Tanzania Gets Royal Help In Rain-making

[george]

Tanzania gets royal help in rain-making

BANGKOK: -- Thailand's King Bhumibol Adulyadej has granted his permission for the Agriculture and Cooperatives Ministry to share with drought-stricken Tanzania the artificial rain making technique he has developed, according to Agriculture Minister Thira Sutabutr.

Experts from the Bureau of the Royal Rainmaking Research and Development Institute and Thailand's Agricultural Aviation programmes will be dispatched to demonstrate the technique and transfer the technology to Tanzanian officials.

The East African country asked Thailand for help and the Royal Household Bureau informed the ministry that King Bhumibol had granted his permission for the technology transfer.

The king has advised the ministry to map targeted areas thoroughly and study local wind patterns as Thailand and Tanzania have totally different climatic conditions, Mr. Thira said.

A group of seven experts will travel to Tanzania this month and will be there for two weeks to undertake joint research and planning with local officials.

Later on, experienced pilots and scientists from the Royal Rainmaking will be sent to conduct training and supervise the trial period.

"Other countries have expressed interest in using His Majesty's techniques," the minister added.

His Majesty was granted a patent for his "super-sandwich" rainmaking technique which uses aircraft to "seed" with chemicals warm and cold clouds at different altitudes. It is considered unique because it successfully makes artificial rain fall in extremely parched areas where crops are being threatened.

--TNA 2007-02-15