drought means the crops not so good enough. So far 5 years ago it had flood

7/9 Water Voices in Lao PDR - Final Report -December 2005 but not so severe and caused no damages to the crops because the water come and passed by so rapidly in one day. The main causes was only drought, the rain was not fall exactly to the season it delayed 1-2 months which the season of the crops had changed and the production also changed. For the weather in winter in a decade ago it was very cold which made the crops like coffee growing well. The causes of the flood and drought because of our human being had destroyed the forest a lot. To protect it we have to plant the tree and not cut the tree in the watershed area.

SRV14 Date of collection of “ water Voice”10 September, 2005 Region and country where you collected Water Voice: Nonsoung village, Laognam district, Saravan province. Name of voice sender: Mrs. Nouthone , Age: 41 years. Voice sender: Adult , Female Occupation of Voice sender: upland farmer Number of member in the family: 2 , Male 0, Female 2 How long do you live in this village: 12 years.

Title: Water supply shortage

This village take the water from spring water for using and drinking, the spring water site was far away from the village about 300 meters, and this spring water will not enough for using and drinking in dry season some people have to use the water from Houay Taopoung. In taking the water we use bucket and some people used “KATOOK” ( old oil containers) for transporting the water. In the future if the source of spring water was dry up the village leader thought that they will propose to the upper part to solve this problem by donate some fund and drilling the deep well for people. The main causes that make the water source dry up that is because, there were many wood trader cut the big tree too much but no planting instead there fore in the future the source of spring water will no longer available. In this village there were no any household made the jar for containing the rain water due to not enough budget to construct it . In this village still under the poverty. If we need our water source to remain as the present time we have to promote most of the villagers not only in this village also in the nearby villages to plant the tree and not cutting the big tree at the water source site.

SRV15

Date of collection of “ water Voice”10 September, 2005 Region and country where you collected Water Voice: Nonsoung village, Laognam district, Saravan province. Name of voice sender: Mr. Bounteum , Age: 41 years. Voice sender: Adult , Male Occupation of Voice sender: upland farmer Number of member in the family: 5 , Male 2, Female 3 How long do you live in this village: 9 years.

Title: Crops production and irrigation

In this village we grow only kitchen garden along the bank of Houay Taopoung, for household consumption and for sale in the district market in very small amount. we use the water from Houay

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Taopoung to water the vegetable by ourselves without using pump because we can do only in a small area at the bank of the river. There were no irrigation system in this village, therefore mainly they grow their crops like peanut, coffee, pumpkin and so on in rainy season which they rely on rainwater. If there were no water available in the river we cannot grow any thing in dry season. The way to protect the water source is to reserve the watershed area, not cutting the tree and not destroy bio-diversity around the watershed area is the best way.

9/9 Water Voices in Lao PDR - Final Report -December 2005

JICA Laos Office Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry National Agriculture and Forestry Institute

Water Voices in the Lao PDR

Savannakhet Province ( SVK)

December, 2005

All copy right reserved by JICA. In the case of using the data, contact the JICA Laos Office

1/9 Water Voices in Lao PDR - Final Report -December 2005

Savannakhet Province ( SVK)

SVK1 Date of collection of “ water Voice” 27 September, 2005 Region and country where you collected Water Voice: Vangmou village, Sepon district, Savannakhet province. Name of voice sender: Mrs. Soun , Age: 38 years. Voice sender: Adult , Female Occupation of Voice sender: Housekeeper Number of member in the family: 9 , Male 4, Female 5 How long do you live in this village: 15 years.

Title: Water supply shortage

The drinking water source in the village was from drilling boreholes which there were 4 boreholes in the village and from well which have only one. The water from both source in rainy season was not clear not safety enough for drinking but villagers has no other source to choose for drinking, even it was not clear but they have to drink some households boiled before drinking but some households drinking without boiling. They didn’t prefer to drink rain water, for rain water they only used it, in the village there were no households which have water jar, in dry season the water from well and from drilling boreholes was not enough for using and bathing they have to go to Sekok river which about 1 km far away from the village. In the future if possible we need help from any sectors to support us making the spring water system from the source of water at the mountain which far away from the village about 3 km.

SVK2 Date of collection of “ water Voice” 27 September, 2005 Region and country where you collected Water Voice: Vangmou village, Sepon district, Savannakhet province. Name of voice sender: Mr. Sy , Age: 45 years. Voice sender: Adult , Male Occupation of Voice sender: Upland rice farmer Number of member in the family: , Male 3, Female 4 How long do you live in this village: 12 years.

Title: Water pollution

In the village main source of water for using and fishing was from the Sekok river especially in dry season when the water from well and drilling boreholes was not enough. The village was far from Sekok about 1 km but villagers was very necessary to use the water in dry season. Before the gold mine was not established the water from Sekok river has no problem for using and drinking , but after the Sepon gold mine was had set up they released the polluted water and some chemical from the factory, the water of Sekok river down stream could not used for drinking and bathing, when we bath at Sekok river down stream from Sepon gold mine it became itchy all around the body about 2-3 hours and many fishes was also die. In rainy season there were too much water it seems no problem. The water in Sekok river in dry season now was very different from many years ago, now in dry season the level of water was very little and the fishes was very scarce. In order

2/9 Water Voices in Lao PDR - Final Report -December 2005 to solve the problem if possible we would like Sepon gold mine not to release the polluted water to Sekok river. If there were no water from Sekok river we have to go to Mala stream from mountain source but it was far away from the village to Mala stream about 3 km.

SVK3 Date of collection of “ water Voice” 27 September, 2005 Region and country where you collected Water Voice: Vangmou village, Sepon district, Savannakhet province. Name of voice sender: Mr. Bounthavy , Age: 31 years. Voice sender: Adult , Male Occupation of Voice sender: Upland rice farmer Number of member in the family: 11 , Male 7, Female 4 How long do you live in this village: 8 years.

Title: Climate change flood and drought

The climate had change, for example in this year in June when we sowing the upland rice there were no rain which made the rice not so fruitful, but in July the rain was very heavy which made the rice both low land and upland got yellow leaf disease. So far in 1995 it was drought the rice was all damaged , to survive the villagers have to grow other crops and sell animal and others things for buying rice. Now the water in river was very little in dry season due to cutting tree and villagers cultivated slash and burn therefore it caused the water in the river remain very little in dry season and the fishes was very few. The climate now had a very big change from the time before, in summer it was very hot and in winter not so cold.

SVK4 Date of collection of “ water Voice” 28 September, 2005 Region and country where you collected Water Voice: Phonhai village, Sepon district, Savannakhet province. Name of voice sender: Mr. In Boutakhan , Age: 45 years. Voice sender: Adult , Male Occupation of Voice sender: Farmer / Head of the village Number of member in the family: 7 , Male 2, Female 5 How long do you live in this village: 45 years.

Title: Water supply shortage

This village, in the time of war was lived in the cave in the forest, and after the country had seized the power from the old regime and established to be the Lao People Democratic Republic, the village had moved to new location at present time, when moved here at forest the forest still abandunt with bio-diversity and Sekok river was very clean and have much water in dry season in that time. so the villagers in that time used water from Sekok river for drinking and using, but now the situation had changed because there were many villages located along the Sekok river and many people used it, and they also destroyed the tree along the river which made the water level much shallower than before and more than that now there were Sepon gold mine excavated the gold up stream which made the water down stream polluted , villagers cannot drink and used. Therefore village authority had proposed to the provincial water supply to solve the problem of drinking water in the village. And then they had drilled the boreholes for the village 4 boreholes, until now one borehole of four cannot use, and last year The Fund for Poverty Reduction Project had support 2 boreholes but one was broken cannot used. Other than drilling boreholes villagers had dig 3 well more in order to supply enough water, but the well was deep about 15 meters and the water can use

3/9 Water Voices in Lao PDR - Final Report -December 2005 only in rainy season, in dry season there were no water in the well. So drinking and using water had caused many problem in the village.

SVK5 Date of collection of “ water Voice” 28 September, 2005 Region and country where you collected Water Voice: Phonhai village, Sepon district, Savannakhet province. Name of voice sender: Mr. Vongpaserth Simavong , Age: 17 years. Voice sender: Youth , Male Occupation of Voice sender: Student Number of member in the family: 8 , Male 3, Female 5 How long do you live in this village: 27 years.

Title: Living with water

I had lived with Sekok river since I was born, When I was a child water in Sekok river was very good and had no problem, from 2 years so far since Sepon gold mine company had excavated gold at the up stream river it had changed a lot the water quality was not good, when we took bath in the Sekok river our body will be itchy and the other river that we used was Houay Sabong stream but Houay Sabong in dry season it was dried up we can used only in rainy season. For Sekok river after we cannot used it due to Gold mine factory released polluted to the river villagers cannot used it and the fishes was died, the village authority had made the proposal submitted to the factory requested them to drilling boreholes for the village, but they did not do as we requested. And the other causes that made the water in the river had change due to the tree cutting a lot, if we want to reserve it we must not cut the tree and make slash and burn.

SVK6 Date of collection of “ water Voice” 28 September, 2005 Region and country where you collected Water Voice: Phonhai village, Sepon district, Savannakhet province. Name of voice sender: Mr. Khampason Simmavong , Age: 19 years. Voice sender: Youth , Male Occupation of Voice sender: Farmer Number of member in the family: 5 , Male 4, Female 1 How long do you live in this village: 29 years.

Title: Fish products

In the time when I was a boy, the fishes in Sekok river and Houay Sabong had many fishes and many species which easy to fishes even we used normal fishing gear for fishing. The reason because in that time the people were not so crowded as at the present time. The fishing gear that we used in this village was, gill net, casting net, fishing hook other than these we cannot used such as electric shock or poisoning and bombing cause we have strictly regulation in our village. In the breeding season we had prohibited to fish such as using the trap to block the runway of fishes which it will go up stream for fishing. Some species of fishes we could not see

4/9 Water Voices in Lao PDR - Final Report -December 2005 any more in the river in this village such as Pa Eun, Pa keung, if we want to reserve the fishes we have to reduce fishing natural fishes for trading especially in the breeding season.

SVK7 Date of collection of “ water Voice” 28 September, 2005 Region and country where you collected Water Voice: Phonhai village, Sepon district, Savannakhet province. Name of voice sender: Mr.Vaevanh Vilaysane , Age: 25 years. Voice sender: Adult , Male Occupation of Voice sender: Farmer Number of member in the family: 20 , Male 10, Female 10 How long do you live in this village: 25 years.

Title: Climate change, flood and drought

The climate had a big change, in summer it was too hot and in winter it was too cold, in rainy season it was too much rain, and the rain was not rain according to the cultivation season. for example in this year at the beginning of rainy season it was no rain for making rice seed bed, it delayed until July, when it rain, it had rain too much which caused the rice had got yellow leaf disease. So far the flood was so often than drought, but some years it was not so severe, in some years it was so severe which caused a lot of damages to the rice field. If we had faced with severe flood in order to survive we have to sale what we have such as animal and other crops for buying rice and borrow from neighbors in the village who had rice in stock for consumption.

SVK8 Date of collection of “ water Voice” 30 September, 2005 Region and country where you collected Water Voice: Kengkokdong village, Champhone district, Savannakhet province. Name of voice sender: Mr. Thongdam Ekalath , Age: 60 years. Voice sender: Elderly , Male Occupation of Voice sender: Farmer Number of member in the family: 5 , Male 2, Female 3 How long do you live in this village: Since 1966.

Title: Climate change, flood and drought

The climate of this village since 1974 it was flood severely 3-4 years one time. Especially in 1974 it was severely flood the water level in the middle of the village was about 80 cm, in 1978 the water level in the middle of the village was about 60 cm. and in 1996 the level of water in the middle of the village was 40 cm. the damages was a lot such as rice in the field, other planting in the village and animal diseases was occurred .In order to survive when it was flood, the concerned section had promote people to grow other crops instead such as corn, bean, peanut, and other kind of potatoes. In the other years more than mention above it was flood almost every years, but flood not severely only low area was flood, damaged only some part of the rice field. like in this year also flood in some low area. Now the flood was not so severely maybe due to the climate change, and maybe due to the government had made many dam at the top of the river such as Nam Bak Dam, Nam Bak Reservoir, Sui Dam and Thod Dam for irrigation, maybe because many dams up stream so that it make the water level down stream lower. In the village there were many kind of irrigation such as gravity system, and pumping system. the gravity system was from Nam Bak Dam and the other was used by pumping. The climate now had change a lot not the same as before due to many tree had cut. In order to protect it we should not cut the tree and planting the tree instead.

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SVK9 Date of collection of “ water Voice” 30 September, 2005 Region and country where you collected Water Voice: Kengkokdong village, Champhone district, Savannakhet province. Name of voice sender: Mrs. Phoun Insixiengmai , Age: 60 years. Voice sender: Elderly , Male Occupation of Voice sender: Farmer Number of member in the family: 5 , Male 2, Female 3 How long do you live in this village: 60 years.

Title: Water pollution

In the last two years, 2002-2003 the garbage management in this village was done well due to there were a private people had implemented and took the garbage from each households to disposed at the allocated site far from the city, but now they stop collecting the garbage due to the road to disposal area was far and the condition of the road was very bad the truck could not pass through to disposal area therefore they have to stop. After that each households have manage themselves, some households they managed well but some households who did not think about the environment they had disposed their garbage at anywhere such as along the bushes and along the stream and swamp which caused the environment spoiled and water polluted. The village authority had warned them many time but there were some people disobeyed. If we disposed the garbage like this the water will be polluted and caused many problem such as diseases will occur.

SVK10 Date of collection of “ water Voice” 30 September, 2005 Region and country where you collected Water Voice: Kengkokdong village, Champhone district, Savannakhet province. Name of voice sender: Mr. Chiem Inthalath , Age: 74 years. Voice sender: Elderly , Male Occupation of Voice sender: Farmer Number of member in the family: 7 , Male 2, Female 5 How long do you live in this village: 74 years.

Title: Fish products

Fishing now a day was different from the time before, the fishing gear also different the number of people was crowded and the number of fishes was very few not the same as the time before which had many fishes for example in around this village has many swamps we used fishing hook about 20 pieces but we can catch fishes enough for consumption in daily meal. And in that time fishing was not for trading as this time, if we can catch many fishes we just shared with relatives or neighbors, Now fishes trading was very big, many middle men buying fishes not only for sale this Champhone market But also in Savannakhet market. Therefore the number of fishes was very scarce in the river and swamp around the village, if we want to fish we have to go far away about 50 km from the villages. In this village the fishing gear they used were gill net, which they used to fish in Sechamphone river and fishing hook which they used to fish in the swamps and casting net which they used to fish in the small pond in the rice field. The fishes that they can catch in the Sechamphone river was Paphia, Pachok( Chyclocheillichthys enoplos). The fishes that we cannot see was Pamakban( Cosmochilus harmandi Sauvage), Pasouay, Papeung( Pangasius larnidiei Bocourt). The fishes in the swamps also decreased. For fishing equipment other than normal equipment some people also used illegal equipment such as electric shock, poisoning, bombing. In the village there were one reserved swamp name Maehang Swamp, in this swamp people could not fishes except for public purposes in the villages.

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SVK11 Date of collection of “ water Voice” 30 September, 2005 Region and country where you collected Water Voice: Kengkokdong village, Champhone district, Savannakhet province. Name of voice sender: Mr. Phoxay Hommany , Age: 61 years. Voice sender: Elderly , Male Occupation of Voice sender: Trader Number of member in the family: 6 , Male 3, Female 3 How long do you live in this village: 61 years.

Title: Wetland

Kengkokdong village has rather lower area which has many swamps around the village, such as Nong khan swamp, Nongdeun, Nong Maehang, Nong Pafou, Nongkongkien neua, Nongkongkien Kang, Nongkongkien tai, Nong Or, Nonglath, Nong lathkaleum, among them Nongdeun is very big about 70 ha. because in this swamp we made the dam. Most of the swamps was very useful for villagers because we used the water from swamps for agriculture production and for fishing. In dry season we cultivate dry season rice production and other crops production such as peanut, corn, cucumber which can feed sufficiently for the market in Champhone district. Even in this village had faced with flood so often because of the area was in the lower area, but we can survive by dry season production due to enough source of water from Sechamphone river and many swamps around the villages. Like in this year the flood was severely because the damages covered to 80% of the total area, but after the flood was over we have plan to grow crops instead such as peanut, corn, sweet potato due to the market needs. For other damage like dam was broken due to flood, so far in our village repairing by ourselves by using the fund from selling fishes from the reserved swamp( Nong Maehang), for example last year we repaired Nongdeun Dam we used about 7 million kips, villagers have to fish in Nongmaehang swamp for selling and get money for repairing the dam. For drinking and using water we have no problem in this village because in the village we have 80 wells and about 50% of people in the village drink pure drinking water from factory.

SVK12 Date of collection of “ water Voice” 30 September, 2005 Region and country where you collected Water Voice: Kengkokdong village, Champhone district, Savannakhet province. Name of voice sender: Mr. Duangkeo Phaxaisithideth , Age: 48 years. Voice sender: Adult , Male Occupation of Voice sender: Farmer Number of member in the family: 6 , Male 3, Female 3 How long do you live in this village: 48 years.

Title: Bank Erosion

As I had heard from old people in the village had said about the Sechamphone river at the time before, they said the river was deeper and narrower and abandunt with bio-diversity along the river, but now there were many people who cultivated their crops along the river in dry season and they have to cut the tree clearing the area for their cultivation which caused the bank erosion and the

7/9 Water Voices in Lao PDR - Final Report -December 2005 river became shallower and wider than before, the other reason is because of in the village there were many people used engine boat . If my house was located near the bank erosion area I will grow many tree along the river bank which it maybe can protect the bank erosion. From the year 1880 there were much bank erosion, and damaged many rice field. In each year the bank eroded about 2-3 meters.

SVK13

Date of collection of “ water Voice” 1 October, 2005 Region and country where you collected Water Voice: Khoklaeng village, Champhone district, Savannakhet province. Name of voice sender: Mr. Nor Phommalin , Age: 46 years. Voice sender: Adult , Male Occupation of Voice sender: Farmer Number of member in the family: 5 , Male 3, Female 2 How long do you live in this village: 46 years.

Title: water supply shortage

The situation of drinking water in this village was very scarce, the water source for drinking was far away from the village about 2 km, and some people had to take the water from other village where they have well and far from this village about 1,8 km. In this village at first the provincial water supply section had tried to drill boreholes, but the water underground was salty water cannot drink and use. In rainy season most of the villagers have to collect rain water for drinking and using, but they have small jar which can contain the water only in rainy season cannot save for dry season. In 1992 UNICEF had supported the fund to make the big jar in the village about 41 jars. But until now those big jar had broken, only a few houses still using it. And some households in the village they make a pond for saving water for using in dry season, but the water from pond could not used all the dry season, in May the water in the pond will dry up. In the near future in order to solve the problem, the water supply system from district will install water supply system for the village, nut now they are collecting the information, because they want to know how many households will install the water supply system, they said that if a few households need to install they may not supply due to the high investment. Now as I know now there were about 50 households which will install. and the water supply section was agreed, but now just waiting for the end of rainy season, the cost of water supply installation for one household is about 1.500.000 kips. Many households have no money enough so they have to wait until they have enough money they will install later.

SVK14

Date of collection of “ water Voice” 1 October, 2005 Region and country where you collected Water Voice: Khoklaeng village, Champhone district, Savannakhet province. Name of voice sender: Mr. Som , Age: 50 years. Voice sender: Adult , Male Occupation of Voice sender: Farmer and Black smith Number of member in the family: 6 , Male 2, Female 4 How long do you live in this village: 50 years.

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Title: Crops production and irrigation

There were irrigation system for dry season rice cultivation in the village area which had the total irrigated area about 40,50 ha. the source of water was from Bak dam by gravity system to the village rice field area. In the village they established the water user groups which there were 10-15 households in each group. The water user group had managed about the water supply to each person’s field, but there still were some problem for water management. The farmer who has the area at the beginning of the canal they can get enough water, but the farmer who has their field at the end of the canal could not received enough water for their rice field, this caused many problem that we still could not clear on this matter. Some people who had their field at the tail of the canal they had stop cultivation due to the production was not good enough which could not pay for the water fee and for buying fertilizer. Other than rice we also grow other crops nearby the irrigated area such as chilly, eggplant, corn and other kind of vegetable for household consumption and for sale. For the irrigation system it has much benefit for the villagers, there were about 20% of total households which covered by the irrigation system. Other people who has no area covered by the irrigation system, they have to rent the other people area for cultivating dry season rice cultivation. In the village there were about 50 households which insufficient of rice due to their rice field was not enough and the production was low. In order to survive they have to do other kinds of work to earn money for buying rice such as handicraft work ( making rice boxes) for sale and some people had done a black smith to earn for their living.

9/9 Water Voices in Lao PDR - Final Report -December 2005

JICA Laos Office Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry National Agriculture and Forestry Institute

Water Voices in the Lao PDR

Sekong Province ( SK)

December, 2005

All copy right reserved by JICA. In the case of using the data, contact the JICA Laos Office

1/8 Water Voices in Lao PDR - Final Report -December 2005

Sekong Province ( SK)

SK1

Date of collection of “ water Voice”16 September, 2005 Region and country where you collected Water Voice: Phon village, Lamam district, Sekong province. Name of voice sender: Mr.Oudone Keodouangmany, Age: 52 years. Voice sender: Adult , Male Occupation of Voice sender: Farmer Number of member in the family: 7 , Male 2, Female 5 How long do you live in this village: 22 years.

Title: Water supply shortage

For drinking water in this village has a big problem, because in the village there were 5 boreholes, some people who was far away from the well have to drink and using rain water in rainy season because it take time for them to take the water from well. In the village some households also have digging well but the water from digging well has a bad small, they could not use for drinking only using. For the drilling well, 2 boreholes could not use fro drinking because it seems it had some limestone in it when we boiled we can see the white dot on the water. The diseases that often occurred in the village was diahhrea and malaria.

SK2 Date of collection of “ water Voice”16 September, 2005 Region and country where you collected Water Voice: Phon village, Lamam district, Sekong province. Name of voice sender: Mr.Kithong Mounkhounvilay, Age: 42 years. Voice sender: Adult , Male Occupation of Voice sender: Head of village Number of member in the family: 2 , Male 1, Female 1 How long do you live in this village: 42 years.

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Title: Crops production and irrigation For the rice and crops production in the village, the total area of rice field was 439,37 ha. and the irrigated area was 219 ha. The source of the water was from the weir by using gravity system. The water from the weir was enough for the area of 219 ha. in dry season but there were no water user group for management and controlling the water. We only have the regulation for controlling but most of the farmers did not follow the regulation, there were some problem for water using, for example the farmers who has the farm at the head of the canal the water was over flow, but the farmers who has the farm at the end of the canal was not enough water, this is the big problem that we could not solve, the irrigation technique also could not do any thing , because the farmers who has the farm at the head of the canal was their boss or office head.

SK3 Date of collection of “ water Voice”16 September, 2005 Region and country where you collected Water Voice: Phon village, Lamam district, Sekong province. Name of voice sender: Mr.Chong Kuiyapheng, Age: 52 years. Voice sender: Adult , Male Occupation of Voice sender: Farmer Number of member in the family: 17 , Male 7, Female 10 How long do you live in this village: 15 years.

Title: Climate change, flood and drought

Since I moved here the climate had changed in each year, especially in this year the climate had changed a lot we can see that in every year so far during May all farmer can finished making rice seedling bed and transplanting during June, but in this year many people who had the rice field that could not irrigated by the irrigation system from weir, they could not make their rice seedling bed until late of July. If it rain it will rain continuously until it became flood which caused the damages to the rice and other crops production. In the time before, in winter the weather was very cold and we can see the fog at night and in the morning, now in winter the weather was not so cold as before and no foggy. And the wind in the time before it was not so severe like now. The causes of it was the tree cutting too much, if we want to protect it we should have strict rule to control the wood cutting and we should grow the tree at the empty area for reafforestration.

SK4 Date of collection of “ water Voice”16 September, 2005 Region and country where you collected Water Voice: Phon village, Lamam district, Sekong province. Name of voice sender: Mr.Boualy Phommachanh, Age: 31 years. Voice sender: Adult , Male Occupation of Voice sender: Farmer Number of member in the family: 6 , Male 1, Female 5 How long do you live in this village: 31 years.

Title: Fish products

For me I was born in this village, since I was a child I ever go to fish with my father, The number of fish in that time was very different from now, in that time I have since many species of fishes like Pawa, Pakheung and other, but in that time we had fish only for consumption in our family and for exchange with others kinds of food that we don’t have, we did not fish for trading like at present time. Now the population was increased and the number of fishes was decreased therefore we could not fish as we used to fish before. The fishing gear that we used now was, gill net, casting net, fishing hook. Some people who has no work to do they just fishing for earning extra income after finishing work in the rice field. Now a day there were some people who used prohibited fishing equipment like poisoning, bombing and electric shock due to the fishes

3/8 Water Voices in Lao PDR - Final Report -December 2005 was high price and very scarce, it means if they can catch the fishes they can get money, that was the causes that lead them to used illegal equipment. About this problem if the district or the upper parts did not cooperate with villages to control or put the strictly rule for them the situation will be more severe than this.

SK5 Date of collection of “ water Voice”16 September, 2005 Region and country where you collected Water Voice: Phiamai village, Lamam district, Sekong province. Name of voice sender: Mrs. Sengchanh Xouangmany, Age: 52 years. Voice sender: Adult , Female Occupation of Voice sender: Head of the village Number of member in the family: 10 , Male 5, Female 5 How long do you live in this village: 21 years.

Title: Bank erosion

The bank erosion in Sekong river in the area of Phiamai village, from the first year that I moved to habited in this village both side of the Sekong river was full of bio-diversity such as, big tree and bushes of bamboo and there were no bank erosion at all. But now there were many people moved to live here and they have to develop their livelihood and their residences, they have to cut the tree and slash the bushes for making garden and some people were excavated the sand and gravel for trading and for constructing their houses, that was the cause that eroded the bank of Sekong river in each year. Now the Sekong river seems wider than before. To protect the bank erosion is to follow the leadership of the provincial officer, if they did not permit to excavate the sand and the gravel at some places in the river we should not do as the suggestion of them.

SK6 Date of collection of “ water Voice”16 September, 2005 Region and country where you collected Water Voice: Phiamai village, Lamam district, Sekong province. Name of voice sender: Mr Khamson, Age: 63 years. Voice sender: Adult , Male Occupation of Voice sender: Pensioner Number of member in the family: 10 , Male 5, Female 5 How long do you live in this village: 31 years.

Title: Fish products

About the fishing in Sekong river now and before was different, why because in the time before the population was not so crowded as now the fishing now and before also different, in the time before the fishing gear was normal such as casting net, gill net and fishing hook and in that time they have a reserved area for fishes and when the time of fishes breeding they prohibited to fish and after that they can fish but just fishing for household consumption in each day only not for trading like at the present time. Not only for fishes but also for wind animal they also did the same way. But now there were many people and they have to compete for their surviving. In fishing they have many equipment more than normal equipment like casting net, gill net and fishing hook, they used another modern way like electric shock, shooting, bombing and poisoning. They did not know even in the prohibited area or prohibited season, they fish not only for household consumption, but they fish for trading. When they did like that the fishes had to flee away and never come again in the next season. That was the causes that make many species of fishes had extinct like Pa Eun, Pa Wa, Pakhae. To protect it we have to obey the regulation strictly.

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SK7

Date of collection of “ water Voice”16 September, 2005 Region and country where you collected Water Voice: Phiamai village, Lamam district, Sekong province. Name of voice sender: Mrs. Chaiphone Meunphoumy, Age: 39 years. Voice sender: Adult , Male Occupation of Voice sender: Housekeeper Number of member in the family: 6 , Male 1, Female 5 How long do you live in this village: 19 years.

Title: Water Pollution

The garbage in this village in the time when I was moved here at first there were no problem about the waste, but now there were many people so they have to produce a lot of waste in each day. About this matter I had ever take part in the meeting about the waste management at the district governor office, they announced about the disadvantages and impact of the waste if we disposed at anywhere it will make the village dirty and water polluted. Then after the meeting at district governor office in my village had announced about the result of the meeting to the villagers not to dispose the waste anywhere at the village area. Each households who produce lots of garbage each day have to request to the urban development organization to take the garbage and if some one who have their own car they have to take themselves to dispose at the allocated places outside the city. In they province they have no place for waste management and in the province have only one truck for taking the garbage only from the market to dispose at the allocated place out side the city.

SK8

Date of collection of “ water Voice”17 September, 2005 Region and country where you collected Water Voice: Thatengneua village, Thateng district, Sekong province. Name of voice sender: Mr.Chanchaleunsouk Seundalaseng , Age: 63 years. Voice sender: Elderly , Male Occupation of Voice sender: Farmer Number of member in the family: 5 , Male 3, Female 2 How long do you live in this village: 16 years.

Title: Crops production and irrigation

The rice cultivation in this village used the water from the weir of Houay Namsai stream . But in the rice cultivation of this year from May to June there were no rain there for the rice season cultivation had change. No rain in May it means we could not make rice seedling bed due to no water. The water from weir of Houay Namsai had a problem, no rain no water from weir and the water management from weir had problem, because many farmers used water from weir but the management was not good and it caused some conflict. The water from Houay Namsai can use only in rainy season rice cultivation, it could not use to irrigate the rice field in dry season due to the water source had dry up. The production of the farmers mainly depending on the nature, but now the nature had spoiled a lot and it caused the climate change and the crops production of people was not good enough. In some year if the water was enough the production was very good because the soil here is good for crops and rice production. It can give high yield without using any fertilizer. Many people want to make crops production. If the water enough in dry season they also want to do, so far there were 2-3 households had cultivated the dry season rice production in a little area, when the rice give fruit there were damaged by the birds. So no body cultivate rice in dry season.

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SK9 Date of collection of “ water Voice”17 September, 2005 Region and country where you collected Water Voice: Thatengneua village, Thateng district, Sekong province. Name of voice sender: Mr.Savien Kounmanyvong , Age: 48 years. Voice sender: Adult , Male Occupation of Voice sender: Trader Number of member in the family: 8 , Male 3, Female 5 How long do you live in this village: 10 years.

Title: Water supply shortage

In this village before 1993 had took the water from Houay Namsai for drinking because in that time the people were not so crowded as now and the water still very clear and a lot, until in 1993 ACF had supported fund for construction of spring water system to the district hospital and the people around that had used and drink the water from that spring water system for many years. And after that in 2004 there were a private trader in district had constructed the drilling boreholes and make the community water supply system to supply to each households in the district. Many people saw that the water from the drilling boreholes was clean enough for drinking and they turn to take the water from drilling boreholes and they have to pay 3000 kips for one tank of water ( 200 litres). many people stop to use the water from spring water system because the water was decreased and dirty. In the village there were no body made the jar for containing rain water for drinking and using. If there were no community water supply system we have only spring water system. Now there were about 80 households using the community water supply system, other than that they used the water from public drilling boreholes at the village school.

SK10 Date of collection of “ water Voice”17 September, 2005 Region and country where you collected Water Voice: Thatengneua village, Thateng district, Sekong province. Name of voice sender: Mr.Mod , Age: 45 years. Voice sender: Adult , Male Occupation of Voice sender: Farmer Number of member in the family: 4 , Male 2, Female 2 How long do you live in this village: 6 years.

Title: Climate change, flood and drought

The climate now had change, some years the rain was so much and in some year not so much, due to the forest was damaged a lot. Last two years farmers of this village could transplanting their rice field in June but last year and this year many farmers can finished their rice farm late due to the rain was delayed. Therefore I would like to propose to the upper part to support us about the irrigation system. The weir we have now was very old and broken some part but no fund to make a new one. So far in this village it had never flood except drought, so often we faced with drought 2-3 years one time. The causes of drought due to many people destroyed the forest, in this village no people did slash and burn but the people in other villages at the remote area they did slash and burn. To keep the climate return back as before we have to stop cutting big tree, water come from trees.

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SK11

Date of collection of “ water Voice”17 September, 2005 Region and country where you collected Water Voice: Palengneua village, Thateng district, Sekong province. Name of voice sender: Mr.Sopha , Age: 45 years. Voice sender: Adult , Male Occupation of Voice sender: Farmer Number of member in the family: 8 , Male 4, Female 4 How long do you live in this village: 45 years.

Title: Water supply shortage

Main source of drinking water for this village was from spring water, but the spring water was enough in rainy season, in dry season the water was very little due to the source of water was dry up and the tank of the water was broken, the spring water pipe was laid to the village about 350 meters long from the source of water to the village, the spring water system was made in 1995 supported by ACF, the spring water system was used by all the villagers, only a half of villagers or households another half they used and drink water from the drilling borehole, because in the villager there were two boreholes one was in the village and one was at village school which supported by Japan Girls Program. In dry season when the water from spring water system was not enough in the village they have the water from the jar for drinking, in the village they were made the jar 51 jars almost all of the households in the villages have the jar for containing rain water for drinking in dry season. The water from the jar had just enough for 3 months. In dry season was very difficult for taking water for drinking because each source was not enough, therefore I would like to request to the concerned sector to help us , we need one more drilling borehole to supply enough water.

