Rights to the Allocation of Water Resources for Agricultural Purposes in Maha Pho Subdistrict, Kao Liao District, Nakhon Sawan Province, Based on the Principles of Ditthadhammikattha Benefits

Abstract

This research article aimed to: 1) study the rights to the allocation of water resources for agricultural purposes in Maha Pho Subdistrict, Kao Liao District, Nakhon Sawan Province, based on the principles of Ditthadhammikattha benefits; 2) examine the relationship between the principles of Ditthadhammikattha benefits and the rights to the allocation of water resources for agricultural purposes; and (3) propose guidelines for promoting the exercise of such rights. The study employed a mixed-methods research design. For the quantitative component, the sample group consisted of 157 water users from Bueng Luang, determined using Taro Yamane’s formula. The research instrument was a questionnaire with a reliability coefficient of 0.974. Statistical methods used in the analysis included percentage, mean, standard deviation, and Pearson’s correlation coefficient. The qualitative component involved in-depth interviews with 16 key informants, and the data were analyzed using descriptive content analysis. The research findings revealed that: (1) the overall level of rights to the allocation of water resources for agricultural purposes in Maha Pho Subdistrict, Kao Liao District, Nakhon Sawan Province, based on the principles of Ditthadhammikattha benefits, was high, with a mean score of 4.13 (S.D. = 0.55); and (2) the level of rights to resource allocation following Elinor Ostrom’s principles of common resource management was also high, with a mean score of 3.90 (S.D. = 0.55). The analysis of the relationship between the principles of Ditthadhammikattha benefits and the rights to the allocation of water resources for agricultural purposes indicated a statistically significant positive correlation at the 0.01 level. The relationship was positive and consistent in the same direction, with a very high overall correlation (r = 0.888). The proposed guidelines for promoting the exercise of rights in the allocation of water resources for agricultural purposes are as follows: (1) community members should understand and adhere to shared rules, regulations, and practices; (2) when problems arise, meetings should be held to allow all members to express their opinions; (3) the presence of a group leader and an organized group structure helps manage issues and ensures fairness; (4) government agencies should fully support farmers’ access to water; and (5) farmers should comply with government regulations to ensure effective water resource management.