FINAL REPORT

Concerning the question “Are you willing to pay a water fee if the irrigation facility is
reconstructed and other irrigation systems are built?” 51% responded that they would pay for
water-but only in case of properly solved water problems. On the other hand,49% refused to
pay, referring to their limited financial assets (Fig. 58). They warned, if such fees were
introduced, many households could not sustain farming and the number of poor households
would increase. Those who were in favour of introducing a water use fee if water supply
problems were solved answered that farmers will gain from it because:
• waste of water would be reduced if farmers stopped digging haphazard channels and
ditches
• ecological condition will improve in the Buyant River Delta if water is saved
13.2.4 Perceptions on the Physical Environment of the Buyant River Delta
According to the experience of farmers, farmland degradation is observed during the past 15
years, including:
• frequent storms causing soil degradation,soil is becoming stony
• soil salinization caused by improper use of fertilizer
• with decreasing availability of natural fertilizer from dung, there is an increasing
tendency to usechemicals, which might harm theenvironment
Households
60
50
40
30
20
10
0
51
3 5
Yes No Don't know
Does your household support the
reconstruction of Janjin Boolt
Households
35
30
25
20
15
10
5
0
30 29
Yes
No
Source: Survey results, June 2006
Figure 57:Support for Rehabilitation of Janjin Boolt
Headwork, Khovd sum
Source: Survey results, June 2006
Figure 58: Support for Introduction of a
Water Fee, Khovd sum
• increase of pests
• farmland abandonment due to a lack of irrigation water
109