SK12 Date of collection of “ water Voice”17 September, 2005 Region and country where you collected Water Voice: Palengneua village, Thateng district, Sekong province. Name of voice sender: Mr.Lin , Age: 45 years. Voice sender: Adult , Male Occupation of Voice sender: Farmer Number of member in the family: 7 , Male 4, Female 3 How long do you live in this village: 45 years.

Title: Crops production and irrigation

The source of water for agriculture in this village was from Houay Say to irrigate the rice field in rainy season only. in dry season we cannot do rice cultivation due to not enough water and the water from Houay Say not only this village take the water for agriculture other villages also took it. This village took the water to supply their rice field by making concrete weir which constructed since 1988, now the weir had a problem because the earth beside the weir had eroded. The rice cultivation in this village had faced with the problem of not enough water, if in some years it was

7/8 Water Voices in Lao PDR - Final Report -December 2005 no rain it became drought and damaged the rice field, especially the pests.

SK13 Date of collection of “ water Voice”17 September, 2005 Region and country where you collected Water Voice: Palengneua village, Thateng district, Sekong province. Name of voice sender: Mr.You , Age: 38 years. Voice sender: Adult , Male Occupation of Voice sender: Farmer Number of member in the family: 8 , Male 4, Female 4 How long do you live in this village: 38 years.

Title: Fish products

The fish product in this village in the time before there were a lot of fishes in Houay Say stream but now the fishes was decreased due to the diseases occurred which made the fish die. Now in the river can cannot see the natural fish only breeding fishes such as Pa nin, Panai, Papak, Padookphan, Panouanchan. The fishing gear we used in this village was casting net, gill net, fishing hook. Now the number of fishes was very few, even we want to fish for consumption it was very hard to get the fishes. If we want to have a number of fishes more than this we have to make a reserved area for conservation the fishes species, we have the area for making the reserved area but we did not started to do it yet we have a plan to do in this year.

SK14 Date of collection of “ water Voice”17 September, 2005 Region and country where you collected Water Voice: Palengneua village, Thateng district, Sekong province. Name of voice sender: Mr.Lome , Age: 45 years. Voice sender: Adult , Male Occupation of Voice sender: Farmer Number of member in the family: 11 , Male 4, Female 7 How long do you live in this village: 45 years.

Title: Climate change, flood and drought

The situation of the weather now was not different from the time before, in winter it was very cold so far, in rainy season the rain was not come as usual as it had ever been before some year drought some years it rain too much. For last year it was drought it rained but not so much, rained 4-5 days then stop about a month which made the crops damaged by the pests. We did not know what was the causes of the climate change. 18 years before in this village also cultivated slash and burn, but now we stop and cultivated lowland rice and other crops production such as coffee and cardamom. In this year the production of coffee and cardamom was not so fruitful due to the weather problem.

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JICA Laos Office Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry National Agriculture and Forestry Institute

Water Voices in the Lao PDR

Summary (findings and assessment)

December, 2005

All copy right reserved by JICA. In the case of using the data, contact the JICA Laos Office

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I. BACKGROUND, METHODOLOGY AND SCOPE OF WORK

1.1. Background

The JICA Laos Office in cooperation with the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry (MAF) and the MRC Basin Development Plan (MRC-BDP) has engaged Mixai Techno Engineering and Consulting Co., Ltd with the assistance from the National Agriculture and Forestry Institute (NAFRI) to implement a Water Voice Collection Study in Lao PDR, which is an important activity to support water sector development planning as well as other water related agencies’ projects.

Within the JICA Laos Office’s development priorities for poverty eradication, environmental protection, good governance and capacity building, the water sector is playing a key role in poverty eradication such as hydro-energy and infrastructure development that result in safe water supply and substantial foreign currency earning. The water sector is also very important for people’s livelihoods and for the conservation of biological diversity. The water voice collection study also aims to support vulnerable people in the Lao society, enhancing the quality of government administration by taking into consideration the views of the people at grass roots level. The information collected form the water voice study will indicate the real problems and constraints related to both water and climate change which people have to contend with and adapt to, so as to ensure their survival. The result of the project will be disseminated and serve as reference for the development of the water sector, and will contribute to water related planning in agriculture, forestry and rural development in Lao PDR.

The Water Voice Collection Study commenced in July 2005 with the selection of the consultant by JICA Laos Office but it was only in August that the study could be put into place and the field study started on 29th August 2005 and was completed on 4th November 2005. This Report was prepared following the completion of the field interviews in 17 provinces and from the out comes of the Seminar on Water Voice in Lao PDR held on 15th November 2005 in Vientiane Capital.

1.2. Objective of the Water Voice Collection Study

The main objectives of the Water Voice Collection for the Lao PDR are:

− To examine local people’s perceptions of water, and the impacts of climate change and the subsequent related changes to natural resources, which people may be subject to.

− To analyze how people are able to find alternatives and contend with these natural conditions to ensure their survival.

− To produce useful information on water voices to support the MRC-BDP activities for further management planning of natural resources.

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− To disseminate the results of the Water Voice Collection to the Government of the Lao PDR so that peoples’ real needs in the water sector are taken into consideration, thereby encouraging good governance.

1.3. Organization of the Study

During the inception a Steering Committee was organized comprising of member from JICA Laos Office, NAFRI on behalf of the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, Expert from the Mekong River Commission Basin Development Plan, Senior Expert at MAF and the consultant’s Team Leaders. NAFRI has assigned two assistant researchers to participate in the study team for the collection water voice data in the field.

1.4. Scope of work and methodology

The study work was to explore local people’s perception on water, impact of climate and related natural resource changes that people may face; and to analyze how people were able to find their alternatives and fight with changing natural conditions for their survival in 16 provinces and one capital city of Lao PDR. The study produced useful information on water voices to support the MRC-BDP activities for further natural resources management planning; and to disseminate the output of water voices collection in the Government of Lao PDR for consideration of peoples’ real needs in water sector to make good governance.

During the inception of the study 12 main topics has been selected as a frame for water voice collection. The related main titles for interview are:

1) Climatic changes, flood and drought 2) Soil erosion 3) Water supply shortage 4) Crop production and Irrigation 5) Fishery products 6) Watershed and forest 7) Water pollution 8) River bank erosion 9) Living with river 10) Navigation 11) Wetland 12) Others

The study’s methodology was similar to the methodology utilized for collecting Water Voice in Cambodia in 2003, which consisted of interview and voice recording of individual local peoples in different locations. However, the interview methodology used in Lao PDR followed a participatory problem analysis process on the model of the “Participatory Rural Appraisal – PRA”, and followed pre-designed interview forms for village locality and personal interviewees. A field test on the interview methodology was made in Vientiane Capital on 31st August 2005 and the process and interview form improved before the team moved to the provinces.

In general the field interviews followed the sequence as described in the table below.

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Table 1.1: Water Voice Interview Process

Interview Steps Activities 1. Meet with Provincial Agriculture Introduction of water voice collection and Forestry Service Office objective and scope of work. Selection of (PAFSO) target districts (2 per province). PAFSO issue letter of introduction to selected DAFO. 2. Meet with District Agriculture Introduction of water voice collection Service Office (DAFO) objective and scope of work. Selection of target villages (2 per district). DAFO issue letter of introduction to selected villages. DAFO inform the village authority in advance. 3. Meet with the village chief of Introduction of water voice collection village. objective and scope of work. Village chief with the team select key water voice senders according to criteria. Village chief assemble the key water voice senders. 4. Meet with the key water voice Introduction of water voice collection senders in a general introduction objective and scope of work. The villagers meeting. explain water conditions and problems in the villages. The team identifies the problems and topics. The team and the village chief select water voice senders. 5. Interview voice senders at their Conduct individual interviews according to home or field selected topics. 6. Summary meeting and walk Inform the villagers about the result of the through the village. interview and walk through the village and problem areas for taking photo.

Following the above process, the interviews were conducted at the village site with 4 respondents of different gender and age. This comprised of one elderly person, one adult male, one adult female, and one teenager male or female.

An interview selection criteria based on gender, ethnic minority, urban and rural location and the 12 topics was developed and a pre-selection of village interview sites in the 16 provinces and Vientiane Capital has been made based on village profiles and references made by the company in its previous consulting works and from previous NAFRI projects locations.

A National Workshop on Water Voice Lao PDR was organized in Vientiane Capital on 15 November 2005 to disseminate the result of the water voice collection to JICA, MAF, MRCS, and relevant government organizations.

1.5. Work Schedule

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The field study stated in 31st of August and was completed on 30th October 2005. The compilation of the water voice data and the progress report were made following the site visits made by the Team Leader in Savannakhet on 19-21 September 2005 and in Luangprabang in 29-31 September 2005. The field study was completed on 4 November for both Northern and Southern water voice study and the water voice data compiled for the seminar on 15 November and for this Draft Final Report.

1.6. Problems and Constraints

Travel and access to interview locations

− The field interviews were made during the peak of the monsoon seasons. − In the North most of the road were impracticable especially the rural feeder roads linking districts to districts. − The portion of the road Oudomxay-Luangnamtha-Bokeo is under construction that in many time obstructed the travel of the team.

Selection of target district and villages

− Due to the raining season many target districts and villages defined in the inception reports were not accessible. − New site selections were made on the spot with the provincial and district authorities.

Interview process

− Mostly in the North the interview process was not fully applied due to the availability of the interviewees. − In many cases there were no people in the villages and it took them some times to find the chief of village and key informants. − The villagers are in the up-land field for weeding or harvesting maize. − In Akkhra minority villages the team could organize only one interview because of the language barrier. Only the chief of village were able to speak poorly in Lao. − The teams have difficulties to conduct the interviews because the villagers could not correctly express or explain the matters clearly. Therefore, many preparation and repeat was made. − The team found difficulties to interview women especially in the up-lands and minority villages.

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II. RESULTS

2.1. Water Voice Data Locations and Voice Sender Profile

The study collected 254 water voice Table 2.1: Water Voice Data Locations. data in 82 villages and 42 districts located in the whole country. The Water number of water voice sample per Location Districts Villages Voice province in shown in the table behind. Data Vientiane Capital 3 5 17 The overall water voice sample Champasak 2 4 15 represents 15% of the urban area, 20% Saravan 2 4 15 of the sub-urban area, 65% of the rural Attapeu 2 4 16 area, and 6% of the rural ethnic area. Sekong 2 4 14 Savannakhet 2 4 14 Figure 2.2: Urban and Rural Khammouane 2 4 14 Repartition Bolikhamxai 2 4 15 Vientiane Province 2 3 13 Luangprabang 4 7 16

Xayabouly 2 6 15

Oudomxai 3 5 15

Luangnamtha 3 6 15

Phongsaly 2 4 15

Houaphan 2 5 15

Xiengkhouang 4 7 15

urban suburban rural rural ethnic Total 42 82 254

Source: Water Voice Interview

The repartition of water voice by location per province is shown in the table below.

Table 2.3: Water Voice Data Repartition per Urban and Rural Location

Provinces Urban Sub-Urban Rural Ethnic Vientiane Capital 0 5 12 0 Champasak 8 0 7 0 Saravan 4 4 7 0 Attapeu 9 0 7 0 Sekong 3 4 7 4 Savannakhet 0 5 9 0 Khammouane 3 0 11 0 Bolikhamxai 0 7 8 0 Vientiane Province 0 6 7 0 Luangprabang 0 2 14 0 Bokeo 4 6 5 0 Xayabouly 0 0 15 0 Oudomxai 0 0 15 0 Luangnamtha 0 0 15 4 Phongsaly 4 5 6 4 Huaphan 3 4 8 3 Xiengkhouang 1 3 11 0 Total 39 51 164 15 Source: Water Voice Interview

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The repartition of water voice sample by gender comprise of 85% male voice and 15% female voice. The water voice profile by gender and age is given in the following table.

Table 2.3: Water Voice Data Repartition per Urban and Rural Location

Elderly Elderly Adult Adult Youth Youth Provinces male female male female male female Vientiane Capital 7 2 5 2 1 0 Champasak 5 1 4 3 1 1 Saravan 2 2 10 1 0 0 Attapeu 7 9 7 2 0 0 Sekong 3 0 9 2 0 0 Savannakhet 3 1 7 1 2 0 Khammouane 9 0 5 0 0 0 Bolikhamxai 5 0 7 2 1 0 Vientiane Province 6 0 6 1 0 0 Luangprabang 7 1 6 1 1 0 Bokeo 5 1 8 0 0 0 Xayabouly 4 0 7 2 0 0 Oudomxai 5 0 8 0 0 0 Luangnamtha 4 0 8 0 1 0 Phongsaly 5 0 8 0 0 0 Huaphan 6 0 8 0 0 1 Xiengkhouang 5 0 7 3 0 0 Total 88 17 120 20 7 2 Source: Water Voice Interview

2.2. Water Voice Data Topics

Eleven major topics were wetland others covered by the study. The topics navigation climat 2% 2% which were the main concern of 2% change river bank the voice senders were; (1) 20% 10% climatic changes, flood and water soil drought; (2) water supply pollution erosion shortages; (3) crop production 5% and irrigation; (4) fisheries 2% watershed products; (5) river bank erosion & f orest water and (6) watershed and forest. 6% The topic living with water could supply 21% not be recorded because there were no fishing villages like the f isheries crop & Tongle Sap in Cambodia and the 15% irrigation Mekong Delta in Vietnam. The 15% water voice data and topics addressed are summarized the Figure 2.4: Water Voice Data Percentage per Topic figure 2.4 and table below.

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Table 2.5: Water Voice Data Repartition by Topic

Topics WV Provinces data 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 Vientiane Cap. 17 5 0 3 2 4 0 1 1 0 0 1 0 Champasack 15 7 0 1 0 3 1 2 0 0 0 1 0 Saravan 15 4 0 4 3 2 0 1 1 0 0 0 0 Attapeu 16 3 0 4 2 4 0 2 1 0 0 0 0 Sekong 14 3 0 3 3 3 0 1 1 0 0 0 0 Savannakhet 14 3 0 3 1 2 0 3 1 0 0 1 0 Khammouane 14 3 0 2 3 2 0 2 2 0 0 0 0 Borikhamxai 15 4 0 3 2 3 1 0 1 0 0 1 0 Vientiane P. 13 2 0 1 2 4 0 0 1 0 0 1 2 Luangprabang 16 3 1 4 3 1 1 1 1 0 1 0 0 Bokeo 15 2 0 3 3 1 1 0 4 0 1 0 0 Xayabouly 15 2 0 5 1 2 1 0 2 0 1 0 1 Oudomxai 15 3 0 5 2 2 1 0 2 0 0 0 0 Luangnamtha 15 1 0 5 4 1 2 0 2 0 0 0 0 Phongsaly 15 1 2 1 4 2 1 0 2 0 1 0 1 Houaphan 15 2 1 3 2 1 3 1 1 0 0 0 1 Xiengkhouang 15 2 1 3 2 1 2 1 2 0 0 1 0 Total 254 50 5 53 39 38 14 15 25 0 4 6 5 Topics: 1) Climatic changes, flood and drought 2) Soil erosion 3) Water supply shortage 4) Crop production and Irrigation 5) Fishery products 6) Watershed and forest 7) Water pollution 8) River bank erosion 9) Living with river 10) Navigation 11) Wetland 12) Others Source: Water Voice Interview

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2.3. Water Voice Samples

A number of 254 water voice samples were recorded, interpreted and translated into English according to the format specified during the inception. A sample of water voice sample is shown in the following figure.

Figure 2.6: Water Voice Sample / Key Words “floods”.

Champasack Province CPS4-P9

Date of collection of “ water Voice”* 5, September, 2005 Region and country where you collected Water Voice: Boung-Oudom village, Pakse district, Champasack province. Voice sender: Youth Gender of voice sender: Female Occupation of Voice sender: Weaving Key words: Flood

Title: Climate change, flood and drought

The flood occurres almost every year due to the low area location of the village. The level of the flood this year was not sighing as last year. Last year the flood was severe than this year and the level of water was higher, people who has house in low land has to move to higher land area. When the area is flooded the water is polluted because people threw their garbage into the water and some households have no latrine. Flood

has caused many problems such as: no place for keeping animal like chicken, and pig,

so they are raised in the house. After the water gets down there is too much bad smell, animals die and some diseases occurres among people like diarrhea, pink eye and malaria. During floods vegetable garden are also damaged.

Source: Water Voice Interview

2.4. Seminar of Water Voice in Lao PDR

On 15th November 2005 a Seminar on Water Voice in Lao PDR was held in order to present, discuss and disseminate the findings of the water voice collection study. The seminar was attended by 31 persons representing different government organizations related to the water sector, united nation agencies, the Mekong River Commission Secretariat and JICA.

The seminar started with an opening address by Mr. Senya Mori JICA Resident Representative and was followed by presentations; by Mr. Yoichi Iwami on participatory basin development; by Dr. Solien Mak on the water voice collection in Cambodia; and by Mr. Oudet Souvannavong on the water voice collection in Lao PDR.

All participants were very concerned on the findings of study and discussion was focused on how to utilize the water voice data for the preparation of water sector development

9/111 Water Voice in Lao PDR – Final Report – December 2005 strategies and development projects. Concerning the utilization of water voice data the following was proposed.

− Water voice complements the concept of the Integrated Water Resources Management (IWRM). − Water voice is useful for the curriculum for education and schools have such kind of curriculum already. Water supply for school is another important issue. − UNDP asked the MRCS-BDP to provide the BDP projects information. − MRCS Planning Director raised a question of status of the data, whether needs authorization or not because sometimes there is a restriction to disclose data to outside the country. The Director also mentioned the importance to continue to collecting data because the data are quite useful. − JICA office explained that copy right belongs to JICA and expect to use data by everyone. It was pointed out that serious water problem has been identified through the study. − It was also proposed to pursue the water voice collection especially in remote areas with consideration to different geographic conditions and during the dry season to get the complete set of water voice data. − It was recommended that everyone can access the data and the data should be updated regularly. − Japanese embassy expects usage of the data and JICA experts with the Lao organization would cooperate as well. − JICA expected that MRC would have a comprehensive database on water voice in the four member countries.

During the discussions it was noted that water voice does not records the problems of the people in relation to water but has also recorded changes and issues on water environment. The following was further noted in relation to those issues.

− LWU said that water issue is directly related to women's life so water voice is very important. It is suggested that water voice collection results be informed to investors in order to consider environment protection to the investment. Water voice from women is important because women are very sensitive about environment and main user of water in daily life. If there is a second round of collection emphasis should be paid to interview women and ethnic minorities. − The pollution from mining is very serious problem and is going to increase in Lao PDR. − The Faculty of Agriculture form the National University of Lao PDR (NUOL) as studied environmental issues on mining and hydropower in another way and has some data which the faculty expects to share.

During the seminar a set of CR-Rom containing 115 water voice samples and 12 water voice recording samples were distributed to the participants.

10/111 Water Voice in Lao PDR – Final Report – December 2005

III. FINDINGS AND ASSESSMENT

The water voice collection was made during the peak of the raining season in August and October therefore most of the concern of the people was on climatic changes and particularly on floods, wet season agriculture production, fisheries, water supply and river bank erosion. This paragraph gives an overview of the people’s perspective on the different thematic or problematic on water by specifying the effects, causes and actions made to cope with changes and proposed solution and intervention to the authorities. As this water voice samples is covering only 1% of the number of villages in Lao PDR (84 villages of the total 10752 villages) the assessment could not be considered as viable at national level. However, the analysis is providing facts that confirm the status of the different issues on water especially on the issue of water pollution related to increased industry and hydro-power investment.

11/111 Water Voice in Lao PDR – Final Report – December 2005

3.1. Climate Change, Flood and Drought

Climatic change is the main topic of this water voice collection. 50 voice senders responded to the topic in all provinces. The 24 specific assessments of selected water voices in all provinces summarize the voice to the people on climate changes with flood and drought issues highlighted.

3.1.1. VTC1 Dongkouay Village, Xaithany District

Date of water voice collection 31 August, 2005 Location of water voice collection Dongkouay Village, Xaithany District Vientiane Capital Voice sender Elderly male Occupation of voice sender Farmer Key Words Climate Change Message “The climate changed since 20 years and the way of earning and livelihood is not the same”.

Translation of Voice Recorded

The climate in the last 20 years and the way of earning for living was not the same as in the present time. In that time in winter it was very cold at night we used two or three of thick blankets but in the winter now we almost not using a blanket and in summer was not as hot as now, we did not know the causes of it. In the time before in the river there were too many fishes and very easy for catching and we can catch in a big amount in a time , if we can catch many fishes over than we can cook in each day we made salty fishes and shared with neighbors, no selling. For flood and drought in the last 20 years ago it also was flood and the rice field was flooded but less damage because the water flow passing through rapidly, because in the past there were no ditch to block the water so that it can run through rapidly. Now they had made the ditch to block the water for agricultural irrigated in dry season, if there were heavy rain the water cannot run through rapidly and the water flooded the rice field for many day and damage all of the area it was flooded. They made the ditch not only blocking the water but also blocking fishes in the rainy season can not to go up stream for hatching, therefore the number of fishes getting smaller and smaller every years. The reason that they decided to maintain the ditch is for blocking water for dry season rice production, because of fertilized soil, the dry season rice production there can give high yield without using chemical fertilizer. In each year they can irrigated dry season rice field about 50 ha. and the area will be less down due to small volume of water.

Water Voice Assessment

Effects − Temperature has increased before we used 3 blankets now only one − Food from the natural surounding are less abundant than before − Fish are getting less and smaller − Before food can be shared between households not anymore now − Rain falls are irregular and flood paddy field Causes − Cutting too many trees − Population increase How people cope with changes − Villagers build ditch on the stream tore water and irrigate crops during the wet and dry season. What other side effects from changes − The ditch is blocking fishes to go up-stream to hatch. What people proposed − No record

12/111 Water Voice in Lao PDR – Final Report – December 2005

3.1.2. VTC7 Angnamhoum Village, Nasaithong District

Date of water voice collection 1 September, 2005 Location of water voice collection Angnamhoum Village, Nasaithong District Vientiane Capital Voice sender Elderly male Occupation of voice sender Gardener Key Words Climate Change Message “Climate changed since 30 years and the level of water is decreasing in the Nam Houm Reservoir”.

Translation of Voice Recorded

The climate now a day had change a lot when we compare with 30 years ago which the area was abundant with big tree and bio-diversity around the area . Now the big tree was cut and the forest was invading by the people , therefore the amount of water was decreasing in the reservoir for example like in this year the water level was very low than the year before in the same time. This year if the level of water still remains low like this the farmers in the lower area could not irrigated the water to their field for dry season rice production. And also the amount of fishes was also decreasing because of many people come to catch fishes here not only the people of this village, the other villages also come for fishing here. The climate change due to the forest cutting to much. In the last 20 years, in winter was very cold, people like to set fire for getting warm at night and in the morning time , but now we could hardly see any body setting fire for warming or wearing coat, in summer it was very hot than ever before. Now everything’s had change for example, climate, fishes and water.

Water Voice Assessment

Effects − Water level decrease in the Nam Houm Reservoir − Farmer cannot irrigate their land for dry season rice − Fish in the reservoir is diminishing − Temperature increased during winter Causes − Climate change − Population increase − Trees are cut in the watershed − There is over fishing How people cope with changes − No records What other side effects from − No records changes What people proposed − No record

13/111 Water Voice in Lao PDR – Final Report – December 2005

3.1.3. VTP1 Hadsaignam Village, Keo-oudom District

Date of water voice collection 24 October, 2005 Location of water voice collection Hadsaignam Village, Keo-Oudom District, Vientiane Province Voice sender Elderly male Occupation of voice sender Farmer Key Words Climate change Message “Rain does not come exactly according to the season”.

Translation of Voice Recorded

From the year 1988 when this village was established comparing with the present time the climate was very different, now when it rain it will rain very heavy and when the sun shine it will take a long time and very hot, it means the rain was not rain exactly according to the season at the time before we can forecast when it will rain and when the sun will shine but now we could not forecast. And the water in the river and in the forest also changed, in the time before the forest still fertile with bio-diversity it has high humidity when it rain only one time the water will flow in the river and in the small streams and it will some spring water along the steams in forest, but now if it rain only one time there will no water flowing along the streams and no spring water , if it was not rain very heavy and many times. The causes of it, was the wood cutting and making slash and burn when this village had moved here at first, according to the observation of the concerned sections. The wood was cut illegally by the villagers in this village and others villages also cut for sawing and selling to people who want to construct their houses to get money for buying rice. In order to make to reserve the forest and make the nature become fertile as before we have to stop cutting the tree and find another way for villagers to earn for their living. The first one but this will be very difficult because in this village there were no area for making low land rice field, the second one the law must be the law it means every people have to follow the law strictly.

Water Voice Assessment

Effects − When it rains it pour very heavily − Rains does not come according to the season − In summer it is hot and sun shine very long time − Water sources and river flow changed − Forest and water resources are degraded no spring water and streams as before. Causes − Climate change − Deforestation due to illegal cutting of trees for construction − Laws on illegal logging is not applied How people cope with changes − No records What other side effects from − No records changes What people proposed − To strictly enforce the law on illegal logging

14/111 Water Voice in Lao PDR – Final Report – December 2005

3.1.4. VTP11 Bounphao Village, Thoulakhom District

Date of water voice collection 27 October, 2005 Location of water voice collection Bounphao Village, Thoulakhom District, Vientiane Province Voice sender Elderly male Occupation of voice sender Gardener Key Words Flood Message “Severe floods destroy all rice fields and gardens”

Translation of Voice Recorded

I was a gardener and feeding cattle, when I live here at first he was a farmer, many years passed I transferred my farm land to my sons and daughters, so I myself have to stop cultivating rice, but I grew banana for sale until 1980 it was severe flood and damaged all of his banana tree, so I stop it and now I am feeding cattle and gardening in dry season. And in 1990 there were also severe flood the rice field area of the people in the village had damaged all, and in that years the government had help us in rice about 20 tons. In this year also flood but not so severe not over flow to the village area. Boungphao village was located down stream of the NamNgum dam, if any year it had heavy rain and the level of water was over the red mark of the reservoir, the concerned authorities of NamNgum dam they had to release the water out, in that time the down stream area will be flood, but in conclusion before the construction of dam the flood was so often and after the construction of dam the flood was not so often when there were heavy rain they released the water from the dam it will flood.

Water Voice Assessment

Effects − Flood damage garden and rice production Causes − Climatic changes create heavy rains − NamNgum Hydropower discharge water during wet season creating large floods How people cope with changes − No records What other side effects from − No records changes What people proposed − No records

15/111 Water Voice in Lao PDR – Final Report – December 2005

3.1.5. BRK5 Nachik Village, Paksan District

Date of water voice collection 12 October, 2005 Location of water voice collection Nachik Village, Paksan District, Borikhamxai Province Voice sender Elderly male Occupation of voice sender Gardener Key Words Climate change and drought Message “The climate had changed, there is drought”

Translation of Voice Recorded

Many years before when I moved here at first, there were often flood in this village due to in that time there were a lot of big tree and the nature still fertile. Now the climate had changed , there were no flood, but drought instead due to many big tree were cut and many people were cultivated slash and burn before, so the climate now seems better than before, farmer can grow rice in time in rainy season. In winter now it seems not so cold, in the time before in winter many people had set fire for warming, but now nobody do that due to the weather now was not so cold, in summer it seems very hot, if we have no electric fan we could not live, the fan was very necessary in summer. Drought was so often than flood, last year in May the water in the well seems dried we had dig more two to three time to get water for drinking.

Water Voice Assessment

Effects − There is no floods but drought instead − Winter is not so cold − Summer is very hot − Water in the wells dry out during summer − Had to get drinking water during summer Causes − Climatic changes create drought − Forest are cuts by slash and burn cultivations − Less rainfalls How people cope with changes − No records What other side effects from − No records changes What people proposed − No records

16/111 Water Voice in Lao PDR – Final Report – December 2005

3.1.6. BRK8 Hadkhai Village, Thaphabat District

Date of water voice collection 13 October, 2005 Location of water voice collection Hadkhai Village, Thaphabat District, Borikhamxai Province Voice sender Elderly male Occupation of voice sender Farmer Key Words Climate change and drought Message “There is drought more than flood”

Translation of Voice Recorded

The situation of flood since I was moved here to live in this village, it was flood but as normal as it had ever before, it means the rain was fallen according to the season. it flood when it should be flood, it means it flood when the rice in the field was strong enough to protect itself from flood damage, in the past time the flood was often occurred in October, in that time some people were harvesting. The climate had change not the same as before, in rainy season when it rain it will rain continuously for many days until it was flood, if it stop raining it will stop for many days until the water in the rice field was dried up. In this village it often drought more than flood. For drought 1-2 years it drought one time but flood 3-4 years it flood one time. In 1977 it was heavy flood damaged all of rice field. To survive people in the village have to collect Non-timber forest product ( NTFP) to sale for buying rice for household consumption and crops production, the main crops which they grow in this village was Mak Euk ( a kind of egg plant which they used to mix with papaya salad). The main causes of the climate changed were the wood cutting and people conducted slash and burn in the time before but now they stop already.

Water Voice Assessment

Effects − Before floods enrich the paddy fields − Now there is drought affecting the rice production Causes − Climatic changes create drought − Forest are cuts by slash and burn cultivations − Less rainfalls How people cope with changes − During heavy flood people are collecting NTFP for food What other side effects from − No records changes What people proposed − No records

17/111 Water Voice in Lao PDR – Final Report – December 2005

3.1.7. KM3 Thakhektai Village, Thakhek District

Date of water voice collection 3 October, 2005 Location of water voice collection Thakhektai Village, Thakhek District, Khammouane Province Voice sender Adult male Occupation of voice sender Farmer Key Words Floods Message “Many years before there were floods but not so often but since 10 years ago floods occurs almost every years”.

Translation of Voice Recorded

The situation of flood in this village in many years before it was also flood but not so often as during 10 years ago which was so often almost every years, why I don’t know due to my technical was not high enough to know about this matter, but only one thing that I know that was because of the forest had destroyed a lot. In this year the flood was very severe as I and the concerned section had surveyed in this village area there were no rice field area could harvested in this year. The level of water in the center of the village was about 1,60 meters, but so far it was more severely than this like in 1995 the level of water in the center of the village was about 2-2,20 meters. The water from the Mekong river was over flow to the village and rice field which damaged all and there were some animal was dying. To survive after the flood the villagers had to grow other crops instead like vegetable and corn, cucumber, if the irrigation water more convenient than now many households cultivate dry season rice production in order to earn for their living.

Water Voice Assessment

Effects − Flood is occurring every years since 10 years − The level of flood in the village center is 1.6 meter − The Mekong flood destroys rice field and kills domestic animals Causes − Climatic changes create heavy rainfalls − Mekong floods heavily How people cope with changes − To survive after the flood the villagers had to grow other crops instead like vegetable and corn, cucumber, with irrigation water − Many households cultivate dry season rice production in order to earn for their living. What other side effects from − No records changes What people proposed − No records

18/111 Water Voice in Lao PDR – Final Report – December 2005

3.1.8. KM4 Lamalath Village, Thakhek District

Date of water voice collection 3 October, 2005 Location of water voice collection Lamalath Village,Thakhek District, Khammouane Province Voice sender Elderly male Occupation of voice sender Farmer Key Words Floods and drought Message “Now the climate had changed the flood or drought can come at any time”.

Translation of Voice Recorded

The climate now was not the same as before, it had a big change. In the time before the flood often occurred during the mid of 9 or 10 of Lao month, during this time the rice stock in the field was already strong enough to protect itself from flood if it was not so severe, but now the climate had change the flood or drought will come at any time even in the mid of 7 or 8 of Lao month which during this time the rice stock was newly transplanting when it was flood it will be easily damaged because it was not strongly enough, the causes because of cutting a lot of big tree. Many years ago in the area of the village there were a lot of big tree even in the around the village but now it was all cut. In winter it was very cold with foggy in the morning and in summer it was very hot the temperature was very high because there were no big tree. In order to solve the problem I thought that if the upper part thinks that it is useful for people, we need the irrigation system for dry season production in this village will help the better living condition for villagers. For drinking water there were no problem we have enough sources of drinking water from wells.

Water Voice Assessment

Effects − Before floods are mild and are coming when the rice is high and strong enough to survive − Now flood and drought are irregular and destroying crop production Causes − Climatic changes create irregular rainfalls − Cutting of surrounding forest How people cope with changes − No records What other side effects from − No records changes What people proposed − To develop irrigation in order to cope with flood and drought irregularities

19/111 Water Voice in Lao PDR – Final Report – December 2005

3.1.9. SVK3 Vangmou Village, Sepon District

Date of water voice collection 27 September, 2005 Location of water voice collection Vangmou Village, Sepon District, Savannakhet Province Voice sender Adult male Occupation of voice sender Upland farmer Key Words Drought Message “In June when we are sowing upland rice there is no rain that made the upland rice not so fruitful”.

