Thread: Drought

With the drought that the NE is seeing, how is that changing rice planting strategies? Been wanting to talk with the SIL about it but, she is sometimes hard to reach.

There's not a drought,it just the normal dry season, the rainy season hasn't started yet.

I have heard there will be drought problems. It will happen sooner or later. Just like it will flood again, sooner or later.

It's such a waste of water when it floods or rains a lot. Need to save that water for the drought periods.

Originally Posted by BaitongBoy

It's such a waste of water when it floods or rains a lot. Need to save that water for the drought periods

So simple, why don't the govenment dredge the resevoirs,
ours is only about 2 metres deep.

The soil could then be sold for land fill for housing etc.

Boloa is correct in my book. It's normal this time of year to run short of water. Give it another month or so and you'll be thinking 'when's this rain going to stop'.

Originally Posted by boloa

There's not a drought,it just the normal dry season, the rainy season hasn't started yet.

People can't figure that out, can they?

There are changing rainfall and temperature patterns across the region which will have consequences for rice growing. The Mekong Adaptation and Resilience to Climate Change Project recently released a report (available at http://www.mekongarcc.net/sites/defa...sis_report.pdf) on how how these changes may manifest themselves. This is probably over a slightly longer time scale than you had in mind but it's worth keeping in mind that there are major changes afoot.

There sure are. in my place of birth Christchurch NZ its drier than I have ever seen, yet In Queensland where I sometimes live it is wet wet and more wet Its climate change.

Fields are plowed ready for planting in a few weeks when the rains come as they have for millennium. No change in strategy here.

There have been droughts and floods in Thailand for centuries and it doesn't seem to have too big an impact on rice growing.

Talk to some of the elders in your village and I am sure they will be more than happy to enlighten you.

Yes, the rainy season will start on May 25th this year with several feet of water to fill the rice fields.

Fields are plowed ready for planting in a few weeks when the rains come as they have for millennium. No change in strategy here.

Doctors are using leeches and consulting Galen on the four humors as they have for millennia. No change in strategy or any need for that rubbish about the so-called germ theory of disease.

Rained in Korat yesterday for about 6 hours.

Very nice it was too.

Bun Bang Fai Rocket Festival 2013 is May 11th and 12th this year so expect rain any day after that date.

Originally Posted by peaches

Originally Posted by BaitongBoy

It's such a waste of water when it floods or rains a lot. Need to save that water for the drought periods

So simple, why don't the govenment dredge the resevoirs,
ours is only about 2 metres deep.

The soil could then be sold for land fill for housing etc.

Very good point, good fill soil is always needed.

Originally Posted by boloa

There's not a drought,it just the normal dry season, the rainy season hasn't started yet.

There is no tap water here and hasn't been for a couple of weeks

And none in the nearer horizon (until the reservoirs are filled )

When will that be ?

I call it a drought, but it would be fair to blame last years drought

We had no Songkran this year if you get the picture

Where are you located Helge?

It does not take a rocket scientist to figure out if there is such a thing as drought in Thailand, then there is very poor water management.

A country like Thailand, where it rains as much as it does, should never have water shortages.

Originally Posted by helge

I call it a drought, but it would be fair to blame last years drought

Id blame, if anyone is to blame, on the people that pump out the waters of rivers to line their pockets. Watercourses should be sacrosanct.

You can't really call it a drought, but the last wet season was the shortest I remember in 10 years and this has been the hottest hot season many here can remember.
Like all farming there are only 2 types of rain, too much and not enough. Jim

Originally Posted by boloa

Bun Bang Fai Rocket Festival 2013 is May 11th and 12th this year so expect rain any day after that date.

The rains have already come with some consistency throughout the country...

There was a time, when you could set your watch by the seasons.
From the last 10-12 years there doesn't seem to be defining mark.

The rains now are noticeble by Songkran - spotty as it might be.

Had some yesterday,looks like rain again soon today!

Originally Posted by boloa

Had some yesterday,looks like rain again soon today!

Yet the [Surin] planting still won't get under way until the second week of May..

Klongs are already starting to rise.

Bit later here in Roiet. You guys get water earlier with help from Roietites. We have flush toilets.

Just got off the phone with the sil. She says, gonna do what she always did and get what we get. No rain, but it is over cast so not so hot. Farming here and farming there is something I'll have go get used to.

She did tell me that we don't eat dang moo anymore. Someone ate some and died. Never eat again.