The International Conference on Sustainable Community Development

27-29 January 2011

An assessment of the vulnerability of food security to climate change in the Hat Yai District of Songkhla Province

Parichart Visuthismajarn1, Nattaya Tannil2 Parichat Singsaktrakul3 Kamornwan Mitmusik4 and Jaruayporn Somsap5
1
Research Unit of risk management and eco-tourism, Faculty of Environmental Management, Prince of Songkla University
15 Kanjanavanij Rd., Hat Yai District, Songkhla 90112 Telephone : 081 7385060
E-mail: parichart.v@psu.ac.th
2,5
Faculty of Environmental Management, Prince of Songkla University
15 Kanjanavanij Rd., Hat Yai District, Songkhla 90112
3
Department of Mathematics and Science, Faculty of Science and Technology, Hat Yai University
125/502 Polpichai Rd., Hat Yat District, Songkhla 90112 E-mail: parichatt@hu.ac.th
4
Department of Geoinformatics, Faculty of Science and Technology, Hat Yai University
125/502 Polpichai Rd., Hat Yat District, Songkhla 90112 E-mail: kamornwan@hu.ac.th

Abstract
The objectives of this study were 1) to assess the
vulnerability of food security to climate change in the Hat Yai
District, Songkhla Province, 2) to devise means that might lead
to solving any perceived problems. The parameters of water
way, land use, roads, business zone, wetland, hospital site and
density of population of the selected Tambons as determined from
the Geographic Information System (GIS) by using the overlay
technique were assessed for their relevance to the study. From
this study the 7 areas of high risk included Tumbons: Khlong
U Taphao , Khu Tao, Khlong Hae, Hat Yai, Khuan Lang, Kho
Hong and Phatong. The vulnerability survey was supplemented
by interviewing people in the area using a questionnaire. It was
established that the key factors associated with climate change
that would affect food security were flood, long-term drought,
severe storms and rises in sea level. The highest risk area using
the Weighted Model was Tumbon Khlong Hae. In order to cope
with the climate change it will be necessary to obtain cooperation
from every relevant stakeholders i.e. residents, Governments and
their officers, educational institutions, research workers and food
companies. Budgets supports from National authorities must be
established together with the ability to integrate work practices,
enhance their ability to adapt and cope with the impact of climate
change
Keywords: vulnerability assessment, climate change, food
security outcomes
1. Introduction
The global warming, at the present day, and the climate
change are the potential world problem which can have serious
impacts on economic social and environment. However, human
activities have accumulated the heat into Earth’s atmosphere
causing climate change. In general , many systems and groups
may face risk from mentioned factors and fragile to different
grievances depending on the capacity to adapt with the change
in the future which is different from area or society with difference
local physical and economic conditions. Thus, the solution of
climate change has involved in conducting of many stakeholders
[1-2]
The area of Hat Yai District, Songkhla Province,
is approximately 764 square meter or 478,093.92 Rai. From
survey the land use of Hat Yai in 2000 E.C. found that the land
for agriculture use is 61.7 % of all district area, the important
type food crops are rice, fruits and vegetable, just 5.26 % of
harvest gaining from Hat Yai agriculture. It is not sufficient to
meet the need of population in area so it is vital to depend on
the agricultural harvest from nearby provinces [3]
Hat Yai is one of the area have been predicted to
receive the impact from climate change because of Southwest
and Northeast wind especially the heavy rain in the area
causing big flood such as the flood disaster in the year 2000 ,
with estimated cost of damage more than 1,000 million Baht.
Subsequently , the canals were built by the royal project to halt
future flood, but the rainfall has increased in rainy season
causing flood every year. The data and monitoring situation
of the El Niño / La Niña phenomenon by the Meteorological
Department has predicted that during the winter of Thailand in
. 2010-2011 it will be very cold in many areas especially in the
north and northeast and the quantity of rain will also increase
especially in the South. Also in 2100 the averaged temperature
will rise by 1-2 degrees Celsius resulting in a further increase
in the amount of rain [4-5]
Thus, this study aims to make more understanding
of the impact of climate change to the fragile system of food
security and social impacts. It is very important and necessary to
find strategies and finding suitable measure to cope with climate
change.