Translation of Voice Recorded

The climate had change, for example in this year in June when we sowing the upland rice there were no rain which made the rice not so fruitful, but in July the rain was very heavy which made the rice both low land and upland got yellow leaf disease. So far in 1995 it was drought the rice was all damaged, to survive the villagers have to grow other crops and sell animal and others things for buying rice. Now the water in river was very little in dry season due to cutting tree and villagers cultivated slash and burn therefore it caused the water in the river remain very little in dry season and the fishes was very few. The climate now had a very big change from the time before, in summer it was very hot and in winter not so cold.

Water Voice Assessment

Effects − Irregular rainfall − Upland rice is less productive − Rice got yellow leave disease − Rivers and stream have low water debit and dried up during summer Causes − Climatic changes create irregular rainfalls − Cutting of surrounding forest − Slash and burn cultivation How people cope with changes − Villagers have to grow other crops and sell animal and others things for buying rice. − People try to irrigate land but water is not enough What other side effects from − No records changes What people proposed − No records

20/111 Water Voice in Lao PDR – Final Report – December 2005

3.1.10. SVK8 Kengkokdong Village, Champhone District

Date of water voice collection 30 September, 2005 Location of water voice collection Kengkokdong Village, Champhone District, Savannakhet Province Voice sender Elderly male Occupation of voice sender Farmer Key Words Floods Message “Floods damage rice in the field and bring animal disease”

Translation of Voice Recorded

The climate of this village since 1974 it was flood severely 3-4 years one time. Especially in 1974 it was severely flood the water level in the middle of the village was about 80 cm, in 1978 the water level in the middle of the village was about 60 cm. and in 1996 the level of water in the middle of the village was 40 cm. the damages was a lot such as rice in the field, other planting in the village and animal diseases was occurred .In order to survive when it was flood, the concerned section had promote people to grow other crops instead such as corn, bean, peanut, and other kind of potatoes. In the other years more than mention above it was flood almost every years, but flood not severely only low area was flood, damaged only some part of the rice field. like in this year also flood in some low area. Now the flood was not so severely maybe due to the climate change, and maybe due to the government had made many dam at the top of the river such as Nam Bak Dam, Nam Bak Reservoir, Sui Dam and Thod Dam for irrigation, maybe because many dams up stream so that it make the water level down stream lower. In the village there were many kind of irrigation such as gravity system, and pumping system. The gravity system was from Nam Bak Dam and the other was used by pumping. The climate now had change a lot not the same as before due to many tree had cut. In order to protect it we should not cut the tree and planting the tree instead.

Water Voice Assessment

Effects − Severe floods are current since many years − Severe floods destroy crop production and kills domestic animals − Now floods are not so severe Causes − Now the flood was not so severely maybe due to the climate change, and to the construction of many dam at the top of the river − Deforestation create less rainfalls How people cope with changes − Use of gravity and pump irrigation to cope with weather irregularities What other side effects from − No records changes What people proposed − No records

21/111 Water Voice in Lao PDR – Final Report – December 2005

3.1.11. SRV2 Watkang Village, Saravan District

Date of water voice collection 9 September, 2005 Location of water voice collection Watkang Village, Saravan District, Saravan Province Voice sender Elderly female Occupation of voice sender Farmer Key Words Climate Change Message “Now in winter the weather is not cold as before at night and in the morning there is no fog as before”.

Translation of Voice Recorded

The climate now and before it had changed very much, in the past in winter it was very cold, for example in December the harvest season we just wait to see the sun before we can go to rice field for harvesting and in that time it was foggy at night and in the morning time. But now in winter the weather was not cold as before at night and in the morning there were no fog. And the fishes in the river was too many we can catch at any time for daily meal, and the frog also many, now the number of population had increased, and many people look for catching fishes and frog for consumption and for sale , so the number of fishes and frog had very few at present time. Now the climate changed if it raining it will rain very heavy like this years the water was flood even the market in Saravan district and caused the damages to the fish pond and rice field and other things of people. In some year there were no rain but drought instead, the causes of the drought was the people cut the tree too much. In the past on the way from Saravan district to Khongsedon district it was a big forest and many big trees, it has even the tigers, and we can not go alone because of fear of tiger. But now we could not see it any more.

Water Voice Assessment

Effects − Before winter was very cold − In December during rice harvest it is foggy in the morning − Before fish were too many in the river − Now weather is irregular if it is raining it floods − Floods damage property, crops and fish ponds − Some years there are droughts Causes − Deforestation create irregular rainfalls − Big forest have been cut How people cope with changes − No records What other side effects from − No records changes What people proposed − No records

22/111 Water Voice in Lao PDR – Final Report – December 2005

3.1.12. SRV12 Nonkham Village, Laognam District

Date of water voice collection 10 September, 2005 Location of water voice collection Nonkham village, Laognam District, Saravan Province Voice sender Adult male Occupation of voice sender Upland farmer Key Words Climate Change Message “Now the weather had changed for example in winter the weather is not as cold as before and in summer it is hotter than before”.

Translation of Voice Recorded

I would like to say about the climate in this area so far and at the present time, so far about 10 years ago the climate in this area were higher humidity which make the crops production was better than now, especially for coffee plantation and other animal raising also good in that time, now the weather had changed for example in winter the weather was not so cold as before and in summer it seemed hotter than before the temperature was higher. In our village so far we have never faced with flood only drought which impact severely to the production of people like in the year before last year, it had the drought which caused some damages to the crops production like coffee was not so fruitful. We could not know the exact reason which caused the drought maybe because of the forest was destroyed and the big tree was cut, I thought that if the forest still abandon as before we may not face with flood or drought.

Water Voice Assessment

Effects − 10 year ago there was higher humidity − Crop production is yielding good and animals are raising good − Temperature has increased and it is not hot during winter but very hot during summer − Now drought and floods are current Causes − Deforestation change climatic conditions How people cope with changes − No records What other side effects from − No records changes What people proposed − No records

23/111 Water Voice in Lao PDR – Final Report – December 2005

3.1.13. CPS4 Boung-Oudom Village, Pakse District

Date of water voice collection 5 September, 2005 Location of water voice collection Boung-Oudom Village, Pakse District, Chapasack Province Voice sender Young female Occupation of voice sender Weaving. Key Words Floods and water pollution Message “When it floods the water is polluted because people threw their garbage into the water and many houses have no latrines”.

Translation of Voice Recorded

The situation of flood in this village had occurred almost every year, because the location of this village was the low area. The level of the flood this year was not as high as last year. Last year the flood was severe than this year and the level of water was higher, some people who has lower house had to move to high land area. The problem occurred when it flood was polluted water due to people threw their garbage into the water and some households have no latrine. Flood had caused many problem such as: no place for keeping animal like chicken, pig, they have to take them on the house, after the water got down too much bad smell, animals die and some diseases was occurred like diarrhea, pink eye and malaria, vegetable garden was damaged.

Water Voice Assessment

Effects − Rainfalls are irregular and it flood the village every year − During flood water is heavily polluted − During flood chicken and pigs are kept in the houses − Flood create diseases such as diarrhea, pink eye and malaria Causes − No drainage system − people threw their garbage into the water and some households have no latrine − Land is flooded no place to raise chicken and pigs How people cope with changes − When flood is severe people have to move to settle in higher location What other side effects from − No records changes What people proposed − No records

24/111 Water Voice in Lao PDR – Final Report – December 2005

3.1.14. CPS10 KengNhao Village, Bachieng District

Date of water voice collection 7 September, 2005 Location of water voice collection KengNhao Village, Bachieng District, Chapasack Province Voice sender Elderly male Occupation of voice sender Farmer Key Words Climate Change Message “Now the level and volume of water in the river has decreased and the quantity of fishes is getting very small”.

Translation of Voice Recorded

Living with water we have much convenience, we use the water in the river for our daily life such as: washing bathing, fishing and taking the water from the river for agriculture. When comparing with 10 years ago it had a big change, in the past the level of water in the river in dry season was higher than now and the number of fishes were too much, but now the level and volume of water was decreased and the number of fishes was very few. The cause that makes the water decreased was the forest invasion. Because some households in this village they had no low land rice area. therefore they still slash and the forest for planting rice. The river is very important for our daily life we could not live without river. To protect the river we have to stop cutting the tree and we have to plant the tree instead of cutting.

Water Voice Assessment

Effects − Level of water in the river is getting low − Number of fish in the river is less Causes − Deforestation is changing the climate − People invade the forest − There is slash and burn cultivation How people cope with changes − No records What other side effects from − No records changes What people proposed − To protect the river we have to stop cutting the tree and we have to plant the tree instead of cutting.

25/111 Water Voice in Lao PDR – Final Report – December 2005

3.1.15. SK14 Palengneua Village, Thateng District

Date of water voice collection 17 September, 2005 Location of water voice collection Palenneua Village, Thateng District, Sekong Province Voice sender Adult male Occupation of voice sender Coffee and cardamom gardener Key Words Drought Message “The production of coffee and cardamom was not so fruitful due to the weather irregularities”.

Translation of Voice Recorded

The situation of the weather now was not different from the time before, in winter it was very cold so far, in rainy season the rain was not come as usual as it had ever been before some year drought some years it rain too much. For last year it was drought it rained but not so much, rained 4-5 days then stop about a month which made the crops damaged by the pests. We did not know what causes the climate change. 18 years before in this village also cultivated slash and burn, but now we stop and cultivated lowland rice and other crops production such as coffee and cardamom. In this year the production of coffee and cardamom was not so fruitful due to the weather problem.

Water Voice Assessment

Effects − Rainfalls are irregular − Temperature increased − Drought is current − Production of coffee and cardamom is not fruitful Causes − Deforestation is changing the climate − People cut wood in the forest − There is slash and burn cultivation How people cope with changes − Villagers have an irrigation weir to store water for agriculture but the weir is old and broken What other side effects from − No records changes What people proposed − To keep the climate return back as before we have to stop cutting big trees.

26/111 Water Voice in Lao PDR – Final Report – December 2005

3.1.16. ATP3 Sisomphone Village, Samakhixay District

Date of water voice collection 13 September, 2005 Location of water voice collection Sisomphone Village, Samakhixay District, Attapeu Province Voice sender Adult male Occupation of voice sender Farmer Key Words Floods Message “This year the flood is rather severe because it caused damages to 43 ha of rice fields”.

Translation of Voice Recorded

So far as I had experienced, in this village there were flood more than drought, in around 3 or 4 years it will flood one time, but severe or not depends on the volume of rain water in each year. In this years the flood rather severe because it caused the damages for the rice field about 43 ha. The total area of the low land rice field of this village was about 151 ha. but they did not do all of these area due to in the beginning of the rainy season there were no rain, the rain was so delayed therefore most of the farm did not cultivate all. We could not forecast about the flood. The damage from the flood of this year was 43 ha. and covered to 41 households, but some households their rice field was not damaged all, only half of their farm was damaged, but 8 households was damaged all. In order to sustain for their lives they have to grow another crops and some people have to go to town for being a construction labor.

Water Voice Assessment

Effects − There is flood more that drought − Flood caused damage to 43 ha of production Causes − No records How people cope with changes − After the flood people plant other crops − Many people went to town for being construction laborer. What other side effects from − No records changes What people proposed − No records

27/111 Water Voice in Lao PDR – Final Report – December 2005

3.1.17. XK9 Khangdon Village, Paek District

Date of water voice collection 26 September, 2005 Location of water voice collection Khangdon Village, Peak District, Xiengkhouang Province Voice sender Adult male Occupation of voice sender Carpenter Key Words Climate change Message “The changing of rainfall from year to year create difficulties for villagers to plant their crops in both lowland and upland area”

Translation of Voice Recorded

Our village is Khangdon, it is located along the road number 7 where villagers can have water from the small river, rainfall and ponds for domestic and agricultural cultivation especially rice in wet season. Last year( 2004 ), the rainfall started later than normal, so the villagers had suffered from drought of climate change. The changing of rainfall from year to year makes villagers difficult to plant their crops in both lowland and upland area. The impacts of drought on the village are food and water shortage and consequently serious starvation as the living condition is getting worse. To solve problem many of villagers leaved their home for finding a job in downtown and some villagers sold animals for their food.

Water Voice Assessment

Effects − Irregular rainfalls create drought. − Drought impact on the village food and water shortage − There is serious starvation as the living condition is getting worse. Causes − The changing of rainfall from year to year makes villagers difficult to plant their crops in both lowland and upland area. How people cope with changes − Many of villagers leaved their home for finding a job in downtown. − Many villagers sold animals for their food. What other side effects from − No records changes What people proposed − No records

28/111 Water Voice in Lao PDR – Final Report – December 2005

3.1.18. HP3 Tham Village, Xamneua District

Date of water voice collection 19 October, 2005 Location of water voice collection Tham Village, Xamneua District, Huaphanh Province Voice sender Adult male Occupation of voice sender Farmer Key Words Climate change Message “This year, we suffered severely from both flood and drought”

Translation of Voice Recorded

Long time ago, around this area has abundant of water resources and forest and the weather are also regular. Nowadays, because of increasing of population and most of this area is highland. Every year the villagers have grown their rice and other crop by cutting to much of the trees. Many years ago, villagers of our village were facing problems of climate change such as floods and droughts. This year (2005), we had suffered a severely from flood and drought in the same year. Normally, we grow rice in lowland area in June but this year the rainfall is coming late for one month. Oppositely, the wet season is heavy rainfall, the rice fields of villagers are eroded. The impacts of the flood are lost of rice production field and food shortage.

Water Voice Assessment

Effects − Irregular rainfalls create drought and floods − In up-lands crops are not yielding because of drought − In low land paddy field are flooded and fields are eroded with stones and rocks − There is food shortage Causes − The changing of rainfall from year to year makes villagers difficult to plant their crops in both lowland and upland area.. − Slash and burn cultivation How people cope with changes − No records What other side effects from − No records changes What people proposed − No records

29/111 Water Voice in Lao PDR – Final Report – December 2005

3.1.19. LPB12 No. 11 Village, XiengNgeun District

Date of water voice collection 8 September, 2005 Location of water voice collection No. 11 Village, XiengNgeun District, Luangphabang Province Voice sender Elderly male Occupation of voice sender Farmer Key Words Floods Message “Current floods leads to food shortage, disease, serious starvation and worsening the living condition”.

Translation of Voice Recorded

Lak 11 village is located along the road No. 4 of Xieng Ngeun District, its agriculture field is lowland area and locates with Khanh river. Every year, this village faced with flooding that causes severe damage to the property and crops production. This leads to food shortage, disease, and consequently serious starvation and the living condition is getting worse. The problem is that, when flood arrives, the water rises up rapidly and flows very fast that erodes the riverbank and damages the rice field and other crops production. This problem can be due to poor people are cutting too much of tree. To solve the problem, the villagers have grown some crops like bean, corn and etc. In addition, some people are leaving their homeland to the city to find jobs because they need food to support their family.

Water Voice Assessment

Effects − Heavy rainfalls water rises up rapidly and flow very fast floods and erodes river banks and paddy field − There is food shortage and starvation − Living condition is getting worse Causes − Changing climatic condition with heavy rainfalls − Slash and burn cultivation − Poor people are cutting trees up-stream How people cope with changes − After floods the villagers plant crops − People seek for work in the city What other side effects from − No records changes What people proposed − No records

30/111 Water Voice in Lao PDR – Final Report – December 2005

3.1.20. XBL9 Phonhinh Village, Phieng District

Date of water voice collection 2 November, 2005 Location of water voice collection Phonhinh Village, Phieng District, Xayabuly Province Voice sender Adult male Occupation of voice sender Farmer Key Words Climate change Message “Climate change has impacted on villagers’ livelihood, especially the poor, and this can make them poorer”.

Translation of Voice Recorded

Phonhinh village is lowland area and located along the Phieng river. In the past, villagers of this area have utilized this river’s water for various activities such as domestic consumption, agriculture and practice fishery. Now the climate has changed because natural resources are destroyed by human. So from 1975 we have many problems from the climate that is affecting the people in our village. Some time we had floods and some time droughts. In 2001 the rice field of villagers was eroded and damaged around 5 ha. This climate change has impacted on villagers’ livelihood, especially the poor, and this can make them poorer.

Water Voice Assessment

Effects − Irregular rainfalls create floods and droughts − Floods and drought impact on food production − Rice field got eroded due to flood − The poor get poorer Causes − No records How people cope with changes − No records What other side effects from − No records changes What people proposed − No records

31/111 Water Voice in Lao PDR – Final Report – December 2005

3.1.21. ODX6 Namor Neua Village, Namor District

Date of water voice collection 26 September, 2005 Location of water voice collection Namor Tay Village, Namor District, Oudomxay Province Voice sender Adult male Occupation of voice sender Farmer Key Words Flood Message “The impacts of flood on the village are Bridge between Namor Tay and Neua is destroyed, rice production field has flooded and damaged around 10 ha, bank erosion and food shortage”.

Translation of Voice Recorded

Many years ago, water as well as climate around the Namor Tay village area had regular changed because at that time the forest did not destroy to much as today. Now population is increased around this area and almost of these villagers have not lowland for agriculture. Every year, villagers are cut too much of forest for agriculture. These changes the land cover affect the hydrology process and eventually affect the water resource. Some year we have floods and some year we have droughts, it is irregular climate change. This year on 25th of July, 2005 we have suffered a serious from flood. The impacts of flood on the village are Bridge between Namor Tay and Neua is destroyed, rice production field has flooded and damaged around 10 ha, bank erosion and food shortage.

Water Voice Assessment

Effects − Irregular rainfalls create floods and droughts − Severe floods destroy bridge, rice production field and bank erosion − There is food shortage Causes − Population increase − Forest has been cut for slash and burn cultivation How people cope with changes − No records What other side effects from − No records changes What people proposed − No records

32/111 Water Voice in Lao PDR – Final Report – December 2005

3.1.22. PSL6 Nongkinaly Village, Phongsaly District

Date of water voice collection 12 October, 2005 Location of water voice collection Nongkinaly Village, Phongsaly District, Phongsaly Province Voice sender Adult male Occupation of voice sender Farmer Key Words Climate change Message “Before, the weather in Phongsaly province is cold, but now the weather in this area is hot”

Translation of Voice Recorded

The forest at the present time is very different if compare to the past, number of trees are reduced so much and the weather is also change. Formerly, the weather in Phongsaly province is cold, it is probably due to villagers are cut too much of trees, so now the weather in this area is hot. Last year (2004), our villagers have suffered a serious drought, a lot of villagers could not harvest. The impacts of drought on the village are food shortage and consequently serious starvation as the living condition is getting worse. To solve problems, villagers sold animals such as cattle, tea and sold some wood and other in the forest to buy food.

Water Voice Assessment

Effects − Temperature raise during winter time − Villagers suffer from drought − Crop cannot be harvested − There is food shortage and starvation − Living condition is getting worse Causes − Forest has been cut for slash and burn cultivation How people cope with changes − Villagers sold animals such as cattle − Villagers collect wild tea and wood and NTFP to sell and buy food. What other side effects from − No records changes What people proposed − No records

33/111 Water Voice in Lao PDR – Final Report – December 2005

3.1.23. LNT3 Nam Ngean Village, Luangnamtha District

Date of water voice collection 20 September, 2005 Location of water voice collection Nam Ngean Village, Namtha District, Luangnamtha Province Voice sender Adult male Occupation of voice sender Farmer Key Words Climate change Message “Now the climate has changed if compare to the past, some years have heavy of rainfall which is caused flood and some years have less of rainfall which is caused drought”.

Translation of Voice Recorded

Long time ago, this area had abundant of water resources and forest. We are never faced with drought and flood. Now the climate is big different changed if compare to the past, some year has heavy of rainfall which is caused flood and some year has less of rainfall which is caused drought. The reason of climate change may be from slash and burn for agriculture of poor villagers who are lived at head and along of the river. For example: in 2002 we were faced a serious drought event, the water does not have enough for agriculture cultivation. Oppositely, in 2003 the villagers had suffered a serious from flood and it is first time for our village. The impacts of the flood on the village were rice store was damaged for 5 stores, house was moved to upland area for 5 houses, lost agriculture land around 17 ha and food shortage. In addition, animals and other things of villagers were damaged and calculated roughly at 700 to 800 million kips.

Water Voice Assessment

Effects − Long time ago there were not drought and floods − Now rainfalls are irregular and cause drought and floods − Floods damage rice storage, houses, agriculture land, and animals Causes − Forest has been cut for slash and burn cultivation How people cope with changes − No records What other side effects from − No records changes What people proposed − No records

34/111 Water Voice in Lao PDR – Final Report – December 2005

3.1.24. BK6 Nam Chuam Village, Houeixay District

Date of water voice collection 15 September, 2005 Location of water voice collection Nam Chuam Village, Houeixay District, Bokeo Province Voice sender Adult male Occupation of voice sender Farmer Key Words Climate change Message “Some time we had floods, some time droughts, and irregular weather changes”.

Translation of Voice Recorded

Nam Chuam village is locate along the Nga river, long time ago our village never had problem about nature disaster. A few years later, climate has changed because of slash and burn for agriculture of poor people, so we have many problems from the weather that is affecting the people in the whole region now. Some time we had floods, some time droughts, and irregular weather changes. This year we have a serious suffered from flood during wet season and lack of water for irrigation in both dry and wet season. Serious flood this year is occurred on August 15, 2005 and damages the earth weir of our villager, so around 7 ha of villager’s field can not be grown rice.

Water Voice Assessment

Effects − Now rainfalls are irregular and cause drought and floods − Floods damage earth weir and agriculture land Causes − Forest has been cut for slash and burn cultivation How people cope with changes − No records What other side effects from − No records changes What people proposed − No records

35/111 Water Voice in Lao PDR – Final Report – December 2005

3.2. Soil Erosion

Soil erosion has not been largely responded during the study but a large number of voices specifying climate change are talking about soil erosion as well. However, 2 voices related directly to soil erosion are assessed as follows.

3.2.1. LPB9 Thapaen Village, Luangphabang District

Date of water voice collection 7 September, 2005 Location of water voice collection Thapaen Village, Luangprabang District, Luangprabang Province Voice sender Young male Occupation of voice sender Farmer Key Words Soil erosion Message “ Soil has slide down and covered the irrigation canal”

Translation of Voice Recorded

There are three points of soil erosion in our village but only one is a serious damage because the soil was slide down and covered the irrigation canal. The reason of soil erosion probably due to of: First people cut the threes around this area too much and second one ground of soil is rock and it is high of slop so when heavy rainfall, it was made soil slide down. The soil erosion made us very difficult because we waste lot of time for repairing the canal, it is around 10 times for a season, lack of water for growing rice and etc. To protect soil erosion we will mobilize people to grow some plant or grass on the canal and its slopes.

Water Voice Assessment

Effects − Heavy rains erode soil and cover village irrigation canal Causes − Forest has been cut around the area How people cope with changes − Villagers have to repair 10 times per season − Repairs needs a lot of labor What other side effects from − No records changes What people proposed − To plant grass on the slopes

36/111 Water Voice in Lao PDR – Final Report – December 2005

3.2.2. PSL8 Houaidong Village, BounNeua District

Date of water voice collection 13 October, 2005 Location of water voice collection Houaidong Village, BounNeua District, Phongsaly Province Voice sender Adult male Occupation of voice sender Farmer Key Words Soil erosion Message “Villagers lost land for production around 3 ha, this is included bank erosion and rock cover that carried by the river water”

Translation of Voice Recorded

Many years ago, from 1968 around this area was abundant of water resources and forest and it did not have so many of people. In 1976-77 people started to increase in this area and almost of these people do not have any job to do except slash and burn for agriculture, especially villagers who are live in the head of river. Every year, our farmers have suffered a lot from soil and bank erosion. In 2002 is a serious year, villagers lost land for production around 3 ha, this is included bank erosion and rock cover that carried by the river water.

Water Voice Assessment

Effects − River floods the paddy filed and cover the land with rocks and erode the river bank − Low land paddy land is damaged every year Causes − Low land paddy land is located on the ridge of rivers − The curse of rivers changes depending on rainfalls and rapidly floods and erode the agriculture land − Slash and burn cultivation up-stream cause the river changing flow How people cope with changes − No records What other side effects from − No records changes What people proposed − No records

37/111 Water Voice in Lao PDR – Final Report – December 2005

3.3. Water Supply Shortage

Water supply shortage is one of the main topics of the water voice collection as 53 voices have responded to this particular topic. For the report 17 voices related to water supply shortage has been assessed. Many of those voice talk also about water contamination and pollution.

3.3.1. VTC3 DongKhouai Village, Xaythany District

Date of water voice collection 31 August, 2005 Location of water voice collection DongKhouai Village, Xaythany District, Vientiane Capital City Voice sender Adult female Occupation of voice sender Farmer Key Words Water supply shortage Message “Every year there is water shortage for drinking and using, especially in dry season”

Translation of Voice Recorded

All of people in our village use rainwater and wells for household consumption. Every year there is water shortage for drinking and using, especially in dry season (January to May). Most of the wells were running out of water even the depth was about 20 to 30m. In the past number of well was very few and far from our village about 5 km, we spent a lot of time to go to collect the water and affected our daily work too much. Although number of well had increased now and located nearby our house but the water still not enough for drinking and using. More than that, the water quality in some wells are not so good due to salt contamination.

Water Voice Assessment

Effects − Before villagers have fetch water 5 km far from the village − Now there are many wells but water is still not enough for drinking and using − From January to May all wells are running out of water and the wells’ depth can reach 20 to 30 meter. − Under ground water is salt (phosphates?) contaminated Causes − Changing climatic condition − Less rainfall during the dry season How people cope with changes − No records What other side effects from − No records changes What people proposed − No records

38/111 Water Voice in Lao PDR – Final Report – December 2005

3.3.2. BRK2 Pakpeung Village, Paksan District

Date of water voice collection 11 October, 2005 Location of water voice collection Pakpeung Village, Paksan District, Borikhamxai Province Voice sender Adult female Occupation of voice sender House wife Key Words Water supply shortage Message “Among five deep well boreholes there is only one borehole which we can drink water”.

Translation of Voice Recorded

The source of water for drinking and using in this village was from drilling boreholes which have 5 boreholes in the village. Among five boreholes there was only one borehole which can drink, others four boreholes could not drink due to bronze smell and not clear only for using. In dry season we used a lot of time for taking water and some time were late for other work, because we have to wait in queue to take the water from one borehole. Some people pumping the water from Mekong river for using and there were 4 households in the village has big jar for containing rain water for drinking and using. For drinking water some people drink pure drinking water some people drink water from borehole, but boiled before drinking. If there were no source of drinking water like boreholes and well, people in the village have to drink pure water and used water from Mekong river.

Water Voice Assessment

Effects − Among five deep wells only one is drinkable, − Other four have bronze smell and high turbidity. − In dry season water is not sufficient Causes − Ground water is contaminated − Less rainfall during the dry season How people cope with changes − No records What other side effects from − No records changes What people proposed − No records

39/111 Water Voice in Lao PDR – Final Report – December 2005

3.3.3. BRK12 Phonsavan Village, Thaphabat District

Date of water voice collection 13 October, 2005 Location of water voice collection Phonsavan village, Thaphabat District, Borikhamxai province Voice sender Adult male Occupation of voice sender Farmer Key Words Water supply shortage Message “During the dry season there is only one well that can use all year round which is about one kilometer far away from the village”

Translation of Voice Recorded

The water supply source in this village was from wells, which there were about 30 well in the village, but 29 well can used the water only in rainy season, there were only one well that can use all year round which far away from the village about 1 km. In dry season most of the villagers have to go to take the water from that well by using buckets and using pushing cart to take the water. Some time in taking water it caused the problem for another work also and some students could not go to school in time due to they have to wait for taking water. For supply enough water in the future we would like the upper authority to help us to make the deep well in the village, because we have already one deep well but in the temple. We need to install in the village. So far we had proposed to district and provincial level already but still no reply from them. They said only waiting. There were no big jar for containing rain water in the village because of poverty and did not know how to do.

Water Voice Assessment

Effects − There are 30 wells but one have water during the dry season − The all year round water wells is located one kilometer far from the village − Water supply is not enough during dry season and affect schooling of children Causes − Ground water is not enough − Less rainfall during the dry season How people cope with changes − No records What other side effects from − No records changes What people proposed − Deep wells to be installed

40/111 Water Voice in Lao PDR – Final Report – December 2005

3.3.4. KM13 Vangkhong Village,Hinboun District

Date of water voice collection 6 October, 2005 Location of water voice collection Vangkhong Village, Hinboun District, Khammouane Province Voice sender Adult male Occupation of voice sender Farmer Key Words Water supply shortage and water pollution Message “When the district town was relocated here the stream got polluted and Hinboun River had changed after the construction of the hydro power dam the water cannot also be used”.

Translation of Voice Recorded

In the time before in this village used the water from the small stream (Houay Yen) and dig for making well near the stream and Hinboun river for drinking and using. But at the present time after the district had moved the capital city of Hinboun district to locate here which covered to Vangkhong village and the stream became polluted cannot used the water and Hinboun river had changed after they constructed the electric dam cannot used the water also. In the village some people tried to dig the well but can dig only about 3-4 meters because of stone underground, the well can use the water only in rainy season. In dry season now many households had bought the pure drinking water for drinking and using water from drilling boreholes which supported 2 boreholes by Theun Hinboun Hydro Electric Power Dam which could not supply enough water for people in the village, if we have 4 boreholes it could be supplied enough water in dry season, in rainy season many households using and drink rain water.

Water Voice Assessment

Effects − Before villagers use water from the Hoau Yen stream and Hinboun River for drinking and household consumption − The stream is polluted water cannot be used − The Hinboun River has high turbidity − Water supply is not enough during the dry season Causes − The district capital was relocated near the area − Population increase and urban water pollution − Hinboun River get high turbidity due to the hydro- power dam (and gold mining up-steam?) − Wells cannot be dug because of stone layers. How people cope with changes − 2 deep wells were provided by the Hydropower company but there are not enough water during the dry season. What other side effects from − No records changes What people proposed − More deep wells to be installed

41/111 Water Voice in Lao PDR – Final Report – December 2005

3.3.5. SVK4 Phonhai Village, Sepon District

Date of water voice collection 28 September, 2005 Location of water voice collection Phonhai Village, Sepon District, Savannakhet Province Voice sender Adult male Occupation of voice sender Farmer Key Words Water supply shortage and water pollution Message “The Sepon gold mine excavates gold up stream which make the river down stream polluted, villagers cannot drink and use water”.

Translation of Voice Recorded

This village, in the time of war was lived in the cave in the forest, and after the country had seized the power from the old regime and established to be the Lao People Democratic Republic, the village had moved to new location at present time, when moved here at forest the forest still abandon with bio-diversity and Sekok river was very clean and have much water in dry season in that time. so the villagers in that time used water from Sekok river for drinking and using, but now the situation had changed because there were many villages located along the Sekok river and many people used it, and they also destroyed the tree along the river which made the water level much shallower than before and more than that now there were Sepon gold mine excavated the gold up stream which made the water down stream polluted, villagers cannot drink and used. Therefore village authority had proposed to the provincial water supply to solve the problem of drinking water in the village. And then they had drilled the boreholes for the village 4 boreholes, until now one borehole of four cannot use, and last year The Fund for Poverty Reduction Project had support 2 boreholes but one was broken cannot used. Other than drilling boreholes villagers had dig 3 well more in order to supply enough water, but the well was deep about 15 meters and the water can use only in rainy season, in dry season there were no water in the well. So drinking and using water had caused many problems in the village.

Water Voice Assessment

Effects − Before villagers use water from the Sekok River for drinking and household consumption − Now water in the Sekok is polluted and cannot be consumed − Water supply is not enough during the dry season Causes − The Sepon gold mine is polluting Sekok River How people cope with changes − The villagers have asked the authorities to dig deep wells in the villages but water supply is not enough during dry season. − Few deep wells was not well installed and cannot supply water What other side effects from − No records changes What people proposed − More deep wells to be installed

42/111 Water Voice in Lao PDR – Final Report – December 2005

3.3.6. SVK13 Khoklaeng Village, Champhone District

Date of water voice collection 1 October, 2005 Location of water voice collection Khoklaeng village, Champhone District, Savannakhet Province Voice sender Adult male Occupation of voice sender Farmer Key Words Water supply shortage and water pollution Message “The cost of water supply installation for one household is 1.500.000 kips. Many households have no money so they have to wait until they have enough money”

Translation of Voice Recorded

The situation of drinking water in this village was very scarce, the water source for drinking was far away from the village about 2 km, and some people had to take the water from other village where they have well and far from this village about 1,8 km. In this village at first the provincial water supply section had tried to drill boreholes, but the water underground was salty water cannot drink and use. In rainy season most of the villagers have to collect rain water for drinking and using, but they have small jar which can contain the water only in rainy season cannot save for dry season. In 1992 UNICEF had supported the fund to make the big jar in the village about 41 jars. But until now those big jar had broken, only a few houses still using it. And some households in the village they make a pond for saving water for using in dry season, but the water from pond could not used all the dry season, in May the water in the pond will dry up. In the near future in order to solve the problem, the water supply system from district will install water supply system for the village, nut now they are collecting the information, because they want to know how many households will install the water supply system, they said that if a few households need to install they may not supply due to the high investment. Now as I know now there were about 50 households which will install. and the water supply section was agreed, but now just waiting for the end of rainy season, the cost of water supply installation for one household is about 1.500.000 kips. Many households have no money enough so they have to wait until they have enough money they will install later.

