Thread: 2.2 million rai of second-crop rice at risk due to water shortage

About 2.2 million rai of second-crop rice in the Chao Phraya river basin are at risk of being damaged or entirely wiped out due to critical water shortage, Agriculture Minister General Chatchai Sarikalaya disclosed on Wednesday.

He said the ministry had designated 2.67 million rai of rice farmland in the Chao Phraya river basin for second-croup cultivation, but actual cultivation has increased to 5.35 million rai, with the additional rice-cultivated farmland in areas without access to irrigation system, scattering in 105 districts in 34 provinces.

He warned that there would not be enough water to feed all the second-crop farmland and those without access to irrigation system are at high risk of being destroyed due to lack of water.

2.2 million rai of second-crop rice at risk due to water shortage - Thai PBS English News

Farmers urged to halt growing second crop of rice

BANGKOK, 15 March 2017 (NNT) – Royal Irrigation Department (RID) Director General Sunchai Ketworachai called on farmers to avoid growing the second crop of rice as water supply will not be adequate.

He said the volume of water in middle- and large-sized dams nationwide was reported at 45.67 billion cubic meters, or 61 percent of total capacity, with the useable volume reported at 21.85 billion cubic meters, or 43 percent or 7.9 billion cubic meters more than a previous year.

According to the RID chief, Chao Phraya River Basin alone currently has 6.62 billion cubic meters of water available for irrigation, accounting for 26 percent of total capacity.

The RID has allocated 5.95 billion cubic meters of water for usage during dry season. However, some 4.69 billion cubic meters has already been used, or 490 million cubic meters more than the planned volume.

Farmers are now urged to suspend the second-crop farming of rice as it will affect the water supply and damage the rice, he said.

The farmers have already done 5.35 million rai of farmland, which was roughly twice as much the planned volume of 2.68 million.

http://nwnt.prd.go.th/CenterWeb/News....7ENcDNjC.dpuf

Originally Posted by misskit

Royal Irrigation Department (RID) Director General Sunchai Ketworachai called on farmers to avoid growing the second crop of rice as water supply will not be adequate.

Sunchai and the General need to talk.

"Government spokesman Lt. Gen. Sansern Kaewkamnerd disclosed that Thailand has now completely entered summer and the government has confirmed that there will no water shortages as water management has been systemically planned."

https://teakdoor.com/thailand-and-asi...-plan-can.html (Govt confident water management plan can cope with dry season)