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The International Conference on Sustainable Community Development
27-29 January
finding2011
suitable measure to cope with climate The data of food security of the area was
change. analyzed by use 4 important components[6] i.e.
availability, stability, accessibility and utilization of
2. Objectives
2. Objectives 4.food
Results
by communicating the risk side to conduce
2.1 To2.1study
To andstudyassess
and assess the primary
the primary risk byriskriskby 4.1 The overlayeasily
policy determination technique identified
to that peoplethatinthethe
primary
risk identification and to explain the risk community be able to understand and also adapted by
identification and to explain the risk characterization taking place
characterization taking place from climate change to
risk areas are in 7 sub-districts i.e. Khlong U Taphao, Kho Hong,
involving organizations.
from climate
foodchange to food
security security
in area of Hat in area
Yai ofdistrict,
Hat YaiSongkhla
district, Khlong Hae, Hat Yai, Khuan Lang, Kho Hong and Phatong shown
Songkhla province.
province. in 4.figure 1
Results
2.2 To2.2 To analyze
analyze the fragility
the fragility of risk population
of risk population in term 4.1 The overlay technique identified that the
in term of food security which
of food security which affect by climate change. affect by climate Figure 1 The
primary riskarea
areaspredicted
are in 7 risk to impacti.e.
sub-districts in climate
Khlong change,
U
change. Taphao, Kho Hong, Khlong Hae, Hat Yai, Khuan
Hat Yai, Songkhla, using overlay technique
Lang, Kho Hong and Phatong shown in figure 1
3. Methodology
3. Methodology
3.1 Area
3.1boundary
Area boundary
It covers the areatheofarea
It covers Hat of
YaiHat Yai divided
District District into
divided
13
into 13 sub-districts as follows
sub-districts as follows
1) Hat Yai 8) Tha Kham
1) 2)Hat Yai
Khuan Lang 8) 9)Tha Kham
Nam Noi
2) 3)KhuanKhuLangTao 9) 10)Nam BanNoi
Phru
3) 4)Khu TaoKho Hong 10) 11) Ban Phru
Chalung
5)
4) Kho Hong Khlong Hae 12) Phatong
11) Chalung
6) Thung Yai 13) Khlong U Taphao
5) 7)KhlongThung
Hae Tam Sao 12) Phatong
6) Thung Yai 13) Khlong U Taphao
7) Thung Tam data
The GIS Sao such as water way, land use,
road, business zone, wetland, hospital site and
density of population were used as criteria to identify
The GIS data such as water way, land use, road,
risk area.
business zone, wetland, hospital site and density of population
were used as criteria
3.2 to identify riskboundary
Population area.
3.2 Population boundary the whole household
Population means
living in themeans
Population risk area
theinwhole
Hat Yai, Songkhla
household living in the
3.2.1 The sample population
risk area in Hat Yai, Songkhla
For random sampling, the quota
sampling 3.2.1was
Theused.
sample population
For random sampling, the quota sampling was
used. 3.3 The study tools
This research
3.3 The study tools is participatory action one
emphasizing on community participation so it has to
This research is participatory action one emphasizing
use various tools e.g. : Figure 1 The area predicted risk to impact in climate
on community participation so it has todata
1) The secondary use were
various tools e.g.from
collected : change, 4.2
Hat Yai, Songkhla, using
The vulnerable overlay technique
area predicted to take place in
1) The secondary
reports and data were collected
documents from from reports
participating risk area of Hat Yai, Songkhla
4.2 The vulnerable area predicted to take place in
organizations.
and documents from participating organizations. Theof factors causing the vulnerability were flood, long
risk area Hat Yai, Songkhla
2) The2)primary
The primary data which is the important
data which is the important data time drought, severe storm and thethe
The factors causing vulnerability
higher werewhich
sea water level
data for participatory action research , the data were flood, long time drought, severe storm and the higher
for participatory
collectedaction researchand
in community , thecommunity
data wereorganization.
collected impact food security as follows,
sea water level which impact food security as
in community and community organization. The
The method to obtain primary data has to use many method to 4.2.1 Flood
follows,
obtain primary data hassuch
processes to useasmanysurvey,
processesinterview,
such as survey,
group 4.2.1The impact to food security:
Flood
discussion, focus group, participatory
interview, group discussion, focus group, participatory observation
TheThe impact to food security:
insufficiency of food: the impact level may
and community stage etc.
observation and community stage etc. be high because Hat Yai has lessfood:
The insufficiency of the impact
cultivated level may
areas which
may be high because Hat Yai has less cultivated
3.4 Data3.4
analysis
Data analysis result in shortage of food in flood time.
The data of food security of the area was analyzed The accessibility of food: food price likely to be
by use 4 important components[6] i.e. availability, stability, increased , the income from agricultural sector will be decreased.
accessibility and utilization of food by communicating the risk The accessibility to food is difficult for rural and poor people.
side to conduce policy determination easily to that people in the The food distribution will not be convenient because of flood and
community be able to understand and also adapted by involving the damaged roads.
organizations.