Water Voice Assessment

Effects − Before villagers use from stream 2 km far from the village Causes − Ground water is contaminated How people cope with changes − Authorities supported in building one deep well but ground water is not drinkable − UNICEF supported storing rain water in cement jars but many jars are broken What other side effects from − No records changes What people proposed − Authorities proposed a water system supply water from the river but the installation is costly for the villagers

43/111 Water Voice in Lao PDR – Final Report – December 2005

3.3.7. SRV14 Nonsoung Village, Laognam District, Saravan Province.

Date of water voice collection 1 October, 2005 Location of water voice collection Khoklaeng village, Champhone District, Savannakhet Province Voice sender Adult female Occupation of voice sender Upland farmer Key Words Water supply shortage Message “The source of spring water is not enough for drinking and consumption during dry season”

Translation of Voice Recorded

This village take the water from spring water for using and drinking, the spring water site was far away from the village about 300 meters, and this spring water will not enough for using and drinking in dry season some people have to use the water from Houay Taopoung. In taking the water we use bucket and some people used “KATOOK” (old oil containers) for transporting the water. In the future if the source of spring water was dry up the village leader thought that they will propose to the upper part to solve this problem by donate some fund and drilling the deep well for people. The main causes that make the water source dry up that is because, there were many wood trader cut the big tree too much but no planting instead there fore in the future the source of spring water will no longer available. In this village there were no any household made the jar for containing the rain water due to not enough budget to construct it . In this village still under the poverty. If we need our water source to remain as the present time we have to promote most of the villagers not only in this village also in the nearby villages to plant the tree and not cutting the big tree at the water source site.

Water Voice Assessment

Effects − Villagers use spring water for drinking and consumption − In dry season the source of water is not enough Causes − There are many wood trader cut the big tree in the surounding How people cope with changes − Many household use jars to store rain water but most of the people do not have money to construct jars What other side effects from − No records changes What people proposed − Deep well is proposed to be installed

44/111 Water Voice in Lao PDR – Final Report – December 2005

3.3.8. CPS13 Makgnaew Village, Bachieng District, Champasack Province.

Date of water voice collection 8 September, 2005 Location of water voice collection Makgnaew Village, Bachieng District, Champasack Province. Voice sender Adult male Occupation of voice sender Farmer Key Words Water supply shortage Message “In dry season many people have to wait in line for getting water that delay them for going to farming or to other works”.

Translation of Voice Recorded

The villagers of this village take the water from drilling well which have only one borehole in this village which causes many trouble for fetching water and other work , especially in dry season many people have to wait in line for getting water which make them delay for going to farming or other works. The water from the borehole just for drink only not enough for growing kitchen garden. The borehole is not far from the village , it is in the village each day we took the bucket to take the water and take home. For maintenance of the drilling well we have to warn every households to keep the area clean, and when it has some part broken we have to collect money from villagers for buying the spare parts for repairing it. If the drilling well dry we have only the stream for getting, but the stream was far away from the village it will take much time to get the water.

Water Voice Assessment

Effects − Villagers use water for drinking and consumption in one deep wells located in the village − People have to queue for water − In dry season the source of water is not enough Causes − No records How people cope with changes − No records What other side effects from − No records changes What people proposed − Additional deep well is proposed to be installed

45/111 Water Voice in Lao PDR – Final Report – December 2005

3.3.9. SK1 Phon Village, Lamam District, Sekong Province

Date of water voice collection 16 September, 2005 Location of water voice collection Phon Village, Lamam District, Sekong Province Voice sender Adult male Occupation of voice sender Farmer Key Words Water supply shortage Message “In dry season many people have to wait in line for getting water that delay them for going to farming or to other works”.

Translation of Voice Recorded

For drinking water in this village has a big problem, because in the village there were 5 boreholes, some people who was far away from the well have to drink and using rain water in rainy season because it take time for them to take the water from well. In the village some households also have digging well but the water from digging well has a bad small, they could not use for drinking only using. For the drilling well, 2 boreholes could not use fro drinking because it seems it had some limestone in it when we boiled we can see the white dot on the water. The diseases that often occurred in the village was diarrhea and malaria.

Water Voice Assessment

Effects − Villagers use water for drinking and consumption in 5 deep wells located in the village − Ground water has bad smell − Cannot drink ground water need to boil it first − In dry season the source of water is not enough − Diarrhea and malaria Causes − Ground water is contaminated by lime − Drainage of water supply is not properly made How people cope with changes − No records What other side effects from − No records changes What people proposed − No records

46/111 Water Voice in Lao PDR – Final Report – December 2005

3.3.10. ATP14 Oudomxai Village, Xaisetha District, Attapeu Province.

Date of water voice collection 15 September, 2005 Location of water voice collection Oudomxai Village, Xaisetha District, Attapeu Province Voice sender Adult male Occupation of voice sender Farmer Key Words Water supply shortage Message “People take water from Xekhaman River for drinking, but the water quality is very poor because many people use the water in the upstream”.

Translation of Voice Recorded

The population of this village had the drinking water source from drilling well which have 9 boreholes in the village. The source of the used water is from Xekhaman river which far away from the village about 200 meters. The problem of the village was the drinking water which was not enough for drinking in dry season, some people have to take the water from Xekhaman river for drinking, but the quality of Xekhaman river was very poor due to many people used in the upstream and in the river there were no fishes as it has ever been before. The lives of the villagers was depending on the nature, therefore in order to develop the living condition of people I would like to request to the upper part to construct the irrigation system and install more about the sources of drinking water in order to supply enough water for population which will be increased more in the future. Other than the water source in the village would like to have some fund for raising the animal.

Water Voice Assessment

Effects − Villagers use water for drinking and consumption from 9 deep wells located in the village and from the Xekaman River. − During the dry season the wells cannot supply enough drinking water − People use the River as source of drinking water but water quality is bad Causes − Ground water is not enough during dry season − River is polluted by people up-stream How people cope with changes − No records What other side effects from − No records changes What people proposed − Request for water supply system or irrigation system

47/111 Water Voice in Lao PDR – Final Report – December 2005

3.3.11. XK8 Khangdon Village, Peak District, Xiengkhouang Province

Date of water voice collection 26 October, 2005 Location of water voice collection Oudomxai Village, Xaisetha District, Attapeu Province Voice sender Adult female Occupation of voice sender Upland farmer Key Words Water supply shortage Message “Most villagers’ pond is running out of water, it is dry and we do not have enough ponds in our village”.

Translation of Voice Recorded

In the past around this area had abundant of water resources and forest because number of villagers are not high. We are enough water for domestic consumption and for other. After 1980, villagers have suffered a serious from water shortage. Most villagers’ pond is running out of water, it is dry and we do not have enough ponds in our village. Every year during dry season (December to May), we spend more time to go to collect the water from other village that is located about 1,5 km far away. The reason of water shortage may be caused from number of villagers are high and slash and burn for agriculture of poor villagers. We need assistance to make a spring water system and we need clean water supply.

Water Voice Assessment

Effects − Since 1980 all village wells have dried up − Villagers are fetching water 1.5 Km far from the village − Taking water increase work load of people. Causes − Ground water is not enough − Slash and burn cultivation? How people cope with changes − No records What other side effects from − No records changes What people proposed − Request for deep well water supply system

48/111 Water Voice in Lao PDR – Final Report – December 2005

3.3.12. HP12 Nakhao Village, Viengxay District, Houaphan Province

Date of water voice collection 21 October, 2005 Location of water voice collection Nakhao Village, Viengxay District, Houaphan Province Voice sender Young female Occupation of voice sender Upland farmer Key Words Water supply shortage and water pollution Message “The water resource is far from our village and hard to collect. In addition, quality of the river’s water is very poor”.

Translation of Voice Recorded

In the past, water for domestic use of our village is from the Sim river. We are very difficult because the water resource is far from our village and hard to collect. In addition, quality of the river’s water is very poor, it is high concentration of turbidity and other waste from upstream. In 1997 the villagers had used water from spring water system that made at Nahear village. This spring water system is used for 4 villages, the beginning of this project water is enough for all villages. Now population is increased and villagers have utilized water for various activities, so our village is lack of water for domestic use especially is in dry season. The villagers will back to collect water from the river again when spring water system can not be supplied. Although having known about the fact, the river’s water is still for domestic use but it is boiling before drinking.

Water Voice Assessment

Effects − Villagers collect water from the Sim River for drinking and consumption − Villagers used to collect water from a spring water supply located in another village but the supply is not enough so they collect from the river again − The river is far from the village and it is hard to collect water − Water has high turbidity and concentration of waste Causes − Village spring water supply supported by the authorities served 4 villages but because of increased population the supply is not enough especially during dry season. − Sim River is polluted by people bathing and throwing waste in the water up-stream − Population increase due to resettlement near the road side How people cope with changes − No records What other side effects from − No records changes What people proposed − Request for additional water supply system

49/111 Water Voice in Lao PDR – Final Report – December 2005

3.3.13. LPB10 Thinxom Village, Luangphabang District, Luangphabang Province

Date of water voice collection 7 September, 2005 Location of water voice collection Thinxom Village, Luangprabang District, Luangprabang Province Voice sender Elderly male Occupation of voice sender Farmer Key Words Water supply shortage and water quality Message “We are lacking of clean water in both wet and dry season”.

Translation of Voice Recorded

In our village, Thinxom, the villagers using water from the Mekong river and rainfall for household uses and agriculture cultivation especially rice production. We are lacking of clean water in both wet and dry season. The village does not have any source of water except the Mekong river, so water for drinking and water for other using are also took from the Mekong. In the wet season water from the Mekong river is not so good of quality because of human waste water from upstream and it is much of sediment. To solve this problem, in the rainy season the villager collect and store the rainwater as much as they can do, but they could not build big water reservoir by themselves because they are living in poor condition

Water Voice Assessment

Effects − Villagers used to collect water from the Mekong River and rainfalls for dinking and home consumption − During the dry season water is collected only from the Mekong River − Mekong Water has high turbidity and concentration of waste during the wet season Causes − There is no source of water (streams, ground) aside from the Mekong − The Mekong has very high turbidity because of mud slides and slash and burn cultivation up-steam − The Mekong is polluted by people throwing waste in the water up-stream How people cope with changes − Villagers store rain water as much as they can during wet season What other side effects from − Poor people do not have money to buy or build water changes reservoir What people proposed − Request for public water supply system

50/111 Water Voice in Lao PDR – Final Report – December 2005

3.3.14. XBL4 Nonsavanh Village, Xayabuly District, Xayabuly Province

Date of water voice collection 31 October, 2005 Location of water voice collection Nonsavanh Village, Xayabuly District, Xayabuly Province Voice sender Adult female Occupation of voice sender Farmer Key Words Water supply shortage Message “Since 2003, villagers suffer from water shortage because most of the water from the river is stored for agriculture production by the irrigation project”.

Translation of Voice Recorded

Nonsavanh village is located along the Tian river. In the past our village is small and number of villager is also not high. We use water from Tian river for all use included catching fish and we did not have ponds at that time. After the irrigation had built in 1999 to 2003, our villagers have suffered from water shortage. Almost of water has stored for agriculture by irrigation project. We do not have enough water for domestic use and water is also poor of quality because we live in downstream. So now villagers have to dig wells by themselves, but wells are running out of water in dry season, especially villagers who live at upland area. Some villagers have to buy water for drinking.

Water Voice Assessment

Effects − Before Tian River was utilized for drinking, home consumption and fishing. − Since 2003 there is water shortage from the river − Water has poor quality Causes − An irrigation system was constructed in 1999 to 2003 storing water for agriculture production less water is flowing to village down stream. − The river is polluted by people throwing waste in the water up-stream How people cope with changes − Villagers dug wells but they dried up during the dry season − Many villagers buy drinking water from town What other side effects from − No records changes What people proposed − No records

51/111 Water Voice in Lao PDR – Final Report – December 2005

3.3.15. ODX3 Natong Village, Namor District, Oudomxay Province

Date of water voice collection 26 September, 2005 Location of water voice collection Natong Village, Namor District, Oudomxay Province Voice sender Adult male Occupation of voice sender Farmer Key Words Water supply shortage Message “Collecting of water in the river is hard and dangerous, especially for children and old people because the slop of the river bank is high and steep”.

Translation of Voice Recorded

Natong village is located along the road of 13 norths, it is highland area. These villagers have utilized water from Tong river for drinking and for other using in both wet and dry seasons. In wet season, water is very poor because of many villages are located at head and along the river and they discharge every thing waste into the river. In addition, collecting of water in this area is hard and dangerous, especially is children and older people because slop of bank is high. In dry season, villagers try to dig small ponds along the river to take clean water but in March and April, water from these ponds are also dried. We need assistance from the government and other organization to build spring water system.

Water Voice Assessment

Effects − Villagers collect water from the Tong River for dinking and home consumption − Water has high turbidity and poor quality − It is hard to collect water Causes − Tong river has high turbidity due to mud slide and slash and burn cultivation − The river is polluted by people throwing waste in the water up-stream − There are high and steep slopes on the river bank that are dangerous How people cope with changes − Villagers dug wells but they dried up during the dry season − Villagers dug well along the river bank in order What other side effects from − No records changes What people proposed − Request for a village water supply system

52/111 Water Voice in Lao PDR – Final Report – December 2005

3.3.16. PSL10 Bomang Village, BounNeua District, Phongsaly Province

Date of water voice collection 14 October, 2005 Location of water voice collection Bomang Village, BounNeua District, Phongsaly Province Voice sender Elderly male Occupation of voice sender Farmer Key Words Water supply shortage Message “Villagers lack of clean water supplies during the wet season of and lack of water for all use in the dry season”.

Translation of Voice Recorded

Bomang is highland village, locate a long the road BounNeua-BounTay. Our village was moved to here around 10 years, the villagers are facing problems of water shortage such as lack of clean water supplies, changing of raining time and lack of water for all use in the dry season. The wet season is better, we have enough water for domestic use but it is difficult to collect because source of water is far from our village. The reason of lacking water in dry season in this area probably due to less of source water, river has not long enough. We need assistant from the government and other organizes to survey water resource and make spring water system for us.

Water Voice Assessment

Effects − The village settle in the present location 10 year ago since then it has water supply shortage − In the wet season water is enough but the source of drinking water is far from the village − During the dry season water is not enough Causes − Less water resources due to slash and burn cultivation? − Climate change less rainfalls. How people cope with changes − No records What other side effects from − No records changes What people proposed − Request for a village water supply system

53/111 Water Voice in Lao PDR – Final Report – December 2005

3.3.17. BK4 NhangTay Village, Tonpheuang District, Bokeo Province

Date of water voice collection 14 September, 2005 Location of water voice collection NhangTay Village, Tonpheuang District, Bokeo Province Voice sender Elderly male Occupation of voice sender Farmer Key Words Water supply shortage Message

Translation of Voice Recorded

We live in NgangTay Village, which is located in the remote area of Bokeo province. Long time ago villagers were took water for drinking and for other using from a small river. We spent a lot of time to collect the water and bamboo is main material of villagers for collecting the water. The villagers are used water of the water spring system since 2002 which was constructed by EED project. Nowadays, 2004 to 2005 we have suffered from a water shortage, we are not enough water for drinking and other uses in the household. The problem may be caused by the pipe is small and population increasing. We need assistance from the government and NGOs for improvement and/or reconstruction of water spring system in our village.

Water Voice Assessment

Effects − Before villager collect water from a small river located far from the village − People spent a lot of time to collect water − Authorities supported the construction of spring water supply but since 2004 the supply is not enough Causes − Population of the village has increased and the volume of water supplied by the existing water supply is not enough in the dry season − Less water resources due to slash and burn cultivation? − Climate change less rainfalls. How people cope with changes − No records What other side effects from − No records changes What people proposed − Request for additional village water supply system

54/111 Water Voice in Lao PDR – Final Report – December 2005

3.4. Agriculture Production and Irrigation

Agriculture production and irrigation is the third important topic, which the water voice collection has targeted. 39 voice respondents expressed their views on the importance of water in rainfed and irrigated agriculture. Many issues related to irrigation management and water pollution were also mention during the interview. The following 14 voices could represent the situation expressed in the overall topic’s voice collection.

3.4.1. VTP5 Phonnhaeng village, Keo-oudom district, Vientiane Province.

Date of water voice collection 25 October, 2005 Location of water voice collection Phonnhaeng village, Keo-oudom district, Vientiane Province Voice sender Adult male Occupation of voice sender Farmer Key Words Irrigated crop production Message “After we had the irrigation system the living condition of villagers got better step by step”.

Translation of Voice Recorded

Main occupation of the people in this village are farmers, the total area of lowland rice field was 46,9 ha. and the irrigated area was 22,5 ha. Most of the farmers in the villages cultivated rice in both seasons, in dry season other than rice they also grow other crops like bean, cucumber, and other kinds of vegetable. The water which used for irrigated area was from Namgneum river by sharing from the other villages because the headway was used 500 HP of pump which can supply the water for irrigated area more than 500 ha, among them there were many villages used the water from this irrigation scheme. For this village more than 90% of population in the village cultivated dry rice production. Which made the living condition of the population in the village had sufficient of rice 100%. For cultivating dry rice production it had both conveniences and inconveniences, but conveniences had more than inconveniences because we can see that after we had the irrigation system , it can make the living condition of villagers better step by step, the inconveniences that is because of the main canal was under standard, too much water had lost, it took a long time to supply water to rice field and then it made the high cost for electricity fees, many farmers don’t want to do because the production was not balanced with the investment. So far we had proposed to the concerned section, if possible we need to have concrete canal which can supply enough water for rice field without losing.

Water Voice Assessment

Effects − Village low land paddy area is 49.5 ha and 22.4 ha is irrigated. − Irrigated agriculture increase revenue of the people − Irrigation water cannot be supplied to tail ends − People are not willing to do second cropping Causes − Main canal is not to standard so water is not flowing well − No proper water management? − High cost of electricity and input supplies and the low cost of rice is questioning farmers’ investment in irrigation. How people cope with changes − No records What other side effects from changes − No records What people proposed − Request improvement of the main canal by the authorities.

55/111 Water Voice in Lao PDR – Final Report – December 2005

3.4.2. BRK13 Phonsavan Village, Thaphabat District, Borikhamxai Province.

Date of water voice collection 13 October, 2005 Location of water voice collection Phonsavan Village, Thaphabat District, Borikhamxai Province. Voice sender Yong male Occupation of voice sender Farmer Key Words Upland crop production Message “Because many villagers have not enough low land paddies and no irrigated field, they still practice slash and burn for growing rice”.

Translation of Voice Recorded

In this village we grow rice, other than rice we grow cassava, sugar cane, pine apple, but we use to grow only in rainy season, for dry season we have no water sources for watering, because our village was far away from water sources like Mekong river was far away from the village about 4 km and far from Namching river about 4 km also. therefore we have faced with problem from growing crop in dry season . In the village there were no irrigation system, due to there were no potential area for irrigated. If possible in our village we need to grow cassava for trading in both seasons. In our village there were only about 12 households which have sufficient rice for consumption all year round. Because in the villager there were not enough rice fields and no irrigation system, some people them still conducting slash and burn for growing rice, but still not enough. In order to survive most of the villagers in the village they have to make handicraft work, for example making rice box for sale and get the money for buying rice, in each households they can get about 2-3 million kips from selling rice box, other than making rice box they did not do any other handicraft work.

Water Voice Assessment

Effects − The village is located far from large water resource − Irrigation system cannot be installed − People plant up-land crops by gardening − Many plant rice even with low yield. Causes − The village is located far from large water resource − Irrigation system cannot be installed − Slash and burn cultivation is still practiced. How people cope with changes − No records What other side effects from − No records changes What people proposed − No records

56/111 Water Voice in Lao PDR – Final Report – December 2005

3.4.3. KM1 Thakhektai Village, Thakhek District, Khammouane Province

Date of water voice collection 3 October, 2005 Location of water voice collection Thakhektai Village, Thakhek District, Khammouane Province Voice sender Adult male Occupation of voice sender Farmer and truck (touk touk) driver Key Words Irrigation Message “Many people have to stop irrigated agriculture because they are losing too much”.

Translation of Voice Recorded

The total area which can cultivate dry season rice production in this village was about 8 ha. but can cultivate only 4 ha. because of the canal was damaged a lot and lower than the rice field area which make the water lost a lot and used much time to drain the water into the field and we have to pay much for the electricity power, this is the cause that make high investment but low income. Many people have to stop because of losing too much. If we have the standard canal which could supply enough water without losing, many people want to do, because this village was located in the low area, there were flood almost every years, many people could not do rainy season rice production, to survive for their living they have to grow other crops instead like vegetable along the irrigated area and along the Mekong river bank. Now we need the concrete main canal to protect water losing, the irrigation system was by electric pumping, the source of water which we used was from the Mekong river. The irrigation system had much benefit for people, especially for our village which often flood in rainy season, we have the irrigation system we can solve the problem of rice shortage and we can grow other crops as well. If we have no irrigation system our villagers have to face with a big problem for their cost of living. The maintenance for the pump or headway we used the fund from the saving account of villagers which we have to save in each year.

Water Voice Assessment

Effects − Dry season rice area is 8 ha but only 4 ha is cultivated − Irrigation water cannot be supplied to all users − People are not willing to do dry season rice Causes − Earth canal is not to standard so water is not flowing well and a lot of water losses − No proper water management? − High cost of electricity, input supplies and high cost of pump maintenance is questioning farmers’ investment in irrigation. How people cope with changes − Having the irrigation system to cope with floods during the wet season What other side effects from − No records changes What people proposed − No records

57/111 Water Voice in Lao PDR – Final Report – December 2005

3.4.4. SVK14 Khoklaeng Village, Champhone District, Savannakhet Province.

Date of water voice collection 3 October, 2005 Location of water voice collection Khoklaeng Village, Champhone District, Savannakhet Province. Voice sender Adult male Occupation of voice sender Farmer and black smith Key Words Irrigation water management Message “The water user group manages the water supply to each person’s field, but there are some problems in water management”.

Translation of Voice Recorded

There were irrigation system for dry season rice cultivation in the village area which had the total irrigated area about 40,50 ha. the source of water was from Bak dam by gravity system to the village rice field area. In the village they established the water user groups which there were 10-15 households in each group. The water user group had managed about the water supply to each person’s field, but there still were some problem for water management. The farmer who has the area at the beginning of the canal they can get enough water, but the farmer who has their field at the end of the canal could not received enough water for their rice field, this caused many problem that we still could not clear on this matter. Some people who had their field at the tail of the canal they had stop cultivation due to the production was not good enough which could not pay for the water fee and for buying fertilizer. Other than rice we also grow other crops nearby the irrigated area such as chilly, eggplant, corn and other kind of vegetable for household consumption and for sale. For the irrigation system it has much benefit for the villagers, there were about 20% of total households which covered by the irrigation system. Other people who has no area covered by the irrigation system, they have to rent the other people area for cultivating dry season rice cultivation. In the village there were about 50 households which insufficient of rice due to their rice field was not enough and the production was low. In order to survive they have to do other kinds of work to earn money for buying rice such as handicraft work ( making rice boxes) for sale and some people had done a black smith to earn for their living.

Water Voice Assessment

Effects − Dry season rice area is 40.5 ha − One water user group was established − Water distribution is not equitable between the head and tail of the canals − People at the tail ends stop to cultivate due to lack of water − Only 20% of the households have access to irrigation Causes − No proper water management? How people cope with changes − During the dry season people are going to town for work − Some stay in the village for handicraft work What other side effects from − No records changes What people proposed − No records

58/111 Water Voice in Lao PDR – Final Report – December 2005

3.4.5. SRV15 Nonsoung Village, Laognam District, Saravan Province.

Date of water voice collection 10 September, 2005 Location of water voice collection Nonsoung village, Laognam district, Saravan province. Voice sender Adult male Occupation of voice sender Upland farmer Key Words Crops production Message “We use the water from Houay Taopoung to water the vegetable without using pump because there is small gardening area on the river bank”.

Translation of Voice Recorded

In this village we grow only kitchen garden along the bank of Houay Taopoung, for household consumption and for sale in the district market in very small amount. we use the water from Houay Taopoung to water the vegetable by ourselves without using pump because we can do only in a small area at the bank of the river. There is no irrigation system in this village, therefore mainly they grow their crops like peanut, coffee, pumpkin and so on in rainy season which they rely on rainwater. If there is no water available in the river we cannot grow any thing in dry season. The way to protect the water source is to reserve the watershed area, not cutting the tree and not destroy bio-diversity around the watershed area is the best way.

Water Voice Assessment

Effects − People use water from the river to grow vegetable other crops like coffee rely on rainfalls. − When there is drought crop cannot be grown Causes − People depend on weather to grow crops How people cope with changes − No records What other side effects from − No records changes What people proposed − No records

59/111 Water Voice in Lao PDR – Final Report – December 2005

3.4.6. SK12 Palengneua Village, Thateng District, Sekong Province.

Date of water voice collection 17 September, 2005 Location of water voice collection Palengneua Village, Thateng District, Sekong Province Voice sender Adult male Occupation of voice sender Farmer Key Words Crop production Message “Not only this village take the water for agriculture other villages also took it”.

Translation of Voice Recorded

The source of water for agriculture in this village was from Houay Say to irrigate the rice field in rainy season only. in dry season we cannot do rice cultivation due to not enough water and the water from Houay Say not only this village take the water for agriculture other villages also took it. This village took the water to supply their rice field by making concrete weir which constructed since 1988, now the weir had a problem because the earth beside the weir had eroded. The rice cultivation in this village had faced with the problem of not enough water, if in some years it was no rain it became drought and damaged the rice field, especially the pests.

Water Voice Assessment

Effects − Water is not enough to irrigate land during dry season − rice is damaged by pest Causes − Water resource is utilized by many villages − Irrigation weir and canal are eroded − There are current drought damaging crops How people cope with changes − No records What other side effects from − No records changes What people proposed − No records

60/111 Water Voice in Lao PDR – Final Report – December 2005

3.4.7. ATP11 Xaisy Village, Xaisetha District, Attapeu Province.

Date of water voice collection 15 September, 2005 Location of water voice collection Xaisy Village, Xaisetha District, Attapeu Province. Voice sender Adult male Occupation of voice sender Farmer Key Words Irrigation water management Message “Many time the irrigation pump broke down, farmers have to wait for weeks, for the pump mechanic to repair it”.

Translation of Voice Recorded

The main crops we grow in our village was rice in rainy season and in dry season we grow rice and other crops such as bean, cucumber, chilly, egg plant and other kinds of vegetable. The area that we grow was along the irrigated area by using the irrigation water to water it. And some people they also grow their crops along the bank of Sekhaman river. In the village had the irrigation system by using electric pump from the year 2000, before 2000 the irrigation pump was used diesel pump. The water of irrigation some time had a problem due to the pump was broken, farmers sometime have to wait for weeks, for the technician finished repairing. The total of irrigated area was 85 ha. but farmer can do only about 27 ha. due to many reasons such as the water was not reach to the end of the sub-canal because at the head of the sub-canal was lower than the end of the sub-canal therefore the water supply to all of the area, another reason because of the electricity fee was very high more than the capacity of the villagers can pay and fertilizer also was very expensive, these are the factors that villagers could not do the dry season rice cultivation. And in some years the source of water in Xekhaman was dry up and was not enough to pump for irrigated the field in dry season. The irrigation was very useful for the villagers in the village because they can use the water for their rice farm in dry and rainy season. To protect the water source we have to stop cutting the tree.

Water Voice Assessment

Effects − The irrigated area is 85 ha but only 27 ha is irrigated − Water is not distributed to the tail of the canals Causes − Canals are in bad conditions? Of badly designed? − No proper water management? − Villagers cannot repair the irrigation pump by themselves − High cost of electricity, input supplies (fertilizers and pesticides) and high cost of pump repairs maintenance is questioning farmers’ investment in irrigation. − Some year the river dry out and water cannot be pumped How people cope with changes − People are cropping on the slope of the river bank What other side effects from − No records changes What people proposed − No records

61/111 Water Voice in Lao PDR – Final Report – December 2005

3.4.8. XK10 Hay Village, Kham District, Xiengkhouang Province

Date of water voice collection 27 October, 2005 Location of water voice collection Hay Village, Kham District, Xiengkhouang Province Voice sender Adult male Occupation of voice sender Farmer Key Words Crop production Message “The project built one irrigation system but villagers have not enough water for rice production”.

Translation of Voice Recorded

Hay village is located in lowland area, where we can have water from the small river, rainfall, irrigation system and ponds for domestic and agricultural cultivation especially rice in wet season. Although in 2000 our village had helped from IFAD project by built one standard of irrigation but the villagers are still not enough water for rice production. The reason of villagers do not have enough water for their rice production maybe due to large of rice production field, small river, number of water user is high. In addition, some villagers who live at head of the river are cut too much of trees for their agriculture cultivation. So now most of our rice fields are depended on rainfall.

Water Voice Assessment

Effects − Irrigation water is not enough for rice production (during dry season?) − Crops depend of rainfall more than irrigation water Causes − Source of water is smaller that the paddy field − Up-stream watershed is diminishing due to logging or shifting cultivation − Irrigation system not designed correctly? How people cope with changes − No records What other side effects from − No records changes What people proposed − No records

62/111 Water Voice in Lao PDR – Final Report – December 2005

3.4.9. HP10 Nakhao Village, Viengxay District, Houaphanh Province

Date of water voice collection 21 October, 2005 Location of water voice collection Nakhao Village, Viengxay District, Huaphanh Province Voice sender Adult male Occupation of voice sender Farmer Key Words Irrigated agriculture Message “Irrigation system does not have enough water because of slash and burn agriculture”.

Translation of Voice Recorded

We live in a remote highland area that we can plant only rice crop during the wet season. There is one of irrigation system in our village that supported by Huaphanh province Agriculture and Forest Office in 1996. During wet season, villagers can be used water from the irrigation system for only 3.5 ha, so other rice field of the villagers is depended on rainfall. The reason that villagers do not have enough water for their growing rice may be due to 1. pipe for distributing water is small; 2. irrigation system does not have enough water for storage because of slash and burn for agriculture of poor villagers, especially is this year 2005 we are facing serious drought during wet season.

Water Voice Assessment

Effects − Only 3.5 ha can be irrigated during dry season − Irrigation water is not enough Causes − Irrigation design is not appropriate? Because distribution outlets are smalls − Serious drought due to climate change − Shifting cultivation in upper stream? How people cope with changes − No records What other side effects from − No records changes What people proposed − No records

63/111 Water Voice in Lao PDR – Final Report – December 2005

3.4.10. LPB6 MouangKhay Village, Luangprabang District, Luangprabang Province

Date of water voice collection 6 September, 2005 Location of water voice collection MouangKhay Village, Luangprabang District, Luangprabang Province Voice sender Adult male Occupation of voice sender Farmer Key Words Irrigated agriculture Message “In 2004 we have grown 200 ha of dry season rice more but only 50% of the paddy could be harvested”.

Translation of Voice Recorded

In 2002 concrete weir was improved by the Lao government on the Xy river, which can be used for 7 villages. There are enough water for growing rice in the wet season for almost these villagers, which is big difference if compares to the last few year. We had been built earth weirs a long the Xy river but we could not control the water when it flood. So in the past growing rice in our village was only waiting for rain. However, even though there is a standard of weir but the agriculture area is larger the water is not enough for growing rice as well as other crops in the dry season. In 2004 we tried to grow rice in dry season more than 200 ha on areas of 7 villages but we could harvest only 50%. The water was not enough for agriculture but water for drinking was also not enough too. Because drinking water of our village is also collected from the irrigation canal.

Water Voice Assessment

Effects − Irrigation weirs were improved for 7 villages − Villagers try to irrigate all the potential area of 200 ha but only 50% can be harvested Causes − The water resource from the Xy River is not enough for irrigated agriculture especially for paddy. − The water is also utilized for household consumption and restaurants / guest houses because of the Kouang Xy water fall. − The irrigation system is designed for wet season supplementary irrigation? How people cope with changes − No records What other side effects from − No records changes What people proposed − No records

64/111 Water Voice in Lao PDR – Final Report – December 2005

3.4.11. XBL1 Naxam Village, Xayabuly District, Xayabuly Province

Date of water voice collection 31 October, 2005 Location of water voice collection Naxam Village, Xayabuly District, Xayabuly Province Voice sender Adult male Occupation of voice sender Farmer Key Words Irrigated agriculture Message “Farmers do not have enough water for rice and other crops production”.

Translation of Voice Recorded

We are people living in the Naxam village, and have suffered a lot of water for crops production. From 1991 to 1992 we used rainfall and water from canal of irrigation system for rice production. It had enough water for our rice production and we have good harvest at that time. After that many things are changed, farmers do not have enough water for rice and other crops production. The problems are from standard irrigation was broken and villagers could not fix by themselves, slash and burn for agriculture of poor villagers at head of the river and small river. This year(2005) rainfall starts late than normal, villagers could not grow their rice on time and may affect the yield of them rice production. We need assistance to improve irrigation system and we need water for our rice and other crops production.

