Nakhon Ratchasima rice farmers stare at another year of drought as rains play truant

The Nation

 

By Prasit Tangprasert
 

Drought-hit rice farmers in Nakhon Ratchasima province are once again staring at an uncertain future as rainfall in the current season is far short of the normal.

 

Sanit Chuamun, 47, a rice farmer in Thaluang subdistrict in Phimai district, is worried that shortage of water has started to affect his fragrant rice fields. Sanit owns 17 rai of paddy rice fields. Some of the rice shoots have started to die, he moans.

 

Although Thailand has entered the annual monsoon season, rains have not been as they were in the past, he said. This is the second year in succession that Phimai district, about 330 kilometres northeast of Bangkok, faces a severe drought, he said.

 

Reserves in the Phimai dam have also been depleting due to the scanty rain, as a result it could not deliver adequate water to the farmers.

 

An estimated 20,000 rai of rice fields in the area face the threat of drought.

 

If there are not adequate rains in the coming one or two weeks, then the rice crop could perish, Sanit said, pleading for government help.

 

Source: https://www.nationthailand.com/news/30391177

 

-- © Copyright The Nation Thailand 2020-07-13

 

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Yep. It still horribly dry in Southern Esarn. Still waiting for some typhoons from the South China Sea. So far, it's been quiet there too this year. Southern Esarn seems like Thailand's desert.

We seem to be ok in Kap Choeng/Surin. Rain hard for about 5 hours last night. Mueang  Surin is doing ok. Looks like Buriram and Korat are not getting any rain.

5 hours ago, webfact said:

If there are not adequate rains in the coming one or two weeks, then the rice crop could perish, Sanit said, pleading for government help.

PM to do another rain dance?

I simply don't understand this. It pours down every afternoon. I have not watered the garden in months.

5 hours ago, TooBigToFit said:

Yep. It still horribly dry in Southern Esarn. Still waiting for some typhoons from the South China Sea. So far, it's been quiet there too this year. Southern Esarn seems like Thailand's desert.

Be careful what you wish for. Back in July 2017 a storm came from that direction, and dropped 13 inches of rain on Maha Sarakham. Drenched Kalasin, and other provinces as well, and ruined crops.

3 hours ago, khwaibah said:

Looks like Buriram and Korat are not getting any rain.

And neither is Sisaket. 

We get a couple of minor showers once or twice a week... not what one might expect from a monsoon which is reaching less and less to the East, year after year... 

Friend sells clothes as SaveOne night market and she has been rained out many many nights......we seem to have rain most nights. So the rice fields around here are doing fine.....must be in the north.

11 hours ago, webfact said:

Nakhon Ratchasima rice farmers stare at another year of drought as rains play truant

Why don't they start Making the Rain? 

 

Department of Royal Rainmaking and Agricultural Aviation

DRRAA employs 71 pilots who fly 39 rain seeding aircraft from Royal Rain Operations Centres in Chiang Mai, Nakhon Sawan, Khon Kaen, Rayong, and Surat Thani.

3 hours ago, Brunolem said:

And neither is Sisaket. 

We get a couple of minor showers once or twice a week... not what one might expect from a monsoon which is reaching less and less to the East, year after year... 

Here in southern Sisaket around Kantharalak we often get rain and the rice fields have standing water.

5 hours ago, Pedrogaz said:

I simply don't understand this. It pours down every afternoon. I have not watered the garden in months.

Where are you located?

 

Here in Buriram, last night was the 1st (short) rain we had in 2+ weeks

Rain very spotty in Isaan.  Most seasons dry with occasional flooding from river overflows.  Not good for farmers.  Climate change driven by pollution and burning.  What doesn’t help: Thailand’s proximity to the world’s biggest polluter.