18 Provinces Likely To Suffer Drought This Year

[Jai Dee]

18 provinces likely to suffer drought this year

The Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives predicted that 18 provinces of Thailand will encounter severe drought this year. However, the Royal Irrigation Department is confident that the almost filled water reserve will be able to alleviate the potential crisis.

Agriculture and Cooperatives Minister Thira Sutabutr spoke about the Department of Agriculture’s report on the drought situation. According to the report, this year’s drought may affect 7.2 million rai of land.

He said the 18 drought-risk provinces include three from the North, four from the Northeast, six from the East, three from the West, and two from the South. They include Phayao, Lampang, Sukhothai, Khon Kaen, Chaiyaphum, Mukdahan, Yasothon, Chachoengsao, Trat, Nakhon Nayok, Prachin Buri, Rayong, Nakhon Pathom, Prachuap Khiri Khan, Ratchaburi, Nakhon Si Thammarat, and Songkhla.

However, Mr. Thira said the Royal Irrigation Department will be able to handle this year’s drought because the water reserve at the moment is almost 100 percent filled due to abundant rain fall from last year.

Source: Thai National News Bureau Public Relations Department - 06 February 2007