Water Voice Assessment

Effects − Before the farmers have no shortage of irrigation and rain water for rice production − Now farmers do not have enough water for their crops Causes − Irrigation infrastructure and canals are broken and cannot be repaired by the farmers alone. − Irrigation water cannot be distributed efficiently as before? − There is less rainfalls than before due to climate changes − There are slash and burn cultivation up-steam How people cope with changes − No records What other side effects from − No records changes What people proposed − No records

65/111 Water Voice in Lao PDR – Final Report – December 2005

3.4.12. PSL7 Houaidong Village, BounNeua District, Phongsaly Province

Date of water voice collection 13 October, 2005 Location of water voice collection Houaidong Village, BounNeua District, Phongsaly Province Voice sender Adult male Occupation of voice sender Farmer Key Words Rainfed agriculture Message “Our rice depends on rainfall from the sky and the villagers are living in poor condition”.

Translation of Voice Recorded

Houaidong village is located the remote highland area where we can plant only rice crop during the wet season. Our rice depends on rainfall from the sky and the villagers are living in poor condition. According to population increases and the villagers do not have any job to do except rice production so we need water for rice production in two seasons. Last year (2004), I tried to grow rice in dry season by built a small earth dam to drain water to my field but I could not any harvest because it did not have enough water. We need to assistant from the government and other organizes to build irrigation system.

Water Voice Assessment

Effects − Villagers grow rice and crops based on rainfed agriculture techniques − Small weir are constructed on streams to irrigate land − Irrigated crops cannot be harvested Causes − Less rain falls and drought − No experience in small weir construction How people cope with changes − No records What other side effects from − No records changes What people proposed − Support on weir construction

66/111 Water Voice in Lao PDR – Final Report – December 2005

3.4.13. PSL12 BounTay Village, BounTay District, Phongsaly Province

Date of water voice collection 15 October, 2005 Location of water voice collection BounTay Village, BounTay District, Phongsaly Province Voice sender Adult male Occupation of voice sender Farmer Key Words Irrigated cropping Message “We do not have enough water to grow rice in dry season because of increasing of population”.

Translation of Voice Recorded

We live in the lowland area where we can plant many crops in the wet and dry seasons such as rice, maize, ground nut and some vegetables. There is one irrigation system in our village that made by concrete. The villagers use this water for their growing rice in wet season. It is not have enough of water for growing rice in dry season because of increasing of population, expansion of arable land and small of river, so villagers have grown maize, ground nut and some vegetable instead in dry season.

Water Voice Assessment

Effects − Irrigation is utilized to grow crops rather than paddy Causes − Water resource is not enough for irrigated paddy − Population in crease − Expansion of cultivation area within the same water resource capacity How people cope with changes − People grow crops which demand less water What other side effects from − Expansion of arable land changes What people proposed − No records

67/111 Water Voice in Lao PDR – Final Report – December 2005

3.4.14. BK2 Khouane Village, Tonpheuang District, Bokeo Province

Date of water voice collection 13 September, 2005 Location of water voice collection Khouane Village, Tonpheuang District, Bokeo Province Voice sender Adult male Occupation of voice sender Farmer Key Words Rainfed agriculture Message “Some year, when we had serious drought we organize a traditional ceremony to pray for rainfall”.

Translation of Voice Recorded

Khouane village is located along the Mekong river and can plant only rice crop, soybean, maize and ground nut during wet season. Normally in the wet season we have enough water to use in the household and for our rice crop. The rice depends on the rainfall, if there is enough rain there is more rice. There is no any irrigation system in our village, if we have enough water in dry season we may be able to plant the dry season rice or other crops that can provide enough food for our family. Some year, when we had serious drought in our area traditionally we organize a ceremony to pray for rainfall. This can be done by finding a widow and cat and let them on the camp bed, then villagers parade them along the road and other villagers pour water on the widow and cat to make them soaking wet and cold.

Water Voice Assessment

Effects − Rainfed agriculture is practiced along the Mekong River − Rice, bean, maize and ground nut is grown during wet season. − Rainfalls is irregular and drought occur many time Causes − Changing climatic condition How people cope with changes − People organize traditional heeling for rain and widow and a cat is part of the procession for recall the rain. What other side effects from − No records changes What people proposed − No records

68/111 Water Voice in Lao PDR – Final Report – December 2005

3.5. Fisheries

Fishing and the preservation of aquatic resource is of high concern as natural fish is one of the main sources of foods of the rural poor. In total 38 people responded to this topic and 11 voices have been assessed to cover the different expression concerning fishing in natural ponds, streams, rivers and in the Mekong around the country.

3.5.1. VTC11 Nam Houm Village, Naxaythong District, Vientiane Capital

Date of water voice collection 1 September, 2005 Location of water voice collection Nam Houm Village, Naxaythong District, Vientiane Capital Voice sender Adult male Occupation of voice sender Fisherman Key Words Fishing Message “Nowadays, number of fishermen have increased, they catch fishes with modern tool, so the number of fishes are diminishing”.

Translation of Voice Recorded

Long time ago, the villagers in this area were easy to catch the fish in this reservoir because there were a few numbers of fishermen and less of fishing material and they catch fish only for eating. Nowadays, number of fishermen are increasing, the villagers catch fishes with modern tool, so now number of fishes are very few. Some kind of fish was nearly extinct like Pa Eithai (Osteochilus hasselti) and cat fishes. I do not know exactly why number of these fishes were less, may be due to the changing of environment like increasing of water temperature in the reservoir and eventually may affect these fishes.

Water Voice Assessment

Effects − Before it was easy to catch fish in the reservoir − Now the number of fish is diminishing − Some species are in extinction such as Pa Eithai (Osteochilus hasselti) and wild cat fishes Causes − Population and fish men increase − Sophisticated fishing materials are utilized − Fish population is not breeding well because of changing environment and water temperature. How people cope with changes − No records What other side effects from − No records changes What people proposed − No records

69/111 Water Voice in Lao PDR – Final Report – December 2005

3.5.2. VTP9 Sengsavang Village, Keo-oudom district, Vientiane Province.

Date of water voice collection 26 October, 2005 Location of water voice collection Sengsavang Village, Keo-oudom district, Vientiane Province. Voice sender Adult male Occupation of voice sender Fisherman Key Words Fishing Message “Now when we navigate we could not see any flocks of fishes, many species are in extinction like Pa Men, Pa Fa, and Pa Do”.

Translation of Voice Recorded

Mr. Douangdy was a fisherman who used to fish at Namgneum reservoir since 1988. he said that at the time before the number of fishes in Namgneum reservoir were a lot and many species, he can observed when he rode on the boat to fish he can see many flocks of fishes and can fish easily by fishing hook and gill nets. But now when we sail out to fish we could not see any flocks of fishes, even some species of fishes had extinct like Pamen ( Osphronemus exodon Roberts), Pafa( Amphotistius laosensis), Pado ( Channa micropeltes). 4-5 years before we still can catch fishes enough for sale to match with the demand of our clients, but now fishing here was are very difficult to catch enough fishes to the order of the clients, sometime we can get the fishes not enough for fuel fees in each day. If we can get fishes when we sale them sometime there were some traders when out to buy fishes from us at the island where we fish, even the price is lower than we sale at the port but we need to save our fuel we have to sale at the island. Now the number of fishes were decreased we could not take fishing only for the main occupation we have to do another second job for earning income to survive. In order to maintain the fishes to become more and more as in the time before we have to inspect strictly for the people who used illegal equipment to fish like bombing, electric shock and other illegal equipment which will destroy small fishes, and prohibited to fish at the fish breeding and hatching area. For people who violated the regulation when the concerned section found, they have to be captured and confiscated their equipment and fined them. But now the problem that is because the reservoir is too big and the concerned authorities could not inspect to all area, there fore there were still some people who violated the rule. Other than fishing natural fishes there were many people who do fish culture in cages and block at some places for being the pond and get fishes after the water get lower.

Water Voice Assessment

Effects − Before it was easy to catch fish in the Nam Ngeum Dam − Now the number of fish is diminishing and it is very difficult to catch them − Some species are in extinction such as Pamen (Osphronemus exodon Roberts), Pafa (Amphotistius laosensis), Pado (Channa micropeltes) Causes − Population and fish men increase − Sophisticated fishing materials are utilized and illegal ways of fishing are current like poisoning, electro-choc and bombing. − Fish are located in remote areas and the increase of fuel impact on the benefit of the catch. − Fish population is not breeding well because of changing environment and water temperature. How people cope with changes − People do fish culture − People seek for second additional job What other side effects from changes − No records What people proposed − For the authorities to be very strict on illegal fishing.

70/111 Water Voice in Lao PDR – Final Report – December 2005

3.5.3. BRK4 Pakpeung Village, Paksan District, Borikhamxai Province

Date of water voice collection 11 October, 2005 Location of water voice collection Pakpeung Village, Paksan District, Borikhamxai Province Voice sender Adult male Occupation of voice sender Farmer Key Words Fishing Message People prefer to fish in Mekong river because the fish from Mekong river can sale with good price and many people like to eat them”.

Translation of Voice Recorded

People in this village like fishing in Mekong river by using gillnets, some people also fish in the swamp or Pakpeung stream, but mainly they prefer to fish in Mekong river because the fish from Mekong river can sale in good price and many people like to eat. After fishing work from field, most of them like to fish for earning their extra income. The number of fish now and before it had decreased a lot almost one half. For example in 10 years so far we used two set of gillnets for fishing we can get enough fish for consumption and sale in the market, but now we used about 6-7 sets of gillnets and make two level of gillnets to fish but the amount we can get was smaller than before. And before now we use gillnets which has the hole for catching fish about 5 cm over, it means that we caught only big fish, but now even 2 cm we have to use for catching fishes due to the fish scarcity. Now for the big fishes we still see it was Pa Chok and Pakhae. For Pa eun we could not see any more due to many people fishing for trading. The regulation for fishing in the village we prohibited to use bombing and other illegal equipment, if there were some body violated he will be capture into jail.

Water Voice Assessment

Effects − It is more difficult to catch fish in the Mekong River − 10 year ago one net can feed the family and get extra fish for sale. − Now 6 to 7 set can get the same quantity as before. − Size of the fish catch is smaller. Few big fish could be catch. Causes − Population and fish men increase − Sophisticated fishing materials are utilized and illegal ways of fishing are current like poisoning, electro-choc and bombing. − Fish population is not breeding well because of changing environment and water temperature. How people cope with changes − No records What other side effects from − No records changes What people proposed − No records

71/111 Water Voice in Lao PDR – Final Report – December 2005

3.5.4. KM8 Hinbouneua Village, Hinboun District, Khammouane Province.

Date of water voice collection 5 October, 2005 Location of water voice collection Hinboun Neua Village,Hinboun District, Khammouane Province. Voice sender Elderly male Occupation of voice sender Farmer Key Words Fishing and changing river condition Message “After they had constructed the hydro power dam the tide of water in Hinboun river is going very fast and stronger that made the fishes to fled to another river”.

Translation of Voice Recorded

Fishing in the time before and now was very different, in the time before we fish for household consumption, but now we fish for trading. The fishing gear which we used to fish in this village was casting net, gill net, spear, and other kinds of fishing traps. In our village never used illegal fishing gear like bombing, poisoning and electric shock, because in our village we have announced the regulation to all villagers not to used prohibited fishing gears and fishing in the fish breeding seasoning. The number of fishes in the time before there were a lot and many species of fishes, due to in that time the river was deeper and the tide of water was not very strong the same as now, after they had constructed the hydro power electric dam there were some chemical from the dam the tide of water in Hinboun river was very fast and stronger which made the fishes cannot live, many species had fled to another river. The species of fishes that we cannot see any more this Hinboun river was Pa sanak (Aaptosyax grypus Rainboth), Pa Hangfa, Pa Khouang.

Water Voice Assessment

Effects − Fishing is getting less than before − Many species has disappear such as; Pa sanak( Aaptosyax grypus Rainboth) , Pa Hangfa, Pa Khouang. − Before the river was deeper and the tide of water was not very strong the same as now Causes − After they had constructed the hydro power dam the tide of water in Hinboun river is going very fast and stronger that made the fishes to fled to another river − There are some chemical in the river that chase the fish (from the gold mine up stream? Because chemical cannot be from the hydropower) How people cope with changes − The village has strict regulation on illegal ways of fishing What other side effects from − No records changes What people proposed − No records

72/111 Water Voice in Lao PDR – Final Report – December 2005

3.5.5. SRV11 Nonkham Village, Laognam District, Saravan Province

Date of water voice collection 10 September, 2005 Location of water voice collection Nonkham Village, Laognam District, Saravan Province Voice sender Adult male Occupation of voice sender Trader Key Words Preservation of aquatic resource Message “Each year the village chief collects money to buy fingerlings and release them in the conservation area of the river”.

Translation of Voice Recorded

Number of fishes in the river in the village in the time before was a lot of fishes we can fish easily even we use any kind of fishing equipment, but now the fishes was very scarce even in rainy season we did not have for consumption in daily meal. if we want to eat fishes we have to buy at the market which the trader brought from others places for sale. The fishing gear we use in our village were such as; casting net, gill net, fishing hook and so on. The regulation of fishing in the village we have the reserve area for the village, in each year the village chief had collect the money to buy the fingerlings for releasing to the river and prohibited to fish in the reserve area, if anybody violated the rule 1st time he/she will be fined 500.000 k per time, the second time will be fined 1,500,000k and the third time the violator will be detained. The species of fishes which we can not see now was Pa Houamaouam (Scarpiodontichthys acantopterus).it was extinct because there were number of people increases and the river was very little water in the dry season which caused some species of fishes had moved away.

Water Voice Assessment

Effects − Fish population is diminishing − The specie in extinction is Pa Houamaouam (Scarpiodontichthys acantopterus) Causes − Population and fish men increase − Sophisticated fishing materials are utilized and illegal ways of fishing are current like poisoning, electro-choc and bombing. − Fish population is not breeding well because of changing water level. How people cope with changes − The village has established a fish reserve on the river − Every year money is collect to buy fingerlings for the reserve What other side effects from − No records changes What people proposed − No records

73/111 Water Voice in Lao PDR – Final Report – December 2005

3.5.6. CPS11 KengNhaoVillage, Bachieng District, Champasack Province

Date of water voice collection 7 September, 2005

Location of water voice collection KengNhaoVillage, Bachieng District, Champasack Province Voice sender Adult female Occupation of voice sender Farmer Key Words Preservation of aquatic resource Message “In the village there is no regulation for fishing anybody can go to fish as they want.”.

Translation of Voice Recorded

When we compare now and last 10 years ago the amount of fishes in Palay Stream was very different, because in the last 10 years ago we can catch fishes easily even we did not use any fishing equipment. we can use our hand to catch fishes along the stone hole in the river. But now if we want to eat fishes we have to go to buy it at the district market. The fishing equipment for a woman like me I used scoop net to catch only small fishes and shrimp. In the village there were no regulation for fishing anybody can go to fish as they want. The species of fishes which had extinct like Pa Khwa(Tor sp). In the past the number of fishes in the Houay Palay were too many fishes so that they called this stream Houay Palay ( Stream with many fishes).

Water Voice Assessment

Effects − Before the stream was called the stream with flowing fish (houay palay) − Today only small fish and swrimps can be catch − Fish population is diminishing − The specie in extinction is Pa Khwa (Tor sp) Causes − Population and fish men increase − Sophisticated fishing materials are utilized and illegal ways of fishing are current like poisoning, electro-choc and bombing. − Fish population is not breeding well because of changing water level. How people cope with changes − No records What other side effects from − No records changes What people proposed − No records

74/111 Water Voice in Lao PDR – Final Report – December 2005

3.5.7. ATP15 Oudomxai Village, Xaisetha District, Attapeu Province

Date of water voice collection 15 September, 2005 Location of water voice collection Oudomxai Village, Xaisetha District, Attapeu Province Voice sender Adult male Occupation of voice sender Farmer Key Words Fishing Message Now people use prohibited equipment for fishing like using battery for electric shock, bombing and poisoning”.

Translation of Voice Recorded

The fishing along the Xekhaman river now was very different from 10 years before, the fishing gear they used now was much updated equipment like gill net, but the gill net now was different from before. Especially now they used prohibited equipment for fishing like they using battery for electric shock, and bombing and some people used poisoning it. The district and the same as village they also have the regulation for protecting the illegal fishing, but many people disobeyed the regulation due to the poverty of them. They fish for sale to get the money for buying rice for their each day meal. They didn’t have anyway to earn for their livings, therefore even they know that what they have done was illegal but they have to do. So far in the village authority had confiscated much illegal battery which they used to fish and some people were fined, but until now there also were some people still do it. The fish’s products in the river and in the rice field and in the swamp in the village area before now we can catch the fish as we need even we want to make the fermented fish , but now we cannot fish even for daily meal. The species of fishes that extinct like Pa fa, Pa phia. Paphone, Pa kheung and other but I could not remember.

Water Voice Assessment

Effects − Fish population is diminishing in the Sekaman River − The specie in extinction are Pa Fa, Pa Phia. Pa Phone, Pa Kheung Causes − Population and fish men increase − Sophisticated fishing materials are utilized and illegal ways of fishing are current like poisoning, electro-choc and bombing. − Fish population is not breeding well because of changing water level. How people cope with changes − Village authorities are strictly enforcing fishing regulation and has confiscated many illegal fishing types of equipment. What other side effects from − No records changes What people proposed − No records

75/111 Water Voice in Lao PDR – Final Report – December 2005

3.5.8. HP5 HouaXieng Village, Xamneua District, Houaphanh Province

Date of water voice collection 20 October, 2005 Location of water voice collection HouaXieng Village, Xamneua District, Huaphanh Province Voice sender Adult male Occupation of voice sender Farmer Key Words Fishing Message “From 1981-82 number of fish has reduced because of population are started to increase in this area”.

Translation of Voice Recorded

Long time ago, around this area had abundant of water resources and many kinds of fish. We can catch fish as much as we need because of small number of fisher and fishing tools are also still not developed. Villagers did not have enough of time for catching fish, all of villagers lived in the cave because of American war. From 1981-82 number of fish was reduced because of people are started to increase in this area, people who lived in the cave in the past are returned to their old village. In addition, from 1991 villagers catch fish by using modern fishing tool such as fishing net, casting net and etc,…that make by nylon. Some kinds of fish are extinct such as King, Phy, Pheng and Moun. The reason of these fishes are extinct may be due to 1. Number of fisher are increased; 2. Some villagers catch fish by using bomb and electricity shock.

Water Voice Assessment

Effects − Fish population is diminishing Causes − Population and fish men increase − Sophisticated fishing materials are utilized and illegal ways of fishing are current like poisoning, electro-choc and bombing. How people cope with changes − No records What other side effects from − No records changes What people proposed − No records

76/111 Water Voice in Lao PDR – Final Report – December 2005

3.5.9. LPB3 MouangKhay Village, Luangphabang District, Luangphabang Province

Date of water voice collection 6 September, 2005 Location of water voice collection MouangKhay Village, Luangphabang District, Luangphabang Province Voice sender Adult male Occupation of voice sender Farmer Key Words Fishing Message “150 or 200 kg fish like Pa Beuk and PaLerm are extinct right now”.

Translation of Voice Recorded

If mention to catching fish in our village at the present time and compares to the last 10 years or more than 10 years ago it was big difference. Because in the past we caught fish for only eat and not so many of fishing materials, there were only fishing net, formerly called “ Nam ” which is made by a kind of wood called “ Pane “, fish hook and fishing line some things like this. Nowadays, number of fishermen are increased, people catch fish not only for eating but for selling in the market and fishing material is also improved. Around 150 or 200 kg of fish like Pa Beuk and PaLerm are extinct right now. Fishing modern materials are caused for reducing of the fishes in our village. In addition, reducing of the fish probably due to there were some people who are living along the river catch fishes by using bomb and electric shock.

Water Voice Assessment

Effects − Fish population is diminishing − Large cat fish weighing 150 to 200 kg cannot be catch like before. Causes − Population and fish men increase − Sophisticated fishing materials are utilized and illegal ways of fishing are current like poisoning, electro-choc and bombing. − River flow and environment has changed and fish have migrated away How people cope with changes − No records What other side effects from − No records changes What people proposed − No records

77/111 Water Voice in Lao PDR – Final Report – December 2005

3.5.10. ODX10 Done Village, La District, Oudomxay Province

Date of water voice collection 27 September, 2005 Location of water voice collection Done Village, La District, Oudomxay Province Voice sender Adult male Occupation of voice sender Truck driver Key Words Modern fishing in up-lands Message Now number of fish is reduced because number of fisher is high, catching fish is for selling and villagers catch fish by using modern fishing tool like diving mask

Translation of Voice Recorded

Donekao village is located along the road number 2E and along the La river, it is lowland area. In the past, there are a lot of fish in the La river because at that time number of fisher is not high, caught fish for only eating and fishing tool was limited. Now number of fish is reduced because number of fisher is high, catching fish is for selling and villagers catch fish by using modern fishing tool like diving mask. Some kind of fish was extinct such as Va fish and Kouane fish. The reason of these fishes were extinct is from high of fisher and temperature of water.

Water Voice Assessment

Effects − Fish population is diminishing − The specie in extinction is Pa Va and Pa Kouane Causes − Population and fish men increase − Sophisticated fishing materials are utilized like pike and diving mask. − Fish population is not breeding well because of changing water temperature. How people cope with changes − No records What other side effects from − No records changes What people proposed − No records

78/111 Water Voice in Lao PDR – Final Report – December 2005

3.5.11. PSL9 Houaidong Village, BounNeua District, Phongsaly Province

Date of water voice collection 13 October, 2005 Location of water voice collection Houaidong Village, BounNeua District, Phongsaly Province Voice sender Adult male Occupation of voice sender Farmer Key Words Preserving aquatic resource Message “The electricity dam block the water and the way for the fishes to go up stream for breeding”.

Translation of Voice Recorded

When I was a child, in 1968 we could catch fish as much as we need by any kind of fishing tool, like “Xay” that made by bamboo, fishing net and casting net that made by “ Pane”(one kind of wood) and at that time number of fisher is also not high. Now number of fish is reduced, it is probably due to number of fisher is high, fishing tools are improved, built the electricity dam to block the water which the fishes can not get to upstream. In addition, some villagers and the government official catch fish by used electricity shock. Some kind of fish was extinct such as Kouan, Chad, Lad and Chi. The reason these fishes were extinct may be due to number of fisher is high and villagers use modern fishing tool.

Water Voice Assessment

Effects − Fish population is diminishing − The specie in extinction is Pa Kouan, Pa Chad, Pa Lad and Pa Chi Causes − Population and fish men increase − Sophisticated fishing materials are utilized − The electricity dam block the water and the way for the fishes to go up stream for breeding How people cope with changes − No records What other side effects from − No records changes What people proposed − No records

79/111 Water Voice in Lao PDR – Final Report – December 2005

3.6. Watershed and Forest

Protection of watershed and forest is a big concern of the villagers and the water voice collection emphasized the issues of shifting cultivation and up-land farming in relation to the preservation of the forest resource to lesser the risk of climatic changes. 14 voices were collected on this topic but they are also related to the rainfed agriculture topic. A number of 7 voices mostly located in the Northern Lao PDR were assessed to represent the people’s expression in the country.

3.6.1. CPS12 Makgnaew Village, Bachieng district, Champasack Province

Date of water voice collection 8 September, 2005 Location of water voice collection Makgnaew Village, Bachieng district, Champasack Province Voice sender Adult male Occupation of voice sender Farmer Key Words Preservation of the watershed Message “The watershed and forest had destroyed by the villagers who had no lowland area, they practice slash and burn for planting rice”. Translation of Voice Recorded

The watershed and forest had destroyed by the villagers who had no lowland area, they made slash and burn for planting rice. But did not slash everywhere they just make at the allocated area , the water in the river in some year if there were too much rain the river will have much water and if there were no rain in the river the water will get down and remain very few. from the previous time the water in the river even there were no rain but the water still remain flowing all the time because the watershed area were not destroyed. To reserve the forest we should not cut the tree and slash and burn and we have to grow the tree instead of cutting it.

Water Voice Assessment

Effects − The watershed of the river is destroyed − There are less forest coverage Causes − Logging − Shifting cultivation How people cope with changes − N o records What other side effects from − No records changes What people proposed − Need to preserve the water shed by planting trees

80/111 Water Voice in Lao PDR – Final Report – December 2005

3.6.2. XK7 Khangdon Village, Paek District, Xiengkhouang Province

Date of water voice collection 26 October, 2005 Location of water voice collection Khangdon Village, Paek District, Xiengkhouang Province Voice sender Elderly male Occupation of voice sender Retired Key Words Watershed Message “During the war forest was destroyed and river flow have reduced”.

Translation of Voice Recorded

Before American oppressed Laos (American war), around this area had abundant of water resources and forest. The villager could not be walked alone because a lot of wildlife, especially tigers. Later then, during American oppressed Laos a lot of trees were destroyed by bombs of American plane. From at that time the forest was reduced which made river’s water was also shortage. After American war( 1980 ) around this area is high of people including of own villagers, villagers that moved from other places and soldiers. Almost of these people are poor. Slash and burn for agriculture is their job, every year around 60 ha of forest is cut by villagers. So now the forest is a serious reduced and make climate change.

Water Voice Assessment

Effects − Rivers have changed flows and debit is smaller Causes − The forest has been destroyed by bombs and chemical agents − Slash and burn cultivation have increased after the war How people cope with changes − No records What other side effects from − No records changes What people proposed − No records

81/111 Water Voice in Lao PDR – Final Report – December 2005

3.6.3. HP8 Phonxay Village, Viengxay District, Huaphanh Province

Date of water voice collection 21 October, 2005 Location of water voice collection Phonxay Village, Viengxay District, Huaphanh Province Voice sender Young male Occupation of voice sender Teacher Key Words Shifting cultivation Message “Now population is increased, the trees are cut to much of villagers for their agriculture”.

Translation of Voice Recorded

We live in the remote highland area, in the past number of villagers are not so high thus the water can be flowed for whole year as well as the forest it has a lot of big trees. Now population is increased, the trees are cut to much of villagers for their agriculture, every year around 30 to 40 ha especially is rice production because they live in poor condition. The impacts of slash and burn for agriculture on the village are water shortage, climate change and drought. In 2005, during April and May our villagers are lacked of drinking water and for other uses, villagers can not be grown their rice on time and may be the yield is reduced.

Water Voice Assessment

Effects − Around 30 to 40 ha of forest are cut for shifting cultivation − Upland rice is not yielding − Climate change and there is drought − Water supply is not enough Causes − People has no other mean of agriculture than slash and burn − There is not flat land and water resources How people cope with changes − No records What other side effects from − No records changes What people proposed − No records

82/111 Water Voice in Lao PDR – Final Report – December 2005

3.6.4. LPB13 No. 11 Village, XiengNgeun District, Luangphabang Province

Date of water voice collection 8 September, 2005 Location of water voice collection No. 11 Village, XiengNgeun District, Luangphabang Province Voice sender Adult male Occupation of voice sender Farmer Key Words Forest protection Message “We don’t have any choice except cut the tree for rice production because we are poor people”.

Translation of Voice Recorded

Almost of people who are living in Lak 11 village are growing rice and other crops by cutting the tree because of lowland area does not have enough for them. Total of upland area in this village is about 50 ha, and for a lowland area is about 42 ha. We don’t have any choice except cut the tree for rice production because we are poor people and no have any job to do. Deforestation is caused climate change we have many problem now from the weather that is affecting the people in our village, some time we had floods and some time we had droughts. To protect the forest the villagers are grown rice at upland by sifting cultivation as policy of the local agriculture authority.

Water Voice Assessment

Effects − Total of upland area in this village is about 50 ha, and for a lowland area is about 42 ha. − People are still practicing slash and burn cultivation − There is drought and floods Causes − Low land is not enough − Population increase − People cut forest How people cope with changes − No records What other side effects from − No records changes What people proposed − No records

83/111 Water Voice in Lao PDR – Final Report – December 2005

3.6.5. ODX9 Huoychay Village, La District, Oudomxay Province

Date of water voice collection 27 September, 2005 Location of water voice collection Huoychay Village, La District, Oudomxay Province Voice sender Adult male Occupation of voice sender Upland farmer Key Words Shifting cultivation Message “Huoychay village does not have any lowland for agriculture cultivation, so all of villagers are cut the trees for agriculture”.

Translation of Voice Recorded

Huoychay village is located along the road number 2E and along the Phak river, it is highland area. Huoychay village does not have any lowland for agriculture cultivation, so all of villagers are cut the trees for agriculture. Every year around 40 ha of forest is cut for agriculture by villagers. This year rain started late than normal, we can not grow rice on time, usually we grow rice in May to June but this year we grow it in June to July. The impacts of slash and burn for agriculture on the village are irregular weather change, low of rice yield production and food shortage. To solve problem villagers will grow rice by sedentary mode.

Water Voice Assessment

Effects − Every year about 40 ha of forest are cut for agriculture − People are still practicing slash and burn cultivation − There is drought and floods Causes − Low land is not enough − Population increase − People cut forest How people cope with changes − No records What other side effects from − No records changes What people proposed − No records

84/111 Water Voice in Lao PDR – Final Report – December 2005

3.6.6. PSL4 Hadxa Neua Village, Phongsaly District, Phongsaly Province

Date of water voice collection 12 October, 2005 Location of water voice collection Hadxa Neua Village, Phongsaly District, Phongsaly Province Voice sender Adult male Occupation of voice sender Trader Key Words Shifting cultivation Message “Population increase, villagers do not have any job to do except slash and burn for agriculture”.

Translation of Voice Recorded

Hadxa Neua is located a long the Ou river, it is highland area. Long time ago, water resources and forest in this area were abundant, a lot of big trees, many kinds of fish in the river and never had drought. According to, population increase, villagers do not have any job to do except slash and burn for agriculture, especially is rice cultivation. So now the water resources and forest are big different if compare to the past, irregular weather change, some time droughts and some time floods. Changing of the weather affect the yield of rice cultivation of the villagers in our village. To protect water resources and forest villagers will grow rice by un- shifting.

Water Voice Assessment

Effects − Every year forest are cut for agriculture − People are still practicing slash and burn cultivation − There is drought and floods Causes − Low land is not enough − Population increase and people has no job − People cut forest How people cope with changes − No records What other side effects from − No records changes What people proposed − No records

85/111 Water Voice in Lao PDR – Final Report – December 2005

3.6.7. BK8 Nam Chuam Village, Hoyxay District, Bokeo Province

Date of water voice collection 15 September, 2005 Location of water voice collection Nam Chuam Village, Hoyxay District, Bokeo Province Voice sender Adult male Occupation of voice sender Farmer Key Words Shifting cultivation Message “Villagers are cutting the trees for their agriculture of around 5 ha”.

Translation of Voice Recorded

The water resource and forest are big difference if compare to long time ago in our village, people did not face extreme climate events such as floods and droughts like nowadays, but in the last few year, villagers have many problems from the weather that is affecting the people in our village. There are some people still continued to cut the trees for their rice cultivation and other crop because of they are living in poor condition. Every year, villagers are cutting the trees for their agriculture of around 5 ha.

Water Voice Assessment

Effects − Every year 5 ha of forest are cut for agriculture − People are still practicing slash and burn cultivation − There is drought and floods Causes − Low land is not enough − Population increase − People cut forest for planting crops because they are poor How people cope with changes − No records What other side effects from − No records changes What people proposed − No records

86/111 Water Voice in Lao PDR – Final Report – December 2005

3.7. Water Pollution

Water pollution is a new concern of the people located in urban and sub-urban areas and down stream mining operations and hydro-power plants. 15 voices were collected on the issues but many of the part of the water pollution topic are expressed in the water supply issue assessed previously. The following 7 issues are assessed.

3.7.1. KM7 Hinbouneua Village,Hinboun District, Khammouane Province

Date of water voice collection 5 October, 2005 Location of water voice collection Hinbouneua Village,Hinboun District, Khammouane Province Voice sender Elderly male Occupation of voice sender Farmer Key Words Hydropower water pollution Message “After the construction of the hydropower dam the Hinboun river had changed, the water is not clear even during the dry season”.

Translation of Voice Recorded

In the time before from the ancestor the people in this village used to live with Hinboun river for the better of their living, from that time the water of Hinboun river was very clear in dry season, we can use for drinking, for cooking and for other purposes using like bathing and washing because in that time we still have no drilling well and other sources of water for drinking and using and in that time the quantity of fishes in the Hinboun river was a lot and many species. Now after they had constructed the hydro electric dam ( Theun Hinboun ) upstream the Hinboun river had changed, the water was unclear even in dry season, we cannot use for drinking and cooking only for washing and many species of fishes had disappeared. Therefore now most of the villagers had turned to use water from drilling wells for drinking and cooking, but the water from drilling boreholes was not enough in dry season, villager had proposed to the Theun Hinboun Hydro Electric Dam Authority to help us about water, so in this year they decided to support us 5 wells, but the water from well was not clear even in dry season cannot use for drinking and cooking.

