Impacts of hydropower on farmers’ livelihoods in the Sre Pok River in Vietnam:

A case study of the Buon Tua Srah hydropower

Project

By Chau Thi Minh Long, MSc

The Western Highlands Agriculture and Forestry Science and Technology Institute (WASI)

ctmlong@hotmail.com

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Rationale & background Serepok, a largest river lying in the south of the

Central Highlands of Vietnam has a great potential for hydropower. There are 6 hydroelectric plants constructed in the river.

The Buon Tua Srah hydropower project was constructed on the Srepok River in Vietnam and has significantly impacted farmers in Krong No district, especially in Đuc Xuyen and NamN’Dir communes.

However, there is little information available on the livelihood impacts.

The study is very necessary.

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Research questions What is the status of socio-economic and

environment of the research site?

What are the impacts of farmers’ livelihoods around hydroelectric plants, especially the poor?

What are solutions for improving farmers’ livelihoods around hydroelectric plants?

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Research objectives Overall Objective:

To understand the impacts of the Buon Tua Srah hydropower project on farmers’ livelihoods.

Specific Objectives: To review socio-economic and environment status in

the research site; To analyze the impacts of river damming on farmers’

livelihoods around hydropower, especially the poor; To recommend solutions for socio – economic

development of the location; To strengthen research capacity for young researchers

especially for female researchers.

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Scope of the study

Two communes named Duc Xuyen and NamN’Dir representative for analyzing the impacts of hydropower on farmers’ livelihood in Krong No District, Daknong Province, Vietnam

The impacts will be focused on social, economic and environmental aspects but not on the scientific ecological analysis. For example, bank erosion status is measured based on locals’ subjective assessment.

The accuracy of the study will depend upon primary data collected.

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Criteria for Selection:

Duc Xuyen and NamD’Nir communes are located in the downstream of Krongno river, one of main tributary of the Sre Pok River.

People migrant from other provinces of Vietnam and most of them are ethnic minority moving from the north of Vietnam.

These communes often get impacts from flooding and bank erosion of the river due to letting out water of the Buon Tua Srah hydropower.

Study area

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Location of Location of Dak Nong Province, Dak Nong Province, VietnamVietnam

Daknong province

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Sampling methodKrong No

District

Duc Xuyen

Commune

Nam D ‘Nir Commune

Households

1. Purposive

2. Purposive

4. Sample Random Sampling

3.Purposive Influenced Households in two communes

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Sample size N.z2.p.(1-p) n = ----------------- (Mial, 1993) N.d2+z2.p.(1-p) where; n: sample size N: Total Population z: Statistic value corresponding to

confident level d: Precision p: Proportion of sample population

(Total 90 households)

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Data sources and collectionSecondary data- Dak Nong Agriculture and Rural Development Department; - Dak Nong Environment and Resources Department; - Dak Nong Flooding and Disaster Preventing Department; - District People’s Committee;- Commune People’s Committee, Statistical Year Book,

Article, Books, Journals, etc.

Primary data- House hold survey using questionnaire

- Key informants interview - Field observation - Group discussion

- PRA- SWOT analysis.

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Work plan

Activities Jul Aug Sep OctNo

v Dec JanFeb

Mar

Apr

May Jun

Collect secondary data                        

Reconnaissance survey                        

Field observation & PRA                        

Interviewing key informants & constructing questionare                        

Househod survey                        

Data processing & data analysis                        

Writing report                        

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Achievements

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Completing secondary data collection

- Reports related to hydropower and river damming from related offices

- Journals, papers, etc.

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Reconnaissance survey

- Coming to the project areas;

- Meeting with local government of Duc Xuyen and NamN’Dir communes.

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Field Observation

Getting directly information in the project areas in dry and rainy seasons.

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Field observation

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Field observation

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Field observation

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Interviewing Key Informants

Local government of Duc xuyen and Nam N’dir;

Village headmen in the two communes;

Directors of DakNong Agriculture and Rural Development Department, Krong No People’s Committee, DakNong environment and resources Department, Flooding and Disaster Preventing Division, ect.

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Constructing Household Questionnaire

Social – demographic data; Land use; + Land information + Agricultural land affected by the Buon Tua Srah

hydropower project Bank erosion; Household strategies to cope with these problems; Comparison of living condition between before and after

construction of the Buon Tuh Sarh hydropower project; Sharing information among the Buon Tur Sarh managers, local

governments and residents in the project areas; Suggestions of interviewees.

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Household survey

Completing households survey:

- 57 effected households in Duc Xuyen commune

- 43 effected households in Nam’NDir commune.

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Initial findings

Lost of fish due to decrease fish quantity and fish species

Difficulties of fishing Lost of Agricultural land Lost of crop yield due to flood Resettlement Famers are vulnerable especially the poor.

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Impacts

Environment:

Bank erosion

Flooding Biodiversity Sediment

Socio: ResettlementEmploymentBalance dietFood security

Economy:Decrease crop yieldLost of agriculture landLost of crop yieldLost of fish

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Plans for next period

Jan – Mar 2007: Data processing and data analysis

April – July 2007: Finalize the results and write the report.

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