INTOUCH, IN COOPERATION WITH A PUBLIC ORGANIZATION, HELPS TO ALLEVIATE FLOODING AND DROUGHT AT A COMMUNITY IN ROI ET

Bangkok - 8 April 2021: Intouch Holdings Plc. ('INTOUCH'), in collaboration with the Hydro Informatics Institute (Public Organization) ('HII'), has contributed to effective water management by encouraging Ban Wang Yao Community at Phlapphla sub-district, Chiang Khwan district, Roi Et province to self-manage its water resources. The community has used a scientific approach to solve the recurring problems of floods and droughts, and analyzed geographic information to draw up and implement an effective cultivation plan that is suitable for its socio-geographic landscape. Ban Wang Yao Community is located on the floodplain of the Chi River and suffered from flooding for at least four months during the rainy season; this damaged agricultural areas, especially rice farms. Conversely, these areas experienced drought from February to May, as the canals were too shallow for water to flow from the storage ponds. Moreover, there was a shortage of water for consumption and agriculture for 240 families in four neighboring villages, covering 1,300 rai of land, because the water sources in each area were not connected. Ms. Rachadawan Sanitwong na Ayutthaya, Assistant Vice President of Corporate Public Relations, made the following statement: 'INTOUCH aims to uplift the quality of life for local communities by promoting food stability, and encouraging them to analyze and solve problems on their own in order to sustain their income. The Scientific Approach to Water Management project was initiated in 2018. We found that Wang Yao Charoenwit School lacked clean drinking water due to a damaged filter that discolored the water and created a bad odor. INTOUCH paid for a solar-powered water purification system and rainwater storage tank, along with a vending machine for other members of the community to purchase clean drinking water at a reasonable price, thereby creating additional income for the school. This project was subsequently extended to become Community Water Management, with the aim of preventing floods and droughts. This will provide enough water for agriculture so the community can become self-dependent. The Concepts of Community Water Management in accordance with Royal Initiatives: Learn, Implement, Manage and Develop 1. Establish a Community Water Management Committee to learn about and implement effective water management, as recommended in the late King Rama IX's Philosophy of Sufficiency Economy. Draw up a policy for cooperating over water management, with related rules, transparent procedures and regular evaluation, and prepare the community for change. 2. Survey and collect data on non-irrigated areas that are prone to flooding and drought for scientific water point mapping in order to draw up and implement an effective water management plan for the community. 3. Adjust lifestyles to follow the late King Rama IX's New Theory of Agriculture, which promotes food security in order to create sustainable economic growth and social stability. Community Water Management Plan 2019-2022 According to the post-implementation survey, this project has benefitted 1,140 people from 240 households in four villages, covering 1,300 rai of farmland, by reserving 269,000 cubic meters of water and increasing agricultural income by 60%. The water management plan consists of the activities described below. • Training community leaders and the Community Water Management Committee on using a location device (GPS), geographic information system (GIS) and map-making program (QGIS), and conducting a site survey to collect information on water sources for the community database. Analyzing this information to determine the causes of floods and droughts, designing a water management system in line with the Royal Initiative, and creating an application and website to monitor the water situation in order to plan for potential disasters. • Arranging field studies and training from a community water management network so the villagers can adjust their farming practices in accordance with the New Theory of Agriculture. • Raising the embankment and dam at Kood Che Tao storage pond by two metres to hold an additional 240,000 cubic metres of floodwater, which will relieve the water shortage problem during the dry season, provide irrigation, and create jobs and additional income from fishing. • Dredging Pai Canal and installing a sluice gate to connect the canal to Kood Che Tao storage pond and redirect water for irrigation during the dry season. • Dredging Kam Swamp to increase the water storage area from four to six rai, and widening the existing canal (owned by the sub-district administration) in order to trap more water and feed it into the storage pond, raising the capacity by 14,000 cubic metres. • Dredging the dam at Kam Swamp, laying concrete pipes to drain excess water into Chi Lad River, and installing a pump and piped-water supply to Ban Wang Yao Community. Only the final stage of the plan remains to be executed, which will be done during 2021/2. Mr. Narongsak Pimpunchat, Director of Community Water Resource Management Division of HII, made the following statement: 'HII promotes the application of science and technology to manage water resources in communities, such as satellite photographs and water supply information, in order to make decisions and propose suitable geosocial solutions for water resource problems that communities can implement by themselves. Moreover HII encourages communities to become involved in water system management and maintenance, and learn how to monitor their water situation through applications so they are able to assess floods and droughts and ensure a sufficient supply for consumption and agriculture. They can create a plan for productive cultivation, and develop their community to own and enhance the opportunities in water resource management, leading to water and food stability, agricultural income and sustainable economic development.' INTOUCH hopes that encouraging rural communities to learn about and self-manage local water resources will help them improve their quality of life and maintain balanced ecosystems as a result.