Water Voice Assessment

Effects − People use to live with the Hinboun River they use the water for drinking, cooking, washing and as a source of food − Now the water is not clear and cannot be used for drinking and cooking − Many fish species have disappear Causes − The hydropower dam changed the turbidity and flow of the river − Many fish species cannot migrate up stream to breed How people cope with changes − Villagers dug wells − The hydropower company provided 5 deep wells to the village − But the water from the wells cannot be used for drinking and cooking What other side effects from changes − No records What people proposed − No records

87/111 Water Voice in Lao PDR – Final Report – December 2005

3.7.2. SVK2 Vangmou Village, Sepon District, Savannakhet Province

Date of water voice collection 27 September, 2005 Location of water voice collection Vangmou Village, Sepon District, Savannakhet Province Voice sender Adult male Occupation of voice sender Upland farmer Key Words Mining water pollution Message “When we bath at Sekok river down stream from Sepon gold mine it became itchy all around the body about 2-3 hours and many fishes was also die”.

Translation of Voice Recorded

In the village main source of water for using and fishing was from the Sekok river especially in dry season when the water from well and drilling boreholes was not enough. The village was far from Sekok about 1 km but villagers was very necessary to use the water in dry season. Before the gold mine was not established the water from Sekok river has no problem for using and drinking, but after the Sepon gold mine was had set up they released the polluted water and some chemical from the factory, the water of Sekok river down stream could not used for drinking and bathing, when we bath at Sekok river down stream from Sepon gold mine it became itchy all around the body about 2-3 hours and many fishes was also die. In rainy season there were too much water it seems no problem. The water in Sekok river in dry season now was very different from many years ago, now in dry season the level of water was very little and the fishes was very scarce. In order to solve the problem if possible we would like Sepon gold mine not to release the polluted water to Sekok river. If there were no water from Sekok river we have to go to Mala stream from mountain source but it was far away from the village to Mala stream about 3 km.

Water Voice Assessment

Effects − The Sekok river was the main source of water and food for the villagers − Now the water is not clear and has chemical − People wash themselves and got itchy around the body − The level of water is very low − There is very little fish Causes − The Sepon gold mining is polluting the river How people cope with changes − People have to walk 3 km on the mountain to get drinking water What other side effects from − Impact on the women and children time to do other changes household and productive work. What people proposed − Request the gold mine to stop draining chemical into the river.

88/111 Water Voice in Lao PDR – Final Report – December 2005

3.7.3. SRV3 Watkang Village, Saravan District, Saravan Province

Date of water voice collection 9 September, 2005 Location of water voice collection Watkang Village, Saravan District, Saravan Province Voice sender Elderly female Occupation of voice sender Trader Key Words Urban water pollution Message “We can see garbage everywhere in the city area”

Translation of Voice Recorded

About the water pollution in this city still was done well, we can see the garbage everywhere in the city area, especially in the canal and in the river because the urban development organization still not covered all of the villages in the city. The cause of the polluted water was the garbage from the households, they still not recognize to the cleanliness of the city. The people in the villages still not being the ownership of themselves. The main cause of the polluted water was the waste from households use in each day and from some household who made the noodle factory and release the polluted water to the canal and flow to the river. The way to protect the polluted water is to keep the garbage from daily use in each household, if there were no urban development organization to collect the garbage each household have to dig the hole to bury it. it will be better than this.

Water Voice Assessment

Effects − The city has garbage everywhere − There is pollution when areas are flooded Causes − There is no urban waste management and organization to collect garbage − Noodle factory drain waste into the river − People throw household garbage everywhere How people cope with changes − No records What other side effects from − No records changes What people proposed − Request the establishment of the city garbage collection and management

89/111 Water Voice in Lao PDR – Final Report – December 2005

3.7.4. CPS5 Thasemai Village, Pakse District, Champasack Province

Date of water voice collection 6 September, 2005 Location of water voice collection Thasemai Village, Pakse District, Champasack Province Voice sender Adult female Occupation of voice sender Housewife Key Words Message “When it rains the water wash away garbage to block culvert and ditches, and the water got polluted”.

Translation of Voice Recorded

There were some water polluted water in the village area. The causes of it was the household garbage. Because there were some households still did not collect garbage for Urban development organization to take it for garbage management, some people they don’t want to pay for garbage management, then they have to cast their garbage to around their house, when it was rain the rain water had flow away to block at the culvert then make the water polluted. If we release the polluted water to the river, it will make the river polluted also and we could not use the water in the river and the fishes in the river will die. The main causes of the polluted water was the household garbage and some were from the tourist but not so much. We need to develop the tourism in our city. But we have to manage the garbage well not to throw the garbage to elsewhere. To prevent the polluted water we have to educate the villagers to collect the household garbage and pay for the garbage management to the urban development organization. There were some household did not know the important of the urban development organization who control the garbage and pick up the garbage at their house. Some households were complained about the urban development organization because some week their truck did not come for pick up the garbage which made the garbage spoiled and dogs had damaged it.

Water Voice Assessment

Effects − Water in the drain and culvert is polluted

Causes − People do not want to pay garbage collection fee and throw their waste around their house − Garbage collectors are not collecting garbage and garbage are spoiled by dogs − When it rains garbage block culvert and drains How people cope with changes − No records What other side effects from − No records changes What people proposed − To educate people in garbage management

90/111 Water Voice in Lao PDR – Final Report – December 2005

3.7.5. XK13 Namhom Village, Kham District, Xiengkhouang Province

Date of water voice collection 27 October, 2005 Location of water voice collection Namhom Village, Kham District, Xiengkhouang Province Voice sender Young male Occupation of voice sender Farmer Key Words Water pollution Message “Since 1998 the river started to be polluted and we can not use the water for drinking any more”.

Translation of Voice Recorded

Our village is located downstream of the Hom river. Long time ago, our villagers have access to water from the river for all use and quality of water was very good. In 1991 hot spring was improved to be source for tourism. There are many of guest houses, restaurants and place for take bath of hot spring. In addition, some business men are digging ponds along the river and feed animals on these ponds. Since 1998 the river’s water was started pollute and we can not used for drinking any more. They disposed the waste into the river without any treatment. The impacts of water pollution on the village are lack of clean water for drinking and taking bath and diseases often occur.

Water Voice Assessment

Effects − The Hom River got polluted since 1998 − Water from the river cannot used for household consumption − There are more water born diseases Causes − Hot spring was improved for tourism in 1991 − Many guest houses and restaurant were built near the hot spring area − All guest houses and restaurant disposed their waste water into the river without any treatment. How people cope with changes − No records What other side effects from − No records changes What people proposed − No records

91/111 Water Voice in Lao PDR – Final Report – December 2005

3.7.6. HP1 Tham Village, Xamneua District, Houaphanh Province

Date of water voice collection 19 October, 2005 Location of water voice collection Tham Village, Xamneua District, Huaphanh Province Voice sender Adult male Occupation of voice sender Farmer Key Words Water pollution Message “People who are living downstream can not use the water for drinking any more”.

Translation of Voice Recorded

Tham village is located along the Xam river and far from Xamneua District about 12 km by Phathy road. Usually our villagers have access to water from the river for all use. In the last few year, from 1995 the river’s water has polluted due to animal waste, all of cattle of the villagers are fed along the Xam river and its tributaries and human waste from the villagers who are living a long the Xam river, they throw and discharge every thing into the river. So we are people who are living downstream can not use the water for drinking any more. Now we can be used this water for only take bath and wash clothes.

Water Voice Assessment

Effects − Since 1995 the Xam River is polluted − People cannot use the water for drinking Causes − Population increase up-stream − People throw garbage and drain waste water into the river. How people cope with changes − No records What other side effects from − No records changes What people proposed − No records

92/111 Water Voice in Lao PDR – Final Report – December 2005

3.7.7. LPB7 Thapaen Village, Luangphabang District, Luangphabang Province

Date of water voice collection 7 September, 2005

Location of water voice collection Thapaen Village, Luangphabang District, Luangphabang Province Voice sender Adult male Occupation of voice sender Farmer Key Words Water pollution Message “In the last few years, the river water is polluted due to of garbage from tourist”.

Translation of Voice Recorded

We are living along the Xy river, which is located downstream of water fall called “Tad Kouang Xy “. Every year a lot of tourist including internal and external tourist are visiting this area. Usually our villager has enough water for all using purposes. Many years ago we had no problem with the water quality, but now things have changed. In the last few years, the river water has been polluted due to of garbage of tourist, waste water from tourists take bath, human waste from the village who is living along the Xy river. Nowadays, we can not use this water for drinking again, especially in the dry season because of low quality. So we can use this water for only take bath and wash clothes. This problem come from the poor management from local authorities. To solve these problems we are calling for provincial authority to help us as soon as possible.

Water Voice Assessment

Effects − People living down stream the Tad Kouang Xy water fall use to use water for household consumption, for fishing and for agriculture. − In the last few years water is polluted Causes − The increased tourist visitor to the water fall affected the water quality of the Xy river − Tourism spin off like guest houses and restaurants also increased and drain their waste into the water − During the dry season when the water level is low there is high pollution How people cope with changes − No records What other side effects from − No records changes What people proposed − Request the authority concerned to improve garbage and waste management.

93/111 Water Voice in Lao PDR – Final Report – December 2005

3.8. River Bank Erosion

River bank erosion is also a main issue in the country and 25 water voice were recorded. There are a lot of similarities on the effect and cause of the bank erosion. However, river bank erosion in the mountainous area is combined with soil erosion because of floods and changing flows and ways of rivers and streams. 10 voices are assessed as follows.

3.8.1. VTP3 Hadsaignam Village, Keo-oudom District, Vientiane Province

Date of water voice collection 24 October, 2005 Location of water voice collection Hadsaignam Village, Keo-oudom District, Vientiane Province Voice sender Adult female Occupation of voice sender Housewife Key Words Bank erosion Message “If the rain is so heavy the water will eroded the river bank a lot”.

Translation of Voice Recorded

The situation of bank erosion in this village area when we have moved here at first the bank of Namlik river was not eroded so severe like now, in that time the river in this village had two flowing way of water and it had small island in the middle, but now the river became shallow and the water flow had only one way another one way had dry up some people had plant their crops over there. The way of water flow had only one way therefore the tide of water was strong and eroded the bank every year. In some year if the rain was so heavy it will erode a lot. the causes of it because there were many people made gardening along the river too much and slash the all of the bushes along the river bank . In the time before the river was very deep and many fishes. The bank was eroded a lot in each year. The bank was far from the village now about 100 meters, if it eroded like this many years it will come to the houses of the people. To protect it some people in another village who rather have good household economy they made the bank protection by concrete, nut in our village we are poor in order to protect it we have to plant some kind of tree which can protect the bank erosion.

Water Voice Assessment

Effects − River bank got eroded every year during the wet season − In some place the river bank got eroded by 100 meter in land − The flow of the river is getting faster Causes − Heavy rains changes the course of the river − The river got less deeper be cause of sediment and during the raining season increase the speed of the river flow − Climate change due to shifting cultivation? How people cope with changes − Rich people are putting river bank protection by concrete What other side effects from − One sided river bank protection divert the flow of the changes river and erode other areas What people proposed − No records

94/111 Water Voice in Lao PDR – Final Report – December 2005

3.8.2. KM2 Thakhektai Village,Thakhek District, Khammouane Province

Date of water voice collection 3 October, 2005 Location of water voice collection Thakhektai Village,Thakhek District, Khammouane Province Voice sender Adult male Occupation of voice sender Trader Key Words River bank erosion Message “The length of the Mekong river ban in this village is about 2 kilometers, the river bank is eroding by 2 to 3 meters each year”.

Translation of Voice Recorded

The length of the Mekong river bank in the area of this village was about 2000 meters, the bank had eroded in each year. Many years before it was not so severe it had eroded about 1-2 meters each year, during 2-3 years ago it was very severe which eroded about 2-3 meters. In my opinion, the cause of severe erosion maybe due to in the Mekong river bank in another side of Mekong river they made the bank protection stretched out about 30-40 meters which made the tide changed the way to eroded at Lao side severely. Severe bank erosion caused the problem for the villagers who made the garden along the river bank. Many years before there was a road along the river bank but now it had eroded inside the road more than 10 meters, many fruit tree had fallen down into Mekong river, many houses had moved away from the river bank. Only one way to protect it that was we have to make the bank protection, therefore we have to request to the upper part to help us making the bank protection to stop the damages of our country.

Water Voice Assessment

Effects − The river bank got eroded every year before by 1 to 2 meters and now by 2 to 3 meters each year”. − It reduces the land area of villagers who are gardening along the river bank − Many fruit tree had fallen down into Mekong river. − Many years before there was a road along the river bank but now the erosion got into the road by more than 10 meters. Causes − The cause of severe erosion maybe from the construction of bank protection dikes in Thailand stretching out about 30-40 meters, which changed the flow of the Mekong River to erode the river bank in our side How people cope with changes − Many houses had moved away from the river bank. What other side effects from − No records changes What people proposed − Only one way to protect it is to construct bank protection dike, − A request to the government has been made for the construction of bank protection dikes”.

95/111 Water Voice in Lao PDR – Final Report – December 2005

3.8.3. SRV4 Watkang Village, Saravan District, Saravan Province

Date of water voice collection 9 September, 2005 Location of water voice collection Watkang Village, Saravan District, Saravan Province Voice sender Adult male Occupation of voice sender Government officer Key Words Message

Translation of Voice Recorded

As I live here in Saravan district for many years ago I Know the situation of the water in Sedon river well. before I saw that Sedon river was not as wide as now, now the river seems wider and wider each year due to the bank erosion. Many years before the rain was heavy but the river still deeper and in that time there were too much tree and grass along the river so that the bank erosion was not so severe as in the present and another reason because of the river became shallow and the tide of the water flow was so hard and erode the bank easily. and in the river has many sand beaches in dry season now. In conclusion the main causes which made the bank erosion and the water dry up in dry season due to the people invade the forest too much, cutting big tree. To protect this problem the officers have to promote most of the people in the province to grow the tree or re-afforestration which will remain the humidity and watershed area fertilize.

Water Voice Assessment

Effects − River bank got eroded every year during the wet season − The flow of the river is getting faster Causes − Heavy rains changes the course of the river − The river got less deeper be cause of sediment and during the raining season increase the speed of the river flow − Climate change due to cutting forest? How people cope with changes − No records What other side effects from − No records changes What people proposed − No records

96/111 Water Voice in Lao PDR – Final Report – December 2005

3.8.4. SK5 Phiamai Village, Lamam District, Sekong Province

Date of water voice collection 16 September, 2005 Location of water voice collection Phiamai Village, Lamam District, Sekong Province Voice sender Adult female Occupation of voice sender Head of village Key Words River bank erosion Message People excavate sand and gravel from the river for sale that was the cause that eroded the bank of Sekong River in each year”.

Translation of Voice Recorded

The bank erosion in Sekong river in the area of Phiamai village, from the first year that I moved to habited in this village both side of the Sekong river was full of bio-diversity such as, big tree and bushes of bamboo and there were no bank erosion at all. But now there were many people moved to live here and they have to develop their livelihood and their residences, they have to cut the tree and slash the bushes for making garden and some people were excavated the sand and gravel for trading and for constructing their houses, that was the cause that eroded the bank of Sekong river in each year. Now the Sekong river seems wider than before. To protect the bank erosion is to follow the leadership of the provincial officer, if they did not permit to excavate the sand and the gravel at some places in the river we should not do as the suggestion of them.

Water Voice Assessment

Effects − River bank got eroded every year during the wet season − In some area the river is getting wider − The flow of the river is getting faster Causes − Companies are heavily excavating sand and gravel for construction changing the flow of the river − Heavy rains changes the course of the river − The river got less deeper be cause of sediment and during the raining season increase the speed of the river flow − Climate change due to cutting forest? How people cope with changes − No records What other side effects from − No records changes What people proposed − Not to permit the excavation of sand and gravel

97/111 Water Voice in Lao PDR – Final Report – December 2005

3.8.5. XK14 Xamnhouan Village, Khoun District, Xiengkhouang Province

Date of water voice collection 28 October, 2005 Location of water voice collection Xamnhouan Village, Khoun District, Xiengkhouang Province Voice sender Adult male Occupation of voice sender Farmer Key Words Message “The river bank has been eroded due to heavy rainfall”.

Translation of Voice Recorded

Our village is located in this area since 1964, at that time it had abundant of water resources and forest. Many years ago we had no problem with the bank erosion, but now every thing have changed. In the last few years, the river’s bank has been eroded due to heavy rainfall, seasonal flooding and slash and burn for agriculture of villagers who are living along the river and head of the river. In addition, the bank erosion is caused from catching fish of the villagers, they dig and destroy the bank to make water high of turbidity. This problem stems from the villagers are very poor and are under living standard.

Water Voice Assessment

Effects − River bank got eroded every year during the wet season − Causes − Heavy rains changes the course of the river − The river is changing its course and fast flood erode the agriculture soil and erode the river bank − Climate change due to cutting forest? There is less forest resource in the area − People dig the river bank to catch fish How people cope with changes − No records What other side effects from − No records changes What people proposed − No records

98/111 Water Voice in Lao PDR – Final Report – December 2005

3.8.6. XBL3 Naxam Village, Xayabuly District, Xayabuly Province

Date of water voice collection 31 October, 2005 Location of water voice collection Naxam Village, Xayabuly District, Xayabuly Province Voice sender Adult male Occupation of voice sender Upland farmer Key Words Message “Every year, villagers suffered from bank erosion. The impacts of bank erosion on the village are lost of agriculture land and food shortage. According to calculating of village’s committee around 8 ha of agriculture land is lost for this year. “

Translation of Voice Recorded

Long time ago, the natural resource did not have problem in our village. The weather around this area had not changed, the land were covered by much kind of trees and as well as water resources there are a lot of fish. Now things have changed, especially is water resource. Every year, villagers have suffered from bank erosion. The problem may be due to changing of climate, heavy rainfall, increasing of population and slash and burn for agriculture of poor villagers. The impacts of bank erosion on the village are lost of agriculture land and food shortage. According to calculating of village’s committee around 8 ha of agriculture land is lost for this year (2005).

Water Voice Assessment

Effects − Every year villagers suffer from river bank erosion. − It reduces agriculture land and creates food shortage. − This year about 8 ha were lost because of the erosion. Causes − Changing climatic conditions and heavy rainfalls and more currents. − Population increase and Slash and burn cultivation in the up-lands and the reduction of forest coverage is changing the course and debit of the river. How people cope with changes − No records What other side effects from − No records changes What people proposed − No records

99/111 Water Voice in Lao PDR – Final Report – December 2005

3.8.7. ODX2 Namor Neua Village, Namor District, Oudomxay Province

Date of water voice collection 26 September, 2005 Location of water voice collection Namor Neua Village, Namor District, Oudomxay Province Voice sender Adult male Occupation of voice sender Government official Key Words Bank erosion Message “Heavy rainfall, strong river flow caused bank erosion and damaged a large number of agriculture land”.

Translation of Voice Recorded

Namor Neua village is located along the tong river. Many years ago, around this area had abundant of water resources and forest and climate is also regular change. At that time, the rainfall was not affected the natural resource and other things of villagers. Now climate has changed, some year is flood and some year is drought. Every year villagers have suffered from these change, especially is in wet season. Heavy rainfall, strong flow and slash and burn for agriculture of villagers are caused bank erosion and damaged much of agriculture land. This year(2005), we have suffered a serious from bank erosion, around 2 ha of agriculture land along the river has destroyed.

Water Voice Assessment

Effects − Every year river bank got eroded − Agriculture land got damaged or washed out − This year about 2 ha were lost because of the erosion. Causes − Changing climatic conditions and heavy rainfalls and more currents. − Population increase and Slash and burn cultivation in the up-lands and the reduction of forest coverage is changing the course and debit of the river. How people cope with changes − No records What other side effects from − No records changes What people proposed − No records

100/111 Water Voice in Lao PDR – Final Report – December 2005

3.8.8. PSL3 Hadxa Neua Village, Phongsaly District, Phongsaly Province

Date of water voice collection 12 October, 2005 Location of water voice collection Hadxa Neua Village, Phongsaly District, Phongsaly Province Voice sender Adult male Occupation of voice sender Upland farmer Key Words Bank erosion Message “When rainfall comes, all of water flows into the river and cause bank damage”.

Translation of Voice Recorded

Hadxa Neua is located a long the Ou river and it is highland area. Long time ago, people are not so many around this area and it has abundant of forest. Nowadays, population is increased, slash and burn for agriculture of poor villagers are spreading a long the river and upper of the river. It does not have anything block runoff when rainfall comes, all of water flows into the river and cause bank damage. To protect bank erosion, villagers will not cut trees a long the river.

Water Voice Assessment

Effects − Road side are eroded every year by fast water Causes − People practice slash and burn cultivation of steep slopes − When heavy rain arrives, water flow directly down the slopes and erode the mountain and road side. How people cope with changes − No records What other side effects from − No records changes What people proposed − No records

101/111 Water Voice in Lao PDR – Final Report – December 2005

3.8.9. LNT4 Pouong Village, Luangnamtha District, Luangnamtha Province

Date of water voice collection 20 September, 2005 Location of water voice collection Pouong Village, Luangnamtha District, Luangnamtha Province Voice sender Adult male Occupation of voice sender Farmer and village leader Key Words Bank erosion Message “Every year we suffer from serious bank erosion”.

Translation of Voice Recorded

In the past bank erosion in our village was also eroded but not so large. Now every year we have suffered a serious from bank erosion. The reason of bank erosion may be come from heavy rainfall and strong flowing of water and slash and burn for agriculture of poor villagers at head of the river. There are 4 point of bank erosion in our village now. The impacts of bank erosion on the village are 6 houses and many of rice stores were moved to upland area, footbath along the river is damaged and lost much of agriculture land. In addition more than 10 m of cemetery in the village is also damaged. Some villagers could not find place for their house’s building because it is limited of land. To reduce of bank erosion villagers try to dig new canal for draining of water but they are not succeeded because of they lack of instruments.

Water Voice Assessment

Effects − There are serious river bank erosion every year − 6 houses and many rice store huts were washed away during heavy rains − People cannot find place to build new houses − Village cemetery is wash away by 10 meter Causes − Village is located on steep slopes near the river bank − During heavy rains fast water flush down the shifting cultivation slopes erode the mountain increase the debit and flow of the river rapidly and wash away the river banks and houses. How people cope with changes − No records What other side effects from − No records changes What people proposed − People want to construct water drains around and the village

102/111 Water Voice in Lao PDR – Final Report – December 2005

3.8.10. BK1 Khouane Village, Tonpheuang District, Bokeo Province

Date of water voice collection 13 September, 2005 Location of water voice collection Khouane Village, Tonpheuang District, Bokeo Province Voice sender Adult male Occupation of voice sender Farmer Key Words River bank erosion Message “The increasing of water-way transportation, particularly the navigation of speedboats has produced serious impacts to the Mekong river’s bank”. Translation of Voice Recorded

Khouane is one village that locate along the Mekong river of Tonpheuang District, Bokeo province. Every year, we have severely suffered from the riverbank erosion during the flooding season. Since 1998, the increasing of water-way transportation, particularly the navigation of speedboats has produced serious impacts to the Mekong river’s bank. Other problem maybe due to of protecting of the Mekong river’s bank from another side, the water flows very strong to erode the river bank from one side of the river, to expand the land at the opposite site of the river. Few years ago some of our villagers had moved their house to upland and our gardens are also destroyed of about 50 m because of impacted from bank erosion.

Water Voice Assessment

Effects − River bank is eroded every year − Since 1998 the bank erosion is getting higher and has more damage on the land about 50 meter Causes − The increased navigation load on the Mekong create waves that erode the bank − Speed boat are the major bank destroyers − The construction of the bank protection in Thailand may also impact on changing the course of the river and create bank erosion in the Lao side. How people cope with changes − No records What other side effects from − No records changes What people proposed − No records

103/111 Water Voice in Lao PDR – Final Report – December 2005

3.9. Navigation

In some place voice on navigation were recorded. Two voices representing the 4 voices collected are assessed.

3.9.1. PSL1 Hadxa Neua Village, Phongsaly District, Phongsaly Province

Date of water voice collection 12 October, 2005 Location of water voice collection Hadxa Neua Village, Phongsaly District, Phongsaly Province Voice sender Adult male Occupation of voice sender Upland farmer, Village leader Key Words Navigation on small river Message “Long time ago, navigation was very difficult, only small boats can be used. It is better now, medium and big boat can be transported a long the Nam Ou river”.

Translation of Voice Recorded

Hadxa Neua village is located along the Ou river. Long time ago, navigation in Hadxa Neua village was very difficult, we could be used only small both and a lot of both were broken in the river because it has stone island. It is better now, medium and big boat can be transported a long the Ou river. However, even though the river has improved and many of boats can be transported but it has some impact to people livelihood in this area like sound of boat, it is very loud.

Water Voice Assessment

Effects − Boat traffic has increased − Speed boat sounds are affecting the people. Causes − Improved navigation on the Nam Ou River. − Increased traffic and speed boats. − Noise and waves created by speed boats. How people cope with changes − No records What other side effects from − No records changes What people proposed − No records

104/111 Water Voice in Lao PDR – Final Report – December 2005

3.9.2. BK15 Pakthakang Village, Paktha District, Bokeo Province , Lao PDR.

Date of water voice collection 16 September, 2005 Location of water voice collection Pakthakang Village, Paktha District, Bokeo Province Voice sender Elderly male Occupation of voice sender Retired Key Words Mekong navigation Message “Long time ago, navigation of the Mekong river was very hard and many of boats had accident in the river because of a lot of stone island. Now, it is better if compares to the past, the boat around 200 tons can be transported along the Mekong river. But navigation is affecting bank of the river so much because of strong wave”.

Translation of Voice Recorded

Long time ago, when I was young, navigation of the Mekong river is very hard and many of boats had accident in the river because of a lot of stone island. Now, it is better if compares to the past, the boat around 200 tons can be transported along the Mekong river. But navigation at the present time is affecting bank of the river so much because of strong wave of speedboat and grass or plant is also can not be grown on the bank, many of fishing boats of the villagers are sink along the river in this village. In addition, sound of boats is affecting our live here so much and fish is also reduced, too.

Water Voice Assessment

Effects − Navigation on the Mekong in the north can take boat up to 200 tons. − But navigation destroys river banks and the noise of speed boats is affecting our livelihood. − Fishing is impacted too. − Many fishing boat sunk because of waves. Causes − Navigation business has increased due to the improvement. − Large cargoes are transporting goods from and to China. − Noise and waves created by speed boats. How people cope with changes − No records What other side effects from − No records changes What people proposed − No records

105/111 Water Voice in Lao PDR – Final Report – December 2005

3.10. Wetland

Voices on wet lands were recorded especially in central and southern Lao PDR. Three voices representing the six voices collected are assessed.

3.10.1. SVK11 Kengkokdong Village, Champhone District, Savannakhet Province

Date of water voice collection 30 September, 2005 Location of water voice collection Kengkokdong Village, Champhone District, Savannakhet Province Voice sender Elderly male Occupation of voice sender Trader Key Words Lifeblood and wet lands Message “Despite current floods because of the village is located in swamp area, people can survive by cultivating dry season crops due to the enough source of water from Sechamphone River and many swamps around the villages”.

Translation of Voice Recorded

Kengkokdong village has rather lower area which has many swamps around the village, such as Nong khan swamp, Nongdeun, Nong Maehang, Nong Pafou, Nongkongkien neua, Nongkongkien Kang, Nongkongkien tai, Nong Or, Nonglath, Nong lathkaleum, among them Nongdeun is very big about 70 ha. because in this swamp we made the dam. Most of the swamps was very useful for villagers because we used the water from swamps for agriculture production and for fishing. In dry season we cultivate dry season rice production and other crops production such as peanut, corn, cucumber which can feed sufficiently for the market in Champhone district. Even in this village had faced with flood so often because of the area was in the lower area, but we can survive by dry season production due to enough source of water from Sechamphone river and many swamps around the villages. Like in this year the flood was severely because the damages covered to 80% of the total area, but after the flood was over we have plan to grow crops instead such as peanut, corn, sweet potato due to the market needs. For other damage like dam was broken due to flood, so far in our village repairing by ourselves by using the fund from selling fishes from the reserved swamp( Nong Maehang), for example last year we repaired Nongdeun Dam we used about 7 million kips, villagers have to fish in Nongmaehang swamp for selling and get money for repairing the dam. For drinking and using water we have no problem in this village because in the village we have 80 wells and about 50% of people in the village drink pure drinking water from factory.

Water Voice Assessment

Effects − There are wet lands around the village, Nongdeun swamps area is very large about 70 ha. − Most of the swamps are used for agriculture production and for fishing. − Dam are constructed on swamps to store water for irrigation. O&M of the dams are made by villagers”. − The village has no water shortage problem because well are easy to dug and water quality is good”. Causes − Living in wetland surroundings has abundance of water and food. − Swamps are utilized to irrigate lands and increase people earnings. How people cope with changes − No records What other side effects from changes − No records What people proposed − No records

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3.10.2. CPS15 Makgnaew Village, Bachieng District, Champasack Province

Date of water voice collection 8 September, 2005 Location of water voice collection Makgnaew Village, Bachieng District, Champasack Province Voice sender Adult male Occupation of voice sender Farmer Key Words Wet lands and fish conservation Message “Fishes cannot get up for breeding in the swamp, therefore the people in the village have to bring fishes from others place to release in the swamp”.

Translation of Voice Recorded

The wetland or swamp in the village, we have to reserve not to fish illegally. This swamp was at the higher place than the level of the stream. in rainy season the fish cannot get up for breeding in the swamp, therefore the people in the village have to bring the fishes from others place to release in the swamp. The species of fishes which release in the swamp was the natural fishes. When we want to fishes we have to announce to people not only in this village but also the other villagers for fishing here by paying for each fishing equipment 10.000 k. The regulation for reserving the swamp after release the fishes to the swamp then we announce to people in the village and nearby villages not to fishes in the swamp, if there were anybody violate the regulation to fish if the authorities in the village saw them they will be fined , the first time will be fined 20.000 k per 1 time, if violated again the second time will be fined about 100.000 k. and educate them and punish them to saw the wood for making public property of the village.

Water Voice Assessment

Effects − Water ways were blocked so fishes cannot go up- stream to breed − In wet land area people conserve the aquatic resource − Fishing is regulated and fish population is renewed − Strict regulation is enforced to un authorized fishing − Fines and penalties are imposed Causes − There is less fish resource − Village authorities has taken good measure to preserve fish and aquatic resource in wet lands How people cope with changes − No records What other side effects from − No records changes What people proposed − No records

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3.10.3. XK1 Nongtang Village, Phoukoud District, Xiengkhouang Province

Date of water voice collection 25 October, 2005 Location of water voice collection Nongtang Village, Phoukoud District, Xiengkhouang Province Voice sender Adult male Occupation of voice sender Farmer Key Words Wet land and water pollution Message “During Indochina war bombs and chemicals were thrown in wetlands by American planes. Now the water in the wetlands has high turbidity, villagers can not use water for drinking, they use water only for taking bath and washing clothes”.

Translation of Voice Recorded

Nongtang is nature wetland, in the past villagers around this area had utilized water from this wetland for various activities such as domestic consumption, agriculture, practice fishery and etc,… During American war much kind of bombs were thrown in this wetland by American planes, a lot of fish were death, some fish could not eat because they suffer from malady and the quality of water is very poor, it contained a lot of chemicals. Now the water in this wetland is changed, it is high concentration of turbidity, villagers can not be used for drinking any more, they use for only take bath and wash clothes. The problem may be caused from number of villagers are high as well as animal of villagers are also high. In addition, this wetland is also used for tourism and traditional celebrated like racing both.

Water Voice Assessment

Effects − Nongtang is a natural wetland, in the past villagers utilized its water for various activities such as domestic consumption, agriculture, and fishery. − The wetland area is also for tourism and traditional boat racing. − Water has high turbidity and fish cannot be cultivated due to some diseases related to war residual. Causes − During the war the area was heavily bombed and UXO and chemicals still remains. − People fear about getting sick when consuming water from the wet land How people cope with changes − No records What other side effects from − No records changes What people proposed − No records

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IV. FOLLOW-UP AND RECOMMENDATION

4.1. Storage of the Water Voice Data

During this study 254 water voice data have been compiled, translated and put into digital voice files. It is recommended that the data is kept in a data base at NAFRI or with another relevant government institution designed by JICA Lao Office. JICA has the copy right on the data. This implies that all utilization of the data should be authorized by JICA. However, to encourage people to use the data base a simple request and authorization procedure should be initiated. It is important that the utilization or reference to the water voice data is mentioned when the data is utilized.

4.2. Summary of the Water Voice Data Contents

The water voice collection through the general voice assessment made and outlined in this report has identified the people expression on water and water related issues within 11 topics (in the exception of topic No. 9 “living with water”) specified and assessed in the previous paragraphs. The assessment was made to identify:

− The change of the climate since 20-15 years by be increased temperature in the south of Lao PDR and irregular precipitation in the north; − How the people are affected by changing climatic conditions and how they have cope with it. What new problems have emerged from “men intervention”; and − What people are proposing to solve the problems related to water or develop the potential water resource.

The water voice data is an important tool for planning for preparing plans and development project related to water sector. The following can be summarized from the different water voice assessment specified in paragraph 3.

