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Assessment of the flood vulnerability and adaption of rice production system in Champhone District, Savannakhet Province, Lao PDR
Thesis Abstract:
Flood vulnerability of three rainfed lowland rice producing villages near the meandering Xe Champhone River on the floodplain of Champhone District, Savannakhet Province, Lao PDR was assessed. Flood vulnerability is the level of exposure to heavy rainfall during monsoon storm resulting to flood occurrences affecting rice production livelihood system.
Hydrologic analyses of the rainfall of several stations outside the project sites and Hydrologic Engineering Center's River Analysis System version 4C (US Army Corps of Engineers 2001) were used to determine the extent of flooding at different rainfall return periods. Household survey and key informant interviews were conducted in the study sites. The normal flood according to the respondents was equivalent to flood of 50-year rainfall return period, which usually occurs in September and October.
With projected higher monthly rainfall in July–September, the flooded area with 100–200-year rainfall return period would probably occur. Non-flood tolerant rice varieties were grown. Rice security of the community was severely affected by flooding. The community had low level of education, low income, and inadequate social services; and depended mainly on rice production livelihood system. This makes the community socially and economically more vulnerable to flood.
Adaptation strategies were suggested to reduce the impact of flooding and to have a resilient community.