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 The International Conference on Sustainable Community Development
The utilization of food: there is a risk from unsafe
food because of water pollution and disease. The Stability of
food: when food supply is not stable and fluctuating price, the
income of agricultural sector will fluctuate as well.
4.2.2 Long-term drought
The impact of food security:
There will be insufficient food: the cultivating food
crop and animal raising will be decreased because farmers will
unable to cultivate.
The accessibility of food: food price will likely be
increased , the income from agricultural sector will be decreased,
the shortage of popular food and high price.
The utilization of food: There are diseases
happening causing the body getting the less profit of food and
also there is changing nutrition because of the value of nutrition
change, the variety of food decreased and/or the nutritive value
decreased as well.
4.2.3 The severe storm
The impact of food security: the small scale
fishermen cannot earn a lot from fish resulting in insufficient food,
the income from selling aquatic animals decreasing and the
aquatic animals products are likely to be increased.
4.2.4 The increasing of sea level 0.5 meters
(Songkhla Lake)
The impact of food security: The area has been
lose because of the increasing of sea level and the lake water
will be more salinity. The water quality problem and less fresh
water resource will contribute to small scale fishermen, because
they will have less opportunities to fish especially in the Khu Tao
and Khlong Hae Sub-district.
4.3 The vulnerable of current agricultural security
in area of Hat Yai District, Songkhla Province
The vulnerable groups are farmers because they
have less production base and limited cultivating area, lacking
of motivation to remain be farmers and fishermen .
The vulnerable to food security happens because
of the limitation of production base resulting in food shortage,
since, the energy crop getting high price, some farmers switch
from cultivating food crops to cultivate energy crops. This will
result in less food reservation for emergency time. Capacity,
farmers have limitation in cultivation because of high costs and
lack of area for cultivation.
4.4 The risk area and vulnerable group
From cluster analysis by group of Sub-district
according to the impact from climate change, it can be divided
into 3 groups from high to low impact respectively:
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27-29 January 2011
Group1 Khong Hae, Khu Tao, Khuan Lang and
Phatong
Group 2 Khong U taphao
Group 3 Hat Yai, Khor Hong
When analyzing to find the area by weighted Model
by using Multi-Criteria Evaluation: MCE, it found that the most
risk area is Khong Hae area.
Despite good water management such as The Royal
Project (Gamling Project) , the quantity of rain has exceeded
the capacity of all the drainage systems and caused severe
flooding in Hat Yai district in 2010 more than in any other past
year.
The Meteorological Department has predicted that the
phenomenon of La Niña in 2010 will have a big impact in the
southern region of Thailand and the quantity of rain will also
increase.
Normally, after the La Niña phenomenon during the
last part of the year it will be difficult for an immediate return
to El Niño because the high humidity it created will stay for at
least 1-2 years before El Niño will return . Thus, the preliminary
forecast for the first 5 years from now, is that Thailand will
gradually return to the El Niño condition. The drought in many
areas and severe storms than occur during the La Niña period
will have some impact on Thailand and then after 5 years from
the year 2016 – 2020 there will be a return to severe La Niña
and will be even more severe flooding than 2010. One should
remember that severe flooding occurred regularly in Hat Yai
about every 10 years.
Therefore, governments must as a priority integrate
the work of all agencies involved in water management such as
construction areas e.g. rivers , canals, irrigation systems, forest
preservation etc in preparation for The Royal Project (Gamling
Project), Buying back land from the public and leasing agricultural
land from agriculturists to cope with the impact from flooding.
5. Conclusion and recommendation
5.1 Conclusion
The factors effecting the vulnerable to climate change
that have impact to food security are flood, long time severe
drought, strong storm and the higher sea water level.
The vulnerable groups/ stakeholders are farmers, low
income people, patients, elders and children.
5.2 Recommendation
5.2.1 The governments must as a priority integrate
the work of all agencies involved in water management such as
construction areas e.g. rivers , canals, irrigation systems, forest
The International Conference on Sustainable Community Development
27-29 January 2011

preservation etc in preparation for The Royal Project (Gamling [6] FAO, “ Climate change and food security : A framework
Project), Buying back land from the public and leasing agricultural document.” (online). Available www.greennet.or.th/climate/
land from agriculturists to cope with the impact from flooding. download/FAO_CCA_ FS.pdf (20 June 2010)
5.2.2 Supporting the natural and environmental
awareness in the aspect of ecosystem by participating of people,
local governments and private sector from the level of national
policy, organization and local government including integration
of budget, operation and knowledge.
5.2.3 Determine impact of climate change by
promoting the research and human resource development, with
clear goals, and able to bring to negotiation and prepare to cope
with climate change.
5.2.4 Emphasis on more research study
concerning to natural and environmental management in all level
and widely passing on the knowledge to action and continuously
implementing plan
5.2.5 Supporting sustainable production and
consumption by efficiently using natural resources. Pay more
attention to environmental impact, e.g. using the measures
for Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) to show the efficiency of
worthwhile resources use and taking the resource to process
for sale promotion, creating value for products by dividing the
resource of each Sub-district in value addition to product brand
of each Sub-district

6. Acknowledgement
This research was funded by Thailand Environmental
Institute (TEI) in 2010

7. References
[1] Witoon Panyakul, Climate change: Fragile assessment and
the way to adaptation. Bangkok. April. p. 4-57. 2553.
[2] Witoon Panyakul, The cause of climate change: The truth.
Sai Yai Pheandin Foundation, Bangkok. September. p.
3-37. 2552.
[3] Hat Yai District Office. (online). Available http://www.
hatyai-sk.go.th/index.php?cmd=home (20 June 2010)
[4] Weather Center, department of meteorological
development. The La Niña surveillance 2010. [online].
Available: www.tmd.go.th/programs%5Cuploads%
5Cphenomena%5C La Niña (November)-2010.pdf (12
December 2010)
[5] Weather Center, department of meteorological development.
The prediction of climate change in the future. Thai
meteorological Department. Bangkok. September 1-129,
2552.

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