− Climate change is a big concern of the people. It is justified by increased temperature and water temperature especially in the South and by irregular precipitation that create fast flood and drought in the North. Climate change definitely impact on the livelihood of the people but many of them cannot cope with floods and drought and new movement has been made by the people such as migration to town and cities or resettlement in other areas. Most of the changes are attributed to shifting cultivation and intensive logging but nobody is aware of the effect of global warming and of the green house effect that largely influence the climate condition in the region.

− Soil erosion and bank erosion is an important issue because it destroy properties and diminish agriculture land, which is very scarce in the uplands area of the north. The growing population, shifting cultivation and in some part navigation and diversion of river flow by river bank protection contributed to the event.

− Voice on agriculture expressed the concern about irrigation and rainfed agriculture. There are different stories in different localities because of the diversified agro- ecosystem of Lao PDR. In irrigation concerns are about the sustainability of water resource, irrigation infrastructure and the operation and maintenance. In the large central and southern plains economic concerns on irrigated rice were expressed.

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Irrigation issues in the mountainous area of the north were most related to soil erosion and water resource sustainability related to current flash floods and drought.

− In rural areas, household water supply issues expressed by the voices concerned women and girls at the most. Issues of water supply shortage during the dry seasons have been expressed many times as well as the contamination of ground water. In northern uplands water supply is a question of life and resettlement are going on following the source of drinking water. In urban area water supply shortage is also during the dry season and the town water supply system do not have enough water this is due to the increase urban population and lack of town water treatment.

− Water pollution seems to be a new issue expressed by the voices. Water pollution is created by many factor such as mining draining chemical; hydropower increasing turbidity and flows of rivers; urban garbage and waste water creating insane environment; and tourism spin off effect on hotels and restaurants draining out waste.

o Water pollution by the drainage of mining wastes and chemicals into natural rivers is contaminating the water are affecting the water supply and the health of the rural people living nearby the mining exploitation. o Hydropower dams create water turbidity and the increased river flows during the dry season impact on the water consumption of the rural people. o In urban and sub-urban area water pollution is related to bad garbage management and the lack of drainage system. Urban floods affect people health because water is contaminated due to the lack of latrines and areas for poultry and domestic animals. Water borne diseases are also current. o In tourism spots water is polluted by restaurant and guest houses that are draining their wastes to natural streams and rivers.

− The expression of the voices on fisheries and aquatic resource relate to changing climate conditions, water pollution and the construction of hydropower dam and irrigation reservoir that are obstructing the traditional fish migration to breed. Concern on increased sophistication of fishing tools and equipment and the loose measures to prevent fish poisoning, electrocuting and bombing is a big concern expressed by the voices. The voices also expressed the extinction of a number local fish species including the Irrawady dolphin in the Sekong River.

− There are different expressions concerning the climate change amongst the northern and southern areas.

o In all areas people complained about the increased temperature. But the change in temperature is more emphasized in the central and southern Mekong plains. o In the Northern and mountainous areas climatic changes is influenced by the higher elevation during the dry season and it is during the wet season that rainfall irregularities are of great concern by the people. o In the north climate change is attributed to shifting cultivation as in the central and southern regions it is due to excessive logging operations.

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4.3. The Use of Water Voice Data

During the seminar the consultant proposed the use of the water voice data for the following.

− In research and development in Agriculture and Forestry and other water related sectors. − In the preparation of development projects related to water. − In the preparation of environment protection projects − In the preparation of academic curricula and text books.

As specified in the previous paragraph the following was recommended for the utilization of the water voice.

− Water voice complements the concept of the Integrated Water Resources Management (IWRM). − Water voice is useful for the curriculum for education and schools have such kind of curriculum already. Water supply for school is another important issue. − It was also proposed to pursue the water voice collection especially in remote areas with consideration to different geographic conditions and during the dry season to get the complete set of water voice data. − Japanese embassy expects usage of the data and JICA experts with the Lao organization would cooperate as well. − JICA expected that MRC would have a comprehensive database on water voice in the four member countries.

111/111 Water Voices in Lao PDR - Final Report -December 2005

JICA Laos Office Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry National Agriculture and Forestry Institute

Water Voices in the Lao PDR

Vientiane Capital ( VTC)

December, 2005

All copy right reserved by JICA. In the case of using the data, contact the JICA Laos Office

1/10 Water Voices in Lao PDR - Final Report -December 2005

Vientiane Capital ( VTC)

VTC1 Date of collection of “ water Voice”* 31 August, 2005 Region and country where you collected Water Voice: Dongkouay village, Xaithany district, Vientiane Capital. Name of voice sender: Mr. Oune , Age: 66 years. Voice sender: Elderly Occupation of Voice sender: Farmer Number of member in the family: 6, Male 3, Female 3 How long do you live in this village: 18 years.

Title: Climate change, flood and drought

The climate in the last 20 years and the way of earning for living was not the same as in the present time. In that time in winter it was very cold at night we used two or three of thick blankets but in the winter now we almost not using a blanket and in summer was not as hot as now, we did not know the causes of it. In the time before in the river there were too many fishes and very easy for catching and we can catch in a big amount in a time , if we can catch many fishes over than we can cook in each day we made salty fishes and shared with neighbors, no selling. For flood and drought in the last 20 years ago it also was flood and the rice field was innunded but less damage because the water flow passing through rapidly, because in the past there were no ditch to block the water so that it can run through rapidly. Now they had made the ditch to block the water for agricultural irrigated in dry season, if there were heavy rain the water cannot run through rapidly and the water flooded the rice field for many day and damage all of the area it was flooded. They made the ditch not only blocking the water but also blocking fishes in the rainy season can not to go up stream for hatching, therefore the number of fishes getting smaller and smaller every years. The reason that they decided to maintain the ditch is for blocking water for dry season rice production, because of fertilized soil, the dry season rice production there can give high yield without using chemical fertilizer. In each year they can irrigated dry season rice field about 50 ha. and the area will be less down due to small volume of water.

VTC2 Date of collection of “ water Voice”* 31 August, 2005 Region and country where you collected Water Voice: Dongkouay village, Xaithany district, Vientiane Capital. Name of voice sender: Mrs Thorn , Age: 58 years. Voice sender: Elderly, female Occupation of Voice sender: House keeper Number of member in the family: 5, Male 2, Female 3 How long do you live in this village: 58 years.

Title: Fishery product

Number of fishes now comparing to the last 20 years ago it was very big difference, in 20 years ago we can catch the fishes as much as we need by any kind of fishing material, like fish hook, fishing net, casting net and others. Now the number of fishes was very few, in some day we can catch only just for each meal and

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in some day not enough for a meal, some kind of fish was extinct. I don’t know why the number of fishes were less down than before. In the time of 20 years ago the price of fishes was very cheap and there were no middle man accessed to the village for trading, if some people they can catch a lot of fishes they had to take to the market in Vientiane Capital which it was very difficult in that time for transportation . Now there were many middle man accessed to village for trading but the number of fishes was very few and the price was high but no fishes for sale. The reason that made the number of fishes decreased maybe due to they made the ditch to block the water which the fishes cannot get to up stream and in the area of the ditch in rainy season when it rain some people had set up some fish traps to catch fishes when it try to go up stream. If the level of the water of Mekong river and the level of Houy Mak Hiou was not higher up at the same level and over flow the ditch the fishes cannot go up stream. About the regulation of fishing, in the other area of the stream they did not prohibited for fishing, but in front of the ditch they reserve for the village property. When they will fishing in that area they will fish in caravan and people who want to fish they have to pay 10.000 k for one fishing equipment.

VTC3 Date of collection of water voice: 31 August, 2005 Region and country where your collected “ Water Voice “ DongKhouai Village, Xaythany District, Vientiane Capital City, Lao PDR. Name of voice sender: Mrs. Khamkhoun Age: 56 years old Occupation: Farmer Social membership: Head of women union Number of family member: 5 How long do you live in this village: 56 years.

Title: Water supply shortage

All of people in our village use rainwater and wells for household using. Every year the water was shortage for drinkingand using, especially in dry season(January to May). Most of the wells was running out of water even the depth was about 20 to 30m. In the past number of well was very few and far from our village about 5 km, we spent a lot of time to go to collect the water and affected our daily working too much. Although number of well had increased now and located nearby our house but the water still not enough for drinking and using. More than that, the water quality in some wells are not so good due to salty water.

VTC4 Date of collection of water voice: 31 August, 2005 Region and country where your collected “ Water Voice “ DongKhouai Village, Xaythany District, Vientiane Capital City, Lao PDR. Name of voice sender: Mr. Bounpho Age: 52 years old Occupation: Farmer Social membership: Number of family member: 10 How long do you live in this village: 52 years.

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Title: Flood We are living in Dong Khouai Village, and have suffered a lot from seasonal flooding. Almost every year, the rice cultivation areas of our villagers were flooding so early because they are located low area near the Mark Hieo river. Annual flood is causing serious damage to the properties and crop production, especially in August and September and some years in October also. In the last few year, after flooded a lot of villagers had to find other field for their rice cultivation and some crops by sharing with their relative. Some people are leaving their homeland to the capital city or other places to find jobs because they need food to support their family. And some people decided to migrate to Thailand for selling the labor.

VTC5 Date of collection of water voice: 31 August, 2005 Region and country where your collected “ Water Voice “ DongKhouai Village, Xaythany District, Vientiane Capital City, Lao PDR. Name of voice sender: Mrs. Bounmy Age: 50 years old Occupation: House worker Social membership: member of women union Number of family member: 7 How long do you live in this village: 50 years.

Title: Crops production and irrigation

Agriculture field of our village is about 534 ha. Almost of this area can be grown rice and other crops only in the wet season because it is not enough of the water in dry season. Even we have plan for water storage by building a small of earth wier but we can grow rice for only 5 to 6 households. A lot of people need to grow rice in the dry season if it is enough of water because our people do not have any job except rice production.

VTC6 Date of collection of “ water Voice”* 31 August, 2005 Region and country where you collected Water Voice: Dongkouay village, Xaithany district, Vientiane Capital. Name of voice sender: Mr. Nak , Age: 21 years. Voice sender: Youth Occupation of Voice sender: Farmer Number of member in the family: 6, Male 3, Female 3 How long do you live in this village: 24 years.

Title: Others

In the village there were no garbage control, each household had to put their garbage in the plastic bag, when they go out to their field they have to take the bag of garbage with them and then threw away at the

4/10 Water Voices in Lao PDR - Final Report -December 2005 horse track sides which spoiled the environment . Some household they threw the garbage at the road side near their house which spoiled the water in rainy season and the garbage had blocked the water runway which make the village dirty. In the future should be managed the garbage better than it is being at the present time and besides the garbage the grasses in the village in front of each house should be cut and clear in order to make the village clean.

VTC7 Date of collection of “ water Voice”* 1, September, 2005 Region and country where you collected Water Voice: Angnamhou village, Nasaithong district, Vientiane Capital. Name of voice sender: Mr Somphone Manachith , Age: 61 years. Voice sender: Elderly, Male Occupation of Voice sender: Gardener Number of member in the family: 5, Male 2, Female 3 How long do you live in this village: 30 years.

Title: Climate change, flood and drought

The climate now a day had change a lot when we compare with 30 years ago which the area was abundant with big tree and bio- diversity around the area . Now the big tree was cut and the forest was invading by the people , therefore the amount of water was decreasing in the reservoir for example like in this year the water level was very low than the year before in the same time. This year if the level of water still remain low like this the farmers in the lower area could not irrigated the water to their field for dry season rice production. And also the amount of fishes was also decreasing because of many people come to catch fishes here not only the people of this village, the other villages also come for fishing here. The climate change due to the forest cutting to much. In the last 20 years, in winter was very cold, people like to set fire for getting warm at night and in the morning time , but now we could hardly see any body setting fire for warming or wearing coat, in summer it was very hot than ever before. Now everythings had change for example, climate, fishes and water.

VTC8 Date of collection of “ water Voice”* 1, September, 2005 Region and country where you collected Water Voice: Angnamhou village, Nasaithong district, Vientiane Capital. Name of voice sender: Mrs Khanthong Suriyo , Age: 46 years. Voice sender: Woman union Occupation of Voice sender: House keeper/ weaving Number of member in the family: 5, Male 3, Female 2 How long do you live in this village: 28 years.

Title: Water supply shortage

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In the village, almost every house has well for using water in their household, but the village location was very deep to the underground water, in rainy season the water for using and drinking was enough, but in the dry season many household was shortage of water for using and drinking. They have to fetch water from the house of their neighbors . Some households they use well water for gardening but in the small area, if they make in large area for gardening the water will not enough. In dry season when the water in their well was dried up they have to take water from other house for drinking but for using and bathing they have to bring the water from Namhoum reservoir.

VTC9 Date of collection of “ water Voice”* 1, September, 2005 Region and country where you collected Water Voice: Sivilay village, Nasaithong district, Vientiane Capital. Name of voice sender: Mr Somphone Insisombath , Age: 61 years. Voice sender: Elderly, Male Occupation of Voice sender: Farmer Number of member in the family: 9, Male 5, Female 4 How long do you live in this village: 20 years.

Title: Climate change, flood and drought Now and before it had a very big difference about the climate, when I moved here at first from my old residence the location of the village was located at the site of Namxuang reservoir, more than 20 years ago we had moved to new location at present time , the government officer promised that they will support every things for their better life in the new location so that they decided to move here, but after moved here they had faced with many problems such as the area for agriculture was very small and the water was not enough for their daily using and for agriculture. they proposed to the upper part many time but there were no reply from them.

VTC10 Date of collection of “ water Voice”* 1, September, 2005 Region and country where you collected Water Voice: Sivilay village, Nasaithong district, Vientiane Capital. Name of voice sender: Mr Phoud , Age: 65 years. Voice sender: Elderly, Male Occupation of Voice sender: Farmer Number of member in the family: 9, Male 5, Female 4 How long do you live in this village: 20 years.

Title: Fish products

The situation of fishes and fishing here in this village was very hard because there were no source for fishing. There were only fish culture like me I have a pond and raising fish for many years ago. At first I have no problem about water to fill in my fish pond because I got the water from the canal from Namxaung reservoir, in that time the level of the canal was higher than the level of my fish pond, After JICA had established the Aquaculture Development Center, they

6/10 Water Voices in Lao PDR - Final Report -December 2005 developed new canal system , but the level of the canal was lower than the level of my fish pond so that the water from the canal could not support my fish pond in dry season. In rainy season there was no problem, but if we released fingerlings in rainy season it took only three to four months that the water can remain in the pond, so the fishes which had released was not big enough for sale.

VTC11 Date of collection of water voice: 01 September, 2005 Region and country where your collected “ Water Voice “ Nam Houm Village, Naxaythong District, Vientiane Capital City, Lao PDR. Name of voice sender: Mr. Thongmy Southammavong Age: 49 years old Occupation: catch fish Number of family member: 7 How long do you live in this village: 26 years. Key words: Fishery

Title: Fish products Long time ago, the villagers in this area were easy to catch the fish in this reservoir because there were a few number of fishermen and less of fishing material and they catch fish only for eating. Nowadays, number of fishermen are increasing, the villagers catch fishes with modern tool, so now number of fishes are very few. Some kind of fish was nearly extinct like Pa Eithai(Osteochilus hasselti) and cat fishes. I do not know exactly why number of these fishes were less, may be due to the changing of environment like increasing of water temperature in the reservoir and eventually may affect these fishes.

VTC12 Date of collection of water voice: 01 September, 2005 Region and country where your collected “ Water Voice “ Nam Houm Village, Naxaythong District, Vientiane Capital City, Lao PDR. Name of voice sender: Mr. SingKham Age: 46 years old Occupation: Number of family member: 7 How long do you live in this village: 10 years.

Title: Water supply shortage We live in Nam Houm village, which is located with the Nam Houm reservoir. It is highland area so this village does not have any irrigation system and we can not grow any crop in both wet and dry season. Usually, the villagers use water from well and rainwater for household using and for growing some vegetables around their house in wet season. Most of wells in this village are decreased in dry season, but every year the villagers have suffered from water shortage.

VTC13 Date of collection of “ water Voice”* 2, September, 2005

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Region and country where you collected Water Voice: Thinthaen village, Hadsaifong district, Vientiane Capital. Name of voice sender: Mr Oune Nornava , Age: 47 years. Voice sender: Adult , Male Occupation of Voice sender: Head of the village Number of member in the family: 7, Male 3, Female 4 How long do you live in this village: 47 years.

Title: Bank erosion

The problem of bank erosion in this village not only at the present time, since the time of our parents still young the bank of Mekong river also eroded . In each year we have observed that when it had the strong wave of water it will impact to the bank heavily, if in each year the wave of the water not very strong it impacted not so heavy and the Mekong bank did not damage too much. we can say that it was the natural . Before that in the area which had already eroded there were some rice field , but now it had already eroded. The location of the village at the present time was not the original area of the ancestor, they had moved from the low part of the Mekong river which it had already eroded. The villagers had proposed to the upper part many time for solving this problem but still delay due to what reason nobody know. The area of bank erosion was long about three kilometers and covered to two villages in this area.

VTC 14 Date of collection of “ water Voice”* 2, September, 2005 Region and country where you collected Water Voice: Thinthaen village, Hadsaifong district, Vientiane Capital. Name of voice sender: Mr Khamfong Chanthasouk , Age: 53 years. Voice sender: Elderly, Male Occupation of Voice sender: Head of Water user group Number of member in the family: 8, Male 3, Female 5 How long do you live in this village: 53 years.

Title: Climate change, flood and drought.

The climate since the ancestor time about 30 years ago, the weather in winter was very cold, in the night time and in the morning time they had set up fire for getting warm, but now the climate had changed, even in winter at night we almost did not use blanket. And especially in summer the temperature is very high, it seems higher and higher in each year. In rainy season the situation of the rainfall was not as normal as it had been at the time before, when it rain it rain heavily until the water over flow and flood at last, but in some years no heavy rain and became drought, due to the climate change like this it causes the health problem for people especially for children, they had got cold and fever.

VTC15 Date of collection of water voice: 02 September, 2005 Region and country where your collected “ Water Voice “ ThinThaen Village, Hadxayfong District, Vientiane Capital City, Lao PDR. Name of voice sender: Mr. Khonsavanh Bouta

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Age: 35 years old Occupation: Fix car Number of family member: 5 How long do you live in this village: 6 years.

Title: Fish products Long time ago, it was a lot of fish in the river here, the villagers can caught the fish as much as they need by any kind of fishing material like fishing net, fishing hook and casting net and they caught only big fish. Now number of fish is reduced may be due to of increasing of fishermen and the villagers catch fish with modern tool. Some fishes are nearly extinct now like PaBeuk(Pangasius gigas) and PaLeurm (Pangasius sanitsawongsei). These kind of fishes we could not catch them for a long time ago. We do not know for exactly why number of these fishes were less and can not catch theem now because we did not study about this field before, may be due to these kind of fishes are very delicious, most of people like to eat and the price is also very high comparing to other fishes.

VTC16 Date of collection of water voice: 02 September, 2005 Region and country where your collected “ Water Voice “ ThinThaen Village, Hadxayfong District, Vientiane Capital City, Lao PDR. Name of voice sender: Mr. Khamphaen Thongvilay Age: 55 years old Occupation: Farmer Number of family member: 4 How long do you live in this village: 21 years.

Title: Crops production and irrigation

There is pumping irrigation system in our village, people use water from this irrigation system for growing rice as well as other crops so far such as tomato, bean, cucumber and etc. From 2003 up to now the water does not enough for growing rice in our village in dry season because the irrigation system that supported by the government of Vietnam was cut out. It was transferred to Thapa village, so the remain of the irrigation system has not enough water for irrigation to our field. In addition, the reason that the water does not enough for our village’s field may be due to of the water in this irrigation system was distributed to other village’s field like Khouai Deng village.

VTC17 Date of collection of water voice: 02 September, 2005 Region and country where your collected “ Water Voice “ ThinThaen Village, Hadxayfong District, Vientiane Capital City, Lao PDR. Name of voice sender: Mr. Somboun Kitivong Age: 48 years old Occupation: Farmer Number of family member: 5 How long do you live in this village: 23 years.

Title: Water and wetland The wetland is very important to our people’s livelihood. People in our village have been utilized the wetland for various activities such as collection some vegetables to be a food in the wet season, growing rice and catch fish in the dry season. In the past we can catch the fish as much as we need in this wetland.

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Nowadays, number of fish was very few probably due to the over drain the water in this area to the Mekong River. To protect the wetland for sustainable development, we are people who are living in ThinThean village had shared some money with the government to dig the canal and drain the water from this area to the Mekong River.

10/10 Water Voices in Lao PDR - Final Report -December 2005

JICA Laos Office Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry National Agriculture and Forestry Institute

Water Voices in the Lao PDR

Vientiane Province (VTP)

December, 2005

All copy right reserved by JICA. In the case of using the data, contact the JICA Laos Office

1/9 Water Voices in Lao PDR - Final Report -December 2005

Vientiane Province (VTP)

VTP1 Date of collection of “ water Voice”* 24, October, 2005 Region and country where you collected Water Voice: Hadsaignam village, Keo-oudom district, Vientiane Province. Name of voice sender: Mr. Bounvan Vilaisane , Age: 76 years. Voice sender: Elderly, Male Occupation of Voice sender: Farmer Number of member in the family: 7, Male 3, Female 4 How long do you live in this village: 17 years.

Title: Climate change, flood and drought

From the year 1988 when this village was established comparing with the present time the climate was very different , now when it rain it will rain very heavy and when the sun shine it will take a long time and very hot, it means the rain was not rain exactly according to the season at the time before we can forecast when it will rain and when the sun will shine but now we could not forecast. And the water in the river and in the forest also changed, in the time before the forest still fertile with bio-diversity it has high humidity when it rain only one time the water will flow in the river and in the small streams and it will some spring water along the steams in forest, but now if it rain only one time there will no water flowing along the streams and no spring water , if it was not rain very heavy and many times. The causes of it, was the wood cutting and making slash and burn when this village had moved here at first, according to the observation of the concerned sections. The wood was cut illegally by the villagers in this village and others villages also cut for sawing and selling to people who want to construct their houses to get money for buying rice. In order to make to reserve the forest and make the nature become fertile as before we have to stop cutting the tree and find another way for villagers to earn for their living. The first one but this will be very difficult because in this village there were no area for making low land rice field, the second one the law must be the law it means every people have to follow the law strictly.

VTP2 Date of collection of “ water Voice”* 24, October, 2005 Region and country where you collected Water Voice: Hadsaignam village, Keo-oudom district, Vientiane Province. Name of voice sender: Mr. Khambang , Age: 45 years. Voice sender: Adult, Male Occupation of Voice sender: Upland rice Farmer Number of member in the family: 7, Male 3, Female 4 How long do you live in this village: 16 years.

Title: Fish products The fishes in Namlik river in this village area, in the time before there were a lot of fishes and many species was available in that time, but now the situation had changed the number of fishes were decreased and the river was became shallow the water in the river was very little because in the time before the water from Namxong river was flowed to Namlik, but now Namxong river was block and drained the water to Namgneum reservoir for assisting electricity production in dry season. and another reason that made the water became shallow because many people was cut the tree for sale but it was not their main occupation , in rainy season some people who have low land rice field they have to cultivate theirs, and some people who has no low land rice field they have to cultivate un-shifting upland rice field, but after they finished their rice field, in dry season they have to find their extra income buy cutting wood and saw for sale. If they will earn their extra income buying fishing and selling fishes, but the number of fishes was very few, when they go out to fish in one day long

2/9 Water Voices in Lao PDR - Final Report -December 2005 almost not enough for one meal. The species of fishes in Namlik now there were many species of breeding fishes species for example Panin( Oreochromis niloticus), Panai( Cyprinus carpio Linnaeus), Pakinya, Padoukphan ( Clarias batrachus) and there were also some natural fishes. The main fishing gear which they were used in this village was gill nets, and casting nets, The extinct species of fishes in Namlik river was Pakhoun, Pakhao, now we could not find them any more due to the water was became shallow with many sentiment, the main cause was because of many people cutting the tree and the bank had eroded a lot.

VTP3 Date of collection of “ water Voice”* 24, October, 2005 Region and country where you collected Water Voice: Hadsaignam village, Keo-oudom district, Vientiane Province. Name of voice sender: Mrs. Nou , Age: 36 years. Voice sender: Adult, Female Occupation of Voice sender: Housekeeper Number of member in the family: 7, Male 4, Female 3 How long do you live in this village: 17 years.

Title: Bank Erosion

The situation of bank erosion in this village area when we have moved here at first the bank of Namlik river was not eroded so severe like now, in that time the river in this village had two flowing way of water and it had small island in the middle, but now the river became shallow and the water flow had only one way another one way had dry up some people had plant their crops over there . The way of water flow had only one way therefore the tide of water was strong and eroded the bank every years. In some year if the rain was so heavy it will eroded a lot. the causes of it because there were many people made gardening along the river too much and slash the all of the bushes along the river bank . In the time before the river was very deep and many fishes. The bank was eroded a lot in each year. The bank was far from the village now about 100 meters, if it eroded like this many years it will come to the houses of the people. To protect it some people in another village who rather have good household economy they made the bank protection by concrete, nut in our village we are poor in order to protect it we have to plant some kind of tree which can protect the bank erosion.

VTP4 Date of collection of “ water Voice”* 25, October, 2005 Region and country where you collected Water Voice: Phonnhaeng village, Keo-oudom district, Vientiane Province. Name of voice sender: Mr.Bouaphanh Phommachanh , Age: 60 years. Voice sender: Elderly, Male Occupation of Voice sender: Farmer Number of member in the family: 6, Male 3, Female 3 How long do you live in this village: 60 years.

Title: Water supply shortage

Phonhaeng villagers had used the water from well, which there were 42 wells in the village. In 42 wells there was a well with concrete frame 12 wells. Other than that there were well without frame, In there village there were 15 households using electric pump to pump the water for use in the households. Other than that they used bucket to take water. The quality of water in the well was not so good because the level of water or the well was

3/9 Water Voices in Lao PDR - Final Report -December 2005 shallow well only about 5-6 meters which the dirty water from the surface of the ground fall into the well in rainy season, and most of the well in the village can used the water only in rainy season there were a few well that can used all year round. In dry season 2/3 of the villagers they drink the pure drinking water from the factory. So far we have proposed to the district or provincial level for making deep well for us in the village but until now there were no reply, just waiting.

VTP5 Date of collection of “ water Voice”* 25, October, 2005 Region and country where you collected Water Voice: Phonnhaeng village, Keo-oudom district, Vientiane Province. Name of voice sender: Mr. Linthong Douangdala , Age: 55 years. Voice sender: Adult, Male Occupation of Voice sender: Farmer Number of member in the family: 3, Male 2, Female 1 How long do you live in this village: 30 years.

Title: Crops production and irrigation Main occupation of the people in this village are farmers, the total area of lowland rice field was 46,9 ha. and the irrigated area was 22,5 ha. Most of the farmers in the villages cultivated rice in both seasons, in dry season other than rice they also grow other crops like bean, cucumber, and other kinds of vegetable. The water which used for irrigated area was from Namgneum river by sharing from the other villages because the headway was used 500 HP of pump which can supply the water for irrigated area more than 500 ha, among them there were many villages used the water from this irrigation scheme. For this village more than 90% of population in the village cultivated dry rice production. Which made the living condition of the population in the village had sufficient of rice 100%. For cultivating dry rice production it had both conveniences and inconveniences, but conveniences had more than inconveniences because we can see that after we had the irrigation system , it can make the living condition of villagers better step by step, the inconveniences that is because of the main canal was under standard, too much water had lost, it took a long time to supply water to rice field and then it made the high cost for electricity fees, many farmers don’t want to do because the production was not balanced with the investment. So far we had proposed to the concerned section, if possible we need to have concrete canal which can supply enough water for rice field without losing.

VTP6 Date of collection of “ water Voice”* 25, October, 2005 Region and country where you collected Water Voice: Phonnhaeng village, Keo-oudom district, Vientiane Province. Name of voice sender: Mrs. Noulam Vanphasouk , Age: 54 years. Voice sender: Adult, Female Occupation of Voice sender: Farmer Number of member in the family: 4, Male 2, Female 2 How long do you live in this village: 54 years.

Title: Fish products

Main occupation in my households was farmer cultivated rice, other than growing rice we had fish culture and handicraft work to earn for our living, for two years ago we invested in fish culture, I have 5 rais ( 0,8 ha.) of total rice field, I made fishes pond in one rai of the area which 6 fish ponds, a big one I had released mixed fishes like Panin, Panai, Papak, Pakinya, one

4/9 Water Voices in Lao PDR - Final Report -December 2005 pond was for Panin, one pond was for Panai, one pond was for Papak and three pond was for Padouk, I had released 40.000 of Padouk fingerlings. Since I had started to do fish culture it had made our living condition better than before, daily meal we have no need to buy food in market. We used the fishes in our ponds for daily meal and when we have some party we used it and when our neighbors want to eat fishes we sale it to them, and we also sale to middle trader who sale in markets. After we started to do fish culture we have no need to cultivate rice in last years due to the fishes had eaten the rice stalk in the rice field and we can earn enough money to buy rice, last year we got about 6 million kips from selling fishes. Other than fishes we also started breeding frogs in this year and also feeding poultries. Main source of water for fish pond in dry season we pump the water from deep well and from the irrigation system.

VTP7 Date of collection of “ water Voice”* 26, October, 2005 Region and country where you collected Water Voice: Sengsavang village, Keo-oudom district, Vientiane Province. Name of voice sender: Mr. Vongphachan Banlavong , Age: 56 years. Voice sender: Adult, Male Occupation of Voice sender: Director of Namgneum reservoir management project. Number of member in the family: 5, Male 3, Female 2 How long do you live in this village: 30 years.

Title: Namgneum reservoir management (Others)

This project was the project that had developed from the Namgneum reservoir fishing project. Our project has the function to manage in technical about the fishing and environment in Namgnwum reservoir, we have to manage Namgneum reservoir to the better and sustainable uses, we have the duty to issue the permission letter for the fisherman, reserved the hatching area for fishes and training the fisherman to do fish culture in the cages and fishes production , these are the main function of our project. Other than these functions we also being the coordinator with concerned sections like education section, public health section because other than fishing people and local authorities in this area also need these, because in the area of Namgneum reservoir had covered to 6 districts of two provinces, Vientiane province and Xaisomboun special zone. Our project also developed schools, dispensaries and had installed sun power system electricity in 5 villages. So far our project had supported by international organization through MRC, but now the term was finished. Since Namgneum dam had established in 1971 until now 34 years ago, the main purposes of the dam was for electricity production and other than that was for fishing and fish culture which we can catch fishes about 2000 kg daily in average for community consumption. We also used this reservoir for transportation between village to village and district to district and for tourism. Namgneum reservoir had a big benefit for the country and especially for the people who living along the reservoir, but in the contrast it seems to us that we only used this reservoir, but the way that will make the reservoir sustainable, the concerned sections seems not pay attention to develop it .

VTP8 Date of collection of “ water Voice”* 26, October, 2005 Region and country where you collected Water Voice: Sengsavang village, Keo-oudom district, Vientiane Province. Name of voice sender: Mr. Sithat Vinaiya , Age: 43 years. Voice sender: Adult, Male

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Occupation of Voice sender: Trader. Number of member in the family: 4, Male 2, Female 2 How long do you live in this village: 13 years.

Title: Tourism (Others)

Mr. Suthat before now he was a staff in the tourist company in Namgneum reservoir, he started his own business in 1993 by starting from a small tourist boat, now he became the owner of a floating restaurant and a big tourist boat for serving the tourist who want to cruise along the Namgheum reservoir, his restaurant and boat sometime had damaged from the heavy storm. The main tourist who come to tour at Namgneum reservoir here were domestic tourist and some foreigners but not so many. Domestic tourist they came here on weekend and some holiday like New year’s Day, International Women’s Day. There were also tourist on normal day which the tourism companies from Vientiane capital or other place led them to tour at Namgneum reservoir but not so popular, there were some tourism companies or tourist complain about the inconvenience along the way, because in Vientiane province traffic police had stop for inspection their car everyday which caused to waste much time and the tourists felt unhappy for this even. We are the normal people we did not know why? For the tourist site here was the natural site without any development, and our tourist boat here also no development. For the tourist who came here they never made the nature spoil or polluted because most of them came here on day trip. We want to develop the tourist site here at Namgneum reservoir in order to make income for people here, we need the concerned section to control about the tourist fees for car and boat and price of fishes or food not so high because the main food which supply to tourist here were fishes, and the traffic along the way should be more convenience than now.

VTP9 Date of collection of “ water Voice”* 26, October, 2005 Region and country where you collected Water Voice: Sengsavang village, Keo-oudom district, Vientiane Province. Name of voice sender: Mr. Duangdy Sidouang , Age: 39 years. Voice sender: Adult, Male Occupation of Voice sender: Fisherman. Number of member in the family: 4, Male 2, Female 2 How long do you live in this village: 17 years.

