Drought adaptations for agriculture in Northeast Thailand: a qualitative assessment of water-centric government projects

Droughts drastically constraint agricultural systems in Northeast Thailand. They have prompted a wide range of government-led projects aimed at improving water security and rural livelihoods. This study assesses their diversity and effectiveness through a review of national strategic documents, institutional surveys, and participatory field investigations conducted between 2024 and 2025. We first identified ten public agencies most actively involved in drought adaptation at national level, and then analysed six representative project sites implemented in the driest provinces of Northeast Thailand. These projects range from on-farm ponds to collective irrigation schemes. We evaluated adaptation outcomes through three interacting dimensions: (i) the biophysical fit between infrastructure and local environmental conditions, (ii) governance arrangements and the effectiveness of collective action, and (iii) the socio-economic and technical capacities of farmers. Results show that project performance depends less on infrastructure alone than on the alignment between these three dimensions. Projects that combine context-specific technical design, participatory governance, and strong local capacities generate more sustained improvements in water access, agricultural production, and resilience. Conversely, mismatches between infrastructure and environmental conditions, weak collective action, limited technical knowledge, and market constraints reduce effectiveness and may increase vulnerability. The analysed projects differ markedly in their degree of standardization, participation, and adaptability, leading to contrasting outcomes across sites. These findings highlight the need for more systemic, context-sensitive and socially embedded approaches to drought adaptation. Beyond Thailand, they provide insights for designing more resilient and inclusive adaptation policies in drought-prone agricultural regions facing increasing climate variability.