In Thailand, Director-General visits “Four Betters Villages” to see a community water resource management project and Hydro-Informatics Institute

Bangkok - FAO Director-General QU Dongyu today arrived in Thailand for the International Water and Soil Forum co-organized with the Government of Thailand and took the opportunity to visit a “Four Betters Village” to see how a community water resource management project, which effectively addresses local challenges such as flooding, water pollution, drought and saline water intrusion, is contributing to all four the Betters – better production, better nutrition, a better environment and a better life.

The Baan Saladin Community Village, located in Nakhon Pathom Province, northwest of the Thai capital, is being implemented in close collaboration with Thailand’s Hydro-Informatics Institute (HII), as well as irrigation authorities, and local agencies.

The community integrates traditional knowledge with modern science and technology. By leveraging tools such as satellite imagery, GPS, water maps, and climate data, they have successfully identified and addressed key water management issues. Their innovative approach emphasizes connecting water networks to facilitate natural water circulation, fostering ecological balance and enhancing resilience within the area.

The Director-General said he was able to see “first-hand a Four Betters village, where innovation and community collaboration are transforming water management and improving livelihoods. From better production to sustainable agrifood practices, these efforts pave the path to resilience, leaving no one behind,” he said.

The strategy, focusing on local sustainability and guided by the late King Rama IX’s Sufficiency Economy Philosophy, integrating with Science, Technology, and Innovation (STI), also emphasizes Public-Private-People Partnership (PPPP) as it works to expand the good practices to 1,847 communities in Thailand.

Previously, farmers in Baan Saladin relied on rice monoculture, facing significant water-related issues such as floods, droughts, wastewater, and brackish water due to neglect of water resources.

But in recent years, drainage has been improved through dredging 15 km of canals and pipelines. Villagers have developed low-cost grease traps and installed solar-powered turbines to oxygenate water. Improved canal health has brought increased water habitat, economic benefits, and agricultural tourism. Water hyacinths have been repurposed into fertilizer and lotus farming has replaced paddy fields, offering higher returns, alongside crops like basil, banana, and fish for livelihoods.

Earlier, the Director-General visited the HII, where he was welcomed by Director, Royboon Rassameethes. The FAO Delegation was briefed on a range of technologies, including the Automated Telemetry Station, High-Performance Computing used by the Institute’s Technology and Digital Division, Technologies for Water Management and the work of the National Hydroinformatics Data Centre (NHC).