Title: Fish products

Mr. Douangdy was a fisherman who used to fish at Namgneum reservoir since 1988. he said that at the time before the number of fishes in Namgneum reservoir were a lot and many species, he can observed when he rode on the boat to fish he can see many flocks of fishes and can fish easily by fishinghook and gill nets. But now when we sail out to fish we could not see any flocks of fishes, even some species of fishes had extinct like Pamen ( Osphronemus exodon Roberts), Pafa( Amphotistius laosensis), Pado ( Channa micropeltes). 4-5 years before we still

6/9 Water Voices in Lao PDR - Final Report -December 2005 can catch fishes enough for sale to match with the demand of our clients, but now fishing here was are very difficult to catch enough fishes to the order of the clients, sometime we can get the fishes not enough for fuel fees in each day. If we can get fishes when we sale them sometime there were some traders when out to buy fishes from us at the island where we fish, even the price is lower than we sale at the port but we need to save our fuel we have to sale at the island. Now the number of fishes were decreased we could not take fishing only for the main occupation we have to do another second job for earning income to survive. In order to maintain the fishes to become more and more as in the time before we have to inspect strictly for the people who used illegal equipment to fish like bombing, electric shock and other illegal equipment which will destroy small fishes, and prohibited to fish at the fish breeding and hatching area. For people who violated the regulation when the concerned section found, they have to be captured and confiscated their equipment and fined them. But now the problem that is because the reservoir is too big and the concerned authorities could not inspect to all area, there fore there were still some people who violated the rule. Other than fishing natural fishes there were many people who do fish culture in cages and block at some places for being the pond and get fishes after the water get lower.

VTP10 Date of collection of “ water Voice”* 27, October, 2005 Region and country where you collected Water Voice: Bounphao village, Thoulakhom district, Vientiane Province. Name of voice sender: Mr.Khamphan Manmeuangkhoun , Age: 46 years. Voice sender: Adult, Male Occupation of Voice sender: Farmer. Number of member in the family: 7, Male 4, Female 3 How long do you live in this village: 46 years.

Title: Crops production Bounphao village is a village that depending on agriculture for both seasons. In the village there were 150 ha. of lowland rice field which cultivated only in rainy season and 300 ha. of crops which cultivated only in dry season it was very necessary for us to use water for watering crops. The main crops that we grow in dry season was corn, chilly, egg plant and other kinds of vegetable. For these crops we did not have contract with any company or individual, after harvesting our crops we have to sale at the common market for consumption in district local market and at Vientiane Capital markets. In 1985 there were an irrigation system two schemes, but until now one of them was stop using it due to the canal was under standard water losing a lot, there now only one scheme still using but not for rice production only for crops production. The source of water was from Namgneum river. The electricity fee was too high when we used the water from the irrigation system the payment was not balanced with the investment. The area for crops production 70% was along the bank of Namgneum river 30% was at the other area.

VTP11 Date of collection of “ water Voice”* 27, October, 2005 Region and country where you collected Water Voice: Bounphao village, Thoulakhom district, Vientiane Province. Name of voice sender: Mr.Mork , Age: 76 years. Voice sender: Elderly, Male Occupation of Voice sender: Gardener.. Number of member in the family: 2, Male 1, Female 1 How long do you live in this village: 49 years.

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Title: Climate change, flood and drought

Mr. Mork was a gardener and feeding cattle, when he live here at first he was a farmer, many years passed he transferred his farm land to his sons and daughters, so he himself have to stop cultivating rice, but he grew banana for sale until 1980 it was severe flood and damaged all of his banana tree, so he stop it and now he is feeding cattle and gardening in dry season. And in 1990 there were also severe flood the rice field area of the people in the village had damaged all, and in that years the government had help us in rice about 20 tons. In this year also flood but not so severe not over flow to the village area. Boungphao village was located down stream of the Namgheum dam, if any year it had heavy rain and the level of water was over the red mark of the reservoir, the concerned authorities of Namgneum dam they had to release the water out, in that time the down stream area will be flood, but in conclusion before the construction of dam the flood was so often and after the construction of dam the flood was not so often when there were heavy rain they released the water from the dam it will flood.

VTP12 Date of collection of “ water Voice”* 27, October, 2005 Region and country where you collected Water Voice: Bounphao village, Thoulakhom district, Vientiane Province. Name of voice sender: Mr. Bouala Miphendala , Age: 52 years. Voice sender: Adult, Male Occupation of Voice sender: Farmer, Gardener.. Number of member in the family: 7, Male 4, Female 3 How long do you live in this village: 27 years.

Title: Fish products

Main source of fishing area was in Namgneum river and in some swamp or small stream in the village,but 90% of people were fish in Namgneum river, we used gill nets to fish, in the time before we used over 8 centimeters of gill nets cross to fish, because in that time there were big fishes, but now the gill nets become smaller due to small fishes, in that time the fishes that we can catch was Papak, Paphia, Pakeng, now these fishes was very scarce. The causes that make the fishes decreased was that because now there were too many ways and many kinds of fishing gear to fish, many people fishing for sale. In the time before they just fished for consumption in the household only. There were also the regulation for controlling fishing in our village, but there were some who used bombing, especially for the people in the village who were the soldier and work in another place when they come to visit their home, they need some food for their friends, there were only one way that was bombing which can get many fishes, when they do like that if we will punish them, it will be so serious for them because many years they come back to visit one time and they work for protect our country. The extinct fishes were Pakheung, Pakhoun, Payang, Pahoumad, Pakouan, Pado. we could not see any more these fishes.

VTP13 Date of collection of “ water Voice”* 27, October, 2005 Region and country where you collected Water Voice: Bounphao village, Thoulakhom district, Vientiane Province. Name of voice sender: Mr.Nouanthong Meuangvong , Age: 38 years. Voice sender: Adult , Male Occupation of Voice sender: Farmer, Gardener.. Number of member in the family: 5, Male 2, Female 3 How long do you live in this village: 49 years.

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Title: Water and wetland

In this village there were three big swamps, like Nong Hongka swamp which had the area of 2 ha., Nongnahang 4 ha, and Nong Nhai 10ha. The benefit of each swamp was we used to fish and we used the water for watering the crops and in NongNhai we grew rice in dry season, in the village there were a reserved pond for the village by using the natural fishes. For the reserved pond the area of it was about one ha. when we fish, we have to fish in caravan every households in the village have to fish together without payment, but the other villagers were prohibited. In order to protect the swamps we have the activities like the brick factory who installed their factory near the swamp they have to excavate the soil and make ditch around the swamp and not to pollute it.

9/9 Water Voices in Lao PDR - Final Report -December 2005

JICA Laos Office Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry National Agriculture and Forestry Institute

Water Voices in the Lao PDR

Xayabuly Province (XBL)

December, 2005

All copy right reserved by JICA. In the case of using the data, contact the JICA Laos Office

1/8 Water Voices in Lao PDR - Final Report -December 2005

Xayabuly Province (XBL)

XBL1 Date of collection of water voice: 31 October, 2005 Region and country where your collected “ Water Voice “ Naxam Village, Xayabuly District, Xayabuly Province , Lao PDR. Name of voice sender: Mr. Thongchanh Phimmachak Age: 48 years old Occupation: Farmer, (Village leader) Number of family member: 3, Female: 2 How long do you live in this village: 48 years. Key words: Water and irrigation

Title: Water for rice production We are people living in the Naxam village, and have suffered a lot of water for crops production. From 1991 to 1992 we used rainfall and water from canal of irrigation system for rice production. It had enough water for our rice production and we have good harvest at that time. After that many things are changed, farmers do not have enough water for rice and other crops production. The problems are from standard irrigation was broken and villagers could not fix by themselves, slash and burn for agriculture of poor villagers at head of the river and small river. This year(2005) rainfall starts late than normal, villagers could not grow their rice on time and may affect the yield of them rice production. We need assistance to improve irrigation system and we need water for our rice and other crops production.

XBL2 Date of collection of water voice: 31 October, 2005 Region and country where your collected “ Water Voice “ Naxam Village, Xayabuly District, Xayabuly Province , Lao PDR. Name of voice sender: Mr. Khean Age: 43 years old Occupation: Upland farmer Number of family member: 5, Female: 3 How long do you live in this village: 9 years.

Title: Water supply shortage

In the past, we used water from the Houang river for domestic included drinking, take bath, wash clothes and etc,… At that time, the river’s water was clean and had a lot of fish because number of villager was not high. Now the Houang river can not be used for drinking any more because villagers who live at head and along of the river discharge every thing waste into the river. Every year, villagers have suffered a serious from water shortage, especially in dry season. In this year(2005) our village has helped from Lao red cross organization by drill three tube wells but it can be used for only one well. A lot of villagers who live nearly the river are returned to collect water from Houang river for drinking again. Although having known about this fact, the river’s water is still for domestic use but it is boiled before drink.

XBL3

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Date of collection of water voice: 31 October, 2005 Region and country where your collected “ Water Voice “ Naxam Village, Xayabuly District, Xayabuly Province , Lao PDR. Name of voice sender: Mr. Nean Age: 57 years old Occupation: Upland farmer Number of family member: 7, Female: 4 How long do you live in this village: 35 years. Title: Bank erosion

Long time ago, the natural resource did not have problem in our village. The weather around this area had not changed, the land were covered by many kind of trees and as well as water resources there are a lot of fish. Now things have changed, especially is water resource. Every year, villagers have suffered from bank erosion. The problem may be due to changing of climate, heavy rainfall, increasing of population and slash and burn for agriculture of poor villagers. The impacts of bank erosion on the village are lost of agriculture land and food shortage. According to calculating of village’s committee around 8 ha of agriculture land is lost for this year(2005).

XBL4 Date of collection of water voice: 31 October, 2005 Region and country where your collected “ Water Voice “ Nonsavanh Village, Xayabuly District, Xayabuly Province , Lao PDR. Name of voice sender: Mrs. Chanhsone Age: 39 years old Occupation: Farmer, ( Head of women union ) Number of family member: 7, Female: 2 How long do you live in this village: 18 years.

Title: Water Supply shortage

Nonsavanh village is located along the Tian river. In the past our village is small and number of villager is also not high. We use water from Tian river for all use included catching fish and we did not have ponds at that time. After the irrigation had built in 1999 to 2003, our villagers have suffered from water shortage. Almost of water has stored for agriculture by irrigation project. We do not have enough water for domestic use and water is also poor of quality because we live in downstream. So now villagers have to dig ponds by themselves, but ponds are running out of water in dry season, especially villagers who live at upland area. Some villagers have to buy water for drinking.

XBL5 Date of collection of water voice: 31 October, 2005 Region and country where your collected “ Water Voice “ Nonsavanh Village, Xayabuly District, Xayabuly Province , Lao PDR. Name of voice sender: Mr. Somchay Age: 40 years old Occupation: Farmer,( village leader ) Number of family member: 4, Female: 2

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How long do you live in this village: 15 years.

Title: Fish products

Catching fish at present time is big different if compare to the past, we could catch fish as much as we need because in the past around this area had abundant of forest and water resources, quality of fishing tool is low, number of fisher is small and catching fish is only for eat in household. Now many things have changed, we are difficult to catch fish, some day we can not catch fish for meal. The reason of reducing of fish at present time may be due to irrigation had built in this river in 1999, low of water level, villagers are catching fish by modern tool and catch for sell. In addition, some people catch fish by using bomb but now is reduced because we have strong rule. There are some fish was extinct in the river like Chath, we can not catch this fish any more because they need much and clean of water.

XBL6 Date of collection of water voice: 1 November, 2005 Region and country where your collected “ Water Voice “ Namhia Village, Phieng District, Xayabuly Province , Lao PDR. Name of voice sender: Mr. Houmpheng Age: 45 years old Occupation: Farmer,( village leader ) Number of family member: 9, Female: 6 How long do you live in this village: 23 years.

Title: Water supply shortage

Our village is located in lowland area, where we had enough water in both wet and dry seasons for domestic use and other uses in the past. Now it is different if compares to the past, our village does not have enough water for domestic use, especially in dry season. Many ponds are running out of water and quality of water at that time is also not so good, it is waste and acidic water. The problem may be due to increasing of villager and cutting to much of trees including slash and burn for agriculture of villager and cut for local development of local authority. We need assistance to make spring water system, we need clean water.

XBL7 Date of collection of water voice: 1 November, 2005 Region and country where your collected “ Water Voice “ Namhia Village, Phieng District, Xayabuly Province , Lao PDR. Name of voice sender: Mr. Bouaphanh Xong Age: 62 years old Occupation: Farmer Number of family member: 6, Female: 3 How long do you live in this village: 17 years.

Title: Climate change, flood and drought

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Our village is located in lowland area, where we can plant only rice crop in both wet and dry seasons by using water from rainfall and from canals of irrigation. Formerly, we did not have problem about changing of climate. Now after 1993-94, every year we have suffered from climate change, especially is seasonal flooding. The problem may be due to number of villager around this area is high, cutting to much of trees for agriculture and for other of local authority. The impacts of seasonal flooding on the village are food shortage, bank erosion and lost of agriculture land. To solve problem of seasonal flooding some farmers are grown rice in dry season.

XBL8 Date of collection of water voice: 2 November, 2005 Region and country where your collected “ Water Voice “ Phonhinh Village, Phieng District, Xayabuly Province , Lao PDR. Name of voice sender: Mr. Mouane Vanhsay Age: 48 years old Occupation: Farmer Number of family member: 5, Female: 3 How long do you live in this village: 30 years.

Title: Water supply shortage

Phonhinh village is located along Phieng river and we used this river’s water for all use including take bath, wash clothes, drinking and etc,…in the past. Now from 1990 the phieng river has polluted, we can not use this water for drinking any more. At upstream there are many villages are located along the Phieng river and people of these villages discharge every thing waste into the river such as garbage, waste disposal, human waste and etc,... To solve the problem we try to dig ponds now, but quality of the water is poor. It is yellow color and smell of water is not good. Although having known about this fact, the river’s water is still for domestic use but it is boiled before drinking. We need assistance to build water supply system or pump water from irrigation system.

XBL9 Date of collection of water voice: 2 November, 2005 Region and country where your collected “ Water Voice “ Phonhinh Village, Phieng District, Xayabuly Province , Lao PDR. Name of voice sender: Mr. Thong lea Phongsay Age: 46 years old Occupation: Farmer, ( village leader ) Number of family member: 5, Female: 2 How long do you live in this village: years.

Title: Climate change, flood and drought

Phonhinh village is lowland area and located along the Phieng river. In the past, villagers of this area have utilized this river’s water for various activities such as domestic consumption, agriculture and practice fishery. Now the climate has changed because natural resources are destroyed by human. So from 1975 we have many problems from the climate that is

5/8 Water Voices in Lao PDR - Final Report -December 2005 affecting the people in our village. Some time we had floods and some time droughts. In 2001 the rice field of villagers was eroded and damaged around 5 ha. This climate change has impacted on villagers livelihood, especially the poor, and this can make them poorer.

XBL10 Date of collection of water voice: 3 November, 2005 Region and country where your collected “ Water Voice “ Thadeua Village, Xayabuly District, Xayabuly Province , Lao PDR. Name of voice sender: Mrs. Chanhsaly Age: 49 years old Occupation: upland farmer, ( head of women union ) Number of family member: 8, Female: 4 How long do you live in this village: 24 years.

Title: Water supply shortage

Thadeua village is located along the Mekong river and it is highland area. Usually, the villagers use rainfall and water from spring water system for domestic consumption. Many year ago we had no problem with water shortage but now things have changed. We are lacked of clean water for every day use in the household during dry season. Although in 1982, our village had helped from Lao red cross by giving some materials to improve the spring water system but the villagers still not enough of water for domestic use. The reason of water shortage is from increasing of population, slash and burn for agriculture, small river and older of spring water system. We need assistance to build a standard of spring water system.

XBL11 Date of collection of water voice: 3 November, 2005 Region and country where your collected “ Water Voice “ Thadeua Village, Xayabuly District, Xayabuly Province , Lao PDR. Name of voice sender: Mr. Thongchanh Age: 53 years old Occupation: Driver, (village leader) Number of family member: 6, Female: 4 How long do you live in this village: 23 years.

Title: Bank Erosion

Thadeua village is located along the Mekong river and it is highland area. In the past, this area did not have problem with bank erosion. Now in each year the bank has eroded and the livelihood of villagers who live nearly the bank is difficult, especially is in 2003 the bank was strong eroded. The reason of bank erosion is from cutting to much of tree of villagers and local authority and strong wave of speedboat because every day big boat around 100 to 200 tons transport merchandize along the Mekong river. The impacts of bank erosion on the village are short of agriculture and building land. To protect the bank, villagers are grown some plant along the Mekong river. We need to assistance from the government to manage about the weight of boat.

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XBL12 Date of collection of water voice: 3 November, 2005 Region and country where your collected “ Water Voice “ Thadeua Village, Xayabuly District, Xayabuly Province , Lao PDR. Name of voice sender: Mr. Nouphanh Age: 62 years old Occupation: upland farmer Number of family member: 6, Female: 3 How long do you live in this village: 62 years.

Title: Fish products

Thadeua village is located along the Mekong river and it is highland area. Almost the livelihood of villagers who are living here is depending on the Mekong river because we have been fishermen and navigator for a long time. The benefits that we gain from the river are foods and navigation. Main foods that we take from the river are fish, shell, prawn, vegetables and etc,… In addition, navigation is one job that help us to earn extra income. We can not live here and we have to move to other place if without this river because we do not have any choice or job to do. To manage and protect the river, villagers are growing some plant a long the river.

XBL13 Date of collection of water voice: 3 November, 2005 Region and country where your collected “ Water Voice “ Thadeua Village, Xayabuly District, Xayabuly Province , Lao PDR. Name of voice sender: Mr. Bounheuanhouan Age: 50 years old Occupation: Driver Number of family member: 6, Female: 5 How long do you live in this village: 50 years.

Title: Navigation

In the past navigation along the Mekong river was difficult if compare to the present time. At that time the boat is very small and we did not have any machine. In addition, many of boats are broken in the river because it has a lot of stone island. Now the navigation is better, some of stone island has destroyed. Navigators can transport passenger or merchandize up to 200 tons along the river by 4-5 times per day. Oppositely, big boats and fast boats are destroyed many things including social and economic such as riverbank, small boats of villagers (some time broke some time human died) and habitat of fish. In addition, sound of boat is also effect to people’s livelihood. We need assistance from the government to manage the weight of big boat and fast boat.

XBL14 Date of collection of water voice: 3 November, 2005 Region and country where your collected “ Water Voice “ Pangkhom Village, Xayabuly District, Xayabuly Province , Lao PDR. Name of voice sender: Mr. Thongphanh Age: 48 years old

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Occupation: upland farmer Number of family member: 6, Female: 2 How long do you live in this village: 25 years.

Title: Watershed and forest We are living in the highland area and locate along the road number 13 B of Xayabuly District. People’s livelihood in here is very difficult because they lack of lowland for agriculture cultivation and do not have any job to do. In the past and as the present time around 100 ha they cut the trees for agriculture cultivation. The impacts of cutting tree to much of poor villagers are irregular weather change, drought and food shortage. Almost of the villagers do not have enough rice for 3 months per year. Some villagers who are lacked of rice for food, they have to go to collect some thing in the forest and some villagers have to leave their house to find a job in the downtown. To protect the natural resource include water and forest, villagers are strongly followed the government’s policy by unshifting grow rice.

XBL15 Date of collection of water voice: 3 November, 2005 Region and country where your collected “ Water Voice “ Pangkhom Village, Xayabuly District, Xayabuly Province , Lao PDR. Name of voice sender: Mrs. Chanh Age: 35 years old Occupation: upland farmer Number of family member: 6, Female: 4 How long do you live in this village: 35 years.

Title: Fund for animals feeding (Others)

We are living in the highland area and locate along the road number 13 B of Xayabuly District. The livelihood of our villagers are very difficult, every year we do not have enough rice for food because of drought and harvest is not good. To reduce our villager’s poverty, we need assistance from the government and other organization to give fund for animals feeding. At the same time we also need assistance to teach us for take care animals.

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JICA Laos Office Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry National Agriculture and Forestry Institute

Water Voices in the Lao PDR

Xiengkhouang Province (XK)

December, 2005

All copy right reserved by JICA. In the case of using the data, contact the JICA Laos Office

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Xiengkhouang Province (XK)

XK1

Date of collection of water voice: 25 October, 2005 Region and country where your collected “ Water Voice “ Nongtang Village, Phoukoud District, Xiengkhouang Province , Lao PDR. Name of voice sender: Mr. Vanhsy Singsaly Age: 49 years old Occupation: Farmer, (Village leader) Number of family member: 5, Female: 3 How long do you live in this village: 49 years.

Title: Wetland

Nongtang is nature wetland, in the past villagers around this area had utilized water from this wetland for various activities such as domestic consumption, agriculture, practice fishery and etc,… During American war many kind of bombs were thrown in this wetland by American planes, a lot of fish were death, some fish could not eat because they suffer from malady and the quality of water is very poor, it contained a lot of chemicals. Now the water in this wetland is changed, it is high concentration of turbidity, villagers can not be used for drinking any more, they use for only take bath and wash clothes. The problem may be caused from number of villagers are high as well as animal of villagers are also high. In addition, this wetland is also used for tourism and traditional celebrated like racing both.

XK2 Date of collection of water voice: 25 October, 2005 Region and country where your collected “ Water Voice “ Naxaythong Village, Phoukoud District, Xiengkhouang Province , Lao PDR. Name of voice sender: Mr. Bouahong Age: 45 years old Occupation: Farmer, (Village leader) Number of family member: 11, Female: How long do you live in this village: 45 years.

Title: Soil erosion We live in the plateau area where our rice field and canals are located along this area. Every year, villagers have suffered from soil erosion especially in 2004, many canals could not drain water to the rice field because of canals were covered by soil and some place canals were eroded. The problem may be caused from heavy rainfall and hill without the trees. The impacts of soil erosion on the village are villagers lack of water for their rice production, food shortage and lost of times. To solve problems at the moment, village leader was mobilized villagers to fix the canal by picking out of the soil.

XK3 Date of collection of water voice: 25 October, 2005 Region and country where your collected “ Water Voice “ Naxaythong Village, Phoukoud District, Xiengkhouang Province , Lao PDR. Name of voice sender: Mr. Somdy Age: 63 years old Occupation: Farmer

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Number of family member: 6, Female: 3 How long do you live in this village: 39 years.

Title: Crops production and irrigation

We live in plateau area where we can plant only rice crop in the wet season. There are many irrigation systems in our village but most are traditional irrigation that make by villagers. In 2001 the village had helped from IFAD project by built a standard irrigation. However, villagers are still lack of water for growing rice.The problems are that: 1. Large of field but water is shortage. 2. Traditional irrigations are not enough controlled water, especially in wet season 3. Canals of irrigation are not standard, water is leaked and infiltrated out of canal. So almost of villager’s rice fields are depended on rainfall, if there is enough rainfall there will be enough water for farming.

XK4 Date of collection of water voice: 25 October, 2005 Region and country where your collected “ Water Voice “ Naxaythong Village, Phoukoud District, Xiengkhouang Province , Lao PDR. Name of voice sender: Mrs. Chanhsy Age: 30 years old Occupation: Farmer Number of family member: 9, Female: 4 How long do you live in this village: 30 years.

Title: Water supply shortage

Long time ago, around this area had abundant of water resources and forest and number of villager is also not high. We are enough water for domestic consumption and agriculture. Later then during American war, the trees were destroyed to much and water was started to short. Now according to population increase, expansion of arable land and slash and burn for agriculture of villagers are spreading along the river. These change the land cover affect the hydrology process around this basin and eventually affect water resource in this area. Although in 2002 our village had helped from IFAD project by digging ponds but the villagers still not have enough water for domestic use, especially is in dry season. We need assistance to drill the tube wells or dig more the ponds. XK5 Date of collection of water voice: 25 October, 2005 Region and country where your collected “ Water Voice “ PhiengLouang Village, Phoukoud District, Xiengkhouang Province , Lao PDR. Name of voice sender: Mr. Phimpha Age: 41 years old Occupation: Farmer, ( village leader ) Number of family member: 8, Female: 3 How long do you live in this village: 10 years.

Title: Bank erosion Phienglouang village is located along the Ngum river and the rice production field of the villagers is also located in around this area. Every year, villagers have suffered from bank erosion especially is in 2002. The reason of bank erosion is from heavy rainfall, strong flow and slash and burn for agriculture of villagers and government staffs around this area. The impacts of bank erosion on the village are lost rice production field, irrigation’s canal is damaged and food shortage. To protect forest, we plan to grow rice at upland by un-shifting.

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XK6 Date of collection of water voice: 25 October, 2005 Region and country where your collected “ Water Voice “ PhiengLouang Village, Phoukoud District, Xiengkhouang Province , Lao PDR. Name of voice sender: Mr. Vanhsing Age: 54 years old Occupation: Farmer Number of family member: 6, Female: 2 How long do you live in this village: 17 years.

Title: Fish products

There are 3 rivers in our village such as Ngum, Khok and Sui river but Ngum river is big than the other. In the past we caught fish as much as we need because at that time number of villager and fisher are not high, less and low quality of fishing tool, like fish hook, casting net and others. Now number of fishes are very few, some day we catch fish not enough for meal because number of fisher is high and they catch fish by using modern tool. The fishers that catch fish around this area are included villager, police, soldier and other government staffs. Although we have a rule for catching fish but we are not control what is kind of fishing tool they are used. Some fishers catch fish by using bomb.

XK7 Date of collection of water voice: 26 October, 2005 Region and country where your collected “ Water Voice “ Khangdon Village, Peak District, Xiengkhouang Province , Lao PDR. Name of voice sender: Mr. Somneuk Age: 73 years old Occupation: retired, ( soldier ) Number of family member: 10, Female: 7 How long do you live in this village: more than 10 years.

Title: Watershed and forest

Before American oppress Laos( American war ), around this area had abundant of water resources and forest. The villager could not be walked alone because a lot of wildlife, especially tigers. Later then, during American oppress Laos a lot of trees were destroyed by bombs of American plane. From at that time the forest was reduced which made river’s water was also shortage. After American war( 1980 ) around this area is high of people including of own villagers, villagers that moved from other places and soldiers. Almost of these people are poor. Slash and burn for agriculture is their job, every year around 60 ha of forest is cut by villagers. So now the forest is a serious reduced and make climate change.

XK8 Date of collection of water voice: 26 October, 2005

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Region and country where your collected “ Water Voice “ Khangdon Village, Peak District, Xiengkhouang Province , Lao PDR. Name of voice sender: Mrs. Chanhhom Age: 44 years old Occupation: upland farmer Number of family member: 4, Female: 1 How long do you live in this village: 4 years.

Title: Water supply shortage

In the past around this area had abundant of water resources and forest because number of villagers are not high. We are enough water for domestic consumption and for other. After 1980 , villagers have suffered a serious from water shortage. Most villagers pond is running out of water, it is dry and we do not have enough pond in our village. Every year during dry season ( December to May ), we spend more time to go to collect the water from other village that is located about 1,5 km far away. The reason of water shortage may be caused from number of villagers are high and slash and burn for agriculture of poor villagers. We need assistance to make a spring water system and we need clean water supply.

XK9 Date of collection of water voice: 26 October, 2005 Region and country where your collected “ Water Voice “ Khangdon Village, Peak District, Xiengkhouang Province , Lao PDR. Name of voice sender: Mr. Viengsavanh Age: 44 years old Occupation: carpenter Number of family member: 4, Female: 2 How long do you live in this village: 3 years.

Title: Climate change, flood and drought

Our village is Khangdon, it is located along the road number 7 where villagers can have water from the small river, rainfall and ponds for domestic and agricultural cultivation especially rice in wet season. Last year( 2004 ), the rainfall started later than normal, so the villagers had suffered from drought of climate change. The changing of rainfall from year to year makes villagers difficult to plant their crops in both lowland and upland area. The impacts of drought on the village are food and water shortage and consequently serious starvation as the living condition is getting worse. To solve problem many of villagers leaved their home for finding a job in downtown and some villagers sold animals for their food.

XK10 Date of collection of water voice: 27 October, 2005 Region and country where your collected “ Water Voice “ Hay Village, Kham District, Xiengkhouang Province , Lao PDR. Name of voice sender: Mr. Khamsouk Phenglith Age: 44 years old Occupation: Farmer, ( village leader ) Number of family member: 9, Female: 4 How long do you live in this village: 44 years.

Title: Crops production and irrigation

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Hay village is located in lowland area, where we can have water from the small river, rainfall, irrigation system and ponds for domestic and agricultural cultivation especially rice in wet season. Although in 2000 our village had helped from IFAD project by built one standard of irrigation but the villagers are still not enough water for rice production. The reason of villagers do not have enough water for their rice production maybe due to large of rice production field, small river, number of water user is high. In addition, some villagers who live at head of the river are cut to much of trees for their agriculture cultivation. So now most of our rice fields are depended on rainfall.

XK11 Date of collection of water voice: 27 October, 2005 Region and country where your collected “ Water Voice “ Hay Village, Kham District, Xiengkhouang Province , Lao PDR. Name of voice sender: Mrs. Thong dam Age: 44 years old Occupation: Farmer, ( head of women union ) Number of family member: 5, Female: 3 How long do you live in this village: 44 years.

Title: Water supply shortage

Long time ago, our village had no problem with the shortage of water and at that time we could collect easy of water for drinking and other uses in both wet and dry seasons. In the last few years, especially last year(2004) rainfall started late so we have suffered from a shortage of water. The reason of water shortage in around this area may be due to small of river, increasing of villagers and deforestation of villagers at head of river. The impacts of water shortage on the village are yield of rice production is reduced, food shortage and lack of clean water in dry season. We need assistance to dig ponds and make spring water system.

XK12 Date of collection of water voice: 27 October, 2005 Region and country where your collected “ Water Voice “ Hay Village, Kham District, Xiengkhouang Province , Lao PDR. Name of voice sender: Mr. Bounthy Age: 55 years old Occupation: Farmer Number of family member: 4, Female: 2 How long do you live in this village: 55 years. Key words: Water resource and forest

Title: Watershed and forest

Long time ago, around this area had abundant of water resources and forest. At that time number of people were not high and the river was also a lot of fishes. After 1980 population is increased, including people

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moved from other places. They are poor people and do not have land for farming. Slash and burn for agriculture is their job, especially is villagers who are lived at head of river. Every year they cut to much of trees, which makes climate change. So we people who live at downstream have suffered from water shortage. Usually we are growing rice for lowland area in July to August, but this year (2005) rainfall started late than normal, we are growing rice in September to October. According to village committee calculate more than 50 ha of rice field can be not harvest and villagers will be lacked of food for next year.

XK13 Date of collection of water voice: 27 October, 2005 Region and country where your collected “ Water Voice “ Namhom Village, Kham District, Xiengkhouang Province , Lao PDR. Name of voice sender: Mr. Keuang Age: 36 years old Occupation: Farmer Number of family member: 6, Female: 4 How long do you live in this village: 30 years.

Title: Water pollution

Our village is located downstream of the Hom river. Long time ago, our villagers have access to water from the river for all use and quality of water was very good. In 1991 hot spring was improved to be source for tourism. There are many of guest houses, restaurants and place for take bath of hot spring. In addition, some business men are digging ponds along the river and feed animals on these ponds. Since 1998 the river’s water was started pollute and we can not used for drinking any more. They disposed the waste into the river without any treatment. The impacts of water pollution on the village are lack of clean water for drinking and taking bath and diseases often occur.

XK14 Date of collection of water voice: 28 October, 2005 Region and country where your collected “ Water Voice “ Xamnhouan Village, Khoun District, Xiengkhouang Province , Lao PDR. Name of voice sender: Mr. Xayko Age: 56 years old Occupation: Farmer, ( village leader ) Number of family member: 4, Female: 1 How long do you live in this village: 25 years.

Title: Bank erosion

Our village is located in this area since 1964, at that time it had abundant of water resources and forest. Many years ago we had no problem with the bank erosion, but now every things have changed. In the last few years, the river’s bank has been eroded due to heavy rainfall, seasonal flooding and slash and burn for agriculture of

7/8 Water Voices in Lao PDR - Final Report -December 2005 villagers who are living along the river and head of the river. In addition, the bank erosion is caused from catching fish of the villagers, they dig and destroy the bank to make water high of turbidity. This problem stems from the villagers are very poor and are under living standard.

XK15 Date of collection of water voice: 28 October, 2005 Region and country where your collected “ Water Voice “ Xamnhouan Village, Khoun District, Xiengkhouang Province , Lao PDR. Name of voice sender: Mr. Youtoi Yang Age: 60 years old Occupation: Farmer Number of family member: 17, Female: 8 How long do you live in this village: 41 years.

Title: Flood In the past, it is regular weather in this area. It had abundant of water resources and forest and the livelihood of the villagers were also not difficult. After 1980 the villager is increased in this area and most of these villagers are not have lowland for cultivation. Every year they cut to much of trees for agriculture cultivation. Now we have many problems from the weather that is affecting the villagers in this area. Some time we had floods, some time droughts, irregular weather changes, especially is in 2005 much of rice production land of the villagers are destroyed. Some place the rice field is covered by rock and some place is destroyed by eroding of soil.

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