PM Abhisit With Grave Concern Over Thailand's Severe Drought Problem

[webfact]

PM with grave concern over drought

BANGKOK (NNT) -- Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva voices his concern over the severe drought problem, admitting that the remaining amount of water in main dams may be enough for only another 2 months.

According to the Interior Ministry, the situation in four drought-stricken provinces has alleviated while that in 25 other provinces is still a concern. The two main dams of the country are facing a continuous decline in water storage as cumulative inflow is less than water usage (outflow). It is estimated that if the problem persists, the water in the dams will last only for the next two months.

Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva has assigned Deputy Prime Minister for Social Affairs Major-General Sanan Kajornprasart to liaise with the Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives to look into the problem and propose solutions to the cabinet next week.

The amount of water reserved is expected to reach the lowest in 10 years by the beginning of 2011 due to the serious drought which will also affect the seasonal rice growing.

At least 29 provinces across the country have been hit by the drought. A series of rainfalls in the past week have eased the severity in 4 provinces while 25 other provinces are still under threats. Over 2,500 square kilometers of farmland have already been destroyed by the dryness.

-- NNT 2010-06-03

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[KKvampire]

Rainfall has dropped dramatically in recent years, The Rainy seasons have not been very rainy. And water conservation in Thailand is bad

[lannarebirth]

AND the price of rice globally just keeps falling.

[slapout]

If the government or who ever has the where with all, will increase the farm gate price of all farm produce to a reasonable level, paid to farmers, the gods will cry with happiness and the drought will be over. Otherwise be patient and the rain will eventually return to the LOS.

[Valentine]

AND the price of rice globally just keeps falling.

Yet prices in the shops are about 100% more than a couple of years ago. Even with the drought I don't think there is a shortage of rice in Thailand as it has long been an exporter of rice. I think the pricing system is much more complex (price guarantees, middlemen, millers, price fixing, stockpiles, corruption etc) than we will ever know about & hopefully the present government will take steps to rectify this & make it more transparent.

Water management is abysmal & again pretty complex but we cannot sit back & just hope for more rain in future. In the past when the dams are low the rains come & then everyone seems to forget about any new water management plans. Education would help as there is much wastage amongst both domestic & commercial users.

On my website I put "water is our most valuable resource, please use it wisely". Now & in the future this will become increasingly important otherwise wars will be fought over ever dwindling supplies of water unless water management is taken more seriously. Peak oil, which may already be in place, has the potential to produce serious consequences & mankind can most likely survive without all the luxuries provided via oil but man cannot survive without water.

[lannarebirth]

AND the price of rice globally just keeps falling.

Yet prices in the shops are about 100% more than a couple of years ago. Even with the drought I don't think there is a shortage of rice in Thailand as it has long been an exporter of rice. I think the pricing system is much more complex (price guarantees, middlemen, millers, price fixing, stockpiles, corruption etc) than we will ever know about & hopefully the present government will take steps to rectify this & make it more transparent.

Water management is abysmal & again pretty complex but we cannot sit back & just hope for more rain in future. In the past when the dams are low the rains come & then everyone seems to forget about any new water management plans. Education would help as there is much wastage amongst both domestic & commercial users.

On my website I put "water is our most valuable resource, please use it wisely". Now & in the future this will become increasingly important otherwise wars will be fought over ever dwindling supplies of water unless water management is taken more seriously. Peak oil, which may already be in place, has the potential to produce serious consequences & mankind can most likely survive without all the luxuries provided via oil but man cannot survive without water.

The governments new rice price insurance and income guarantee scheme is pretty transparent. That was one of the reasons for the recent rally. Too transparent and cut out a couple of levels of corrupt middlemen. That said, a government can not support a commodity price that greatly differs from the global market price for that commodity. That was clear from Thaksin's diesel subsidy scheme which racked up in excess of 70 Billion baht debt in only a few months time.

[dumball]

This problem is done to death every year accompanied by lots of "Yak , Yak , Yakity Yak Yak " but little positive action takes place , a system of water diversion channels need to be put into the sytem with varying height and grade systems , locks and pumpimg stations as in european canal systems . Resevoirs are too reliant on physical rainfall , water needs to be moved from the 'Too much ' areas to the 'Too little ' areas , instead , the aquafine areas are being bled to death as in some parts of India , look at the huge problem that already exists there .

Oh , I forgot , TiT , don't fix it 'til it's completely broke . Just keep on with the brainstorming , any 'Brains ' available out there ???

[Tejas]

Unfortunately, due to our environmentally unsound economic activities (principally our reliance on non-renewable energy), climate change is a reality.

Of course, climate has always changed.

What is alarming is the pace and intensity of climate change.

Evidence suggests that droughts are increasing worldwide.

Modern humans have adapted to regional-specific climate realities.

The pace and intensity of climate change is starting to disrupt adaptive responses/patterns/cycles.

One can easily predict that food production in Thailand will be negatively impacted by climate change.

One can also predict that social chaos will follow.

Solutions:

1) reduce population levels worldwide (to try to curb economic growth)

2) develop a new system of energy that is inexpensive and does not pollute and lead to global warming/climate change

3) greatly increase recycling, energy efficiency, water conservation measures, and passive solar design

4) use market forces to increase the use of existing sustainable energy forms

5) ensure that the price of oil reflects its real cost to society (this will stimulate the use of alternative forms of energy)

6) plant trees........as many as possible (for those who may not know, trees absorb CO2, thus reducing the impact of global warming)

7) shift to a quality driven economy (as opposed to a quantity driven economy)

And now........here come the "global warming isn't real" trolls.

[neverdie]

This problem is done to death every year accompanied by lots of "Yak , Yak , Yakity Yak Yak " but little positive action takes place , a system of water diversion channels need to be put into the sytem with varying height and grade systems , locks and pumpimg stations as in european canal systems . Resevoirs are too reliant on physical rainfall , water needs to be moved from the 'Too much ' areas to the 'Too little ' areas , instead , the aquafine areas are being bled to death as in some parts of India , look at the huge problem that already exists there .

Oh , I forgot , TiT , don't fix it 'til it's completely broke . Just keep on with the brainstorming , any 'Brains ' available out there ???

Thats so true. Theres still plenty of water available, they just need to start taking care of this very precious resourse instead of taking it for granted.

You dont have to travel very far in the land of surprises to see water being needlessly being wasted.

[Thai at Heart]

Water in Thailand is far far too cheap. Until it is priced correctly, including agriculture, it will continue to be wasted.

The irony of having huge gardens being constantly irrigated, but at cost of probably less than 1000 baht per month is ridiculous. Conversely, the endless pursuit of rice production without consideration for the costs of its largest input is also ridiculous.

[plachon]

Water in Thailand is far far too cheap. Until it is priced correctly, including agriculture, it will continue to be wasted.

The irony of having huge gardens being constantly irrigated, but at cost of probably less than 1000 baht per month is ridiculous. Conversely, the endless pursuit of rice production without consideration for the costs of its largest input is also ridiculous.

It's not just "cheap" - it's given away to farmers for free - at least in the state (Royal Irrigation Dept) irrigation schemes. The only places where farmers pay for water is when they do their own pumping or extraction from public / private water bodies or, a limited number of state pumped irrigation schemes, where farmers have to pay a small fee for electricity or fuel costs, but the bulk of the running costs of the scheme are subsidised by the govt. In other words, farmers are neither paying for capital nor O & M costs on state irrigation schemes, and as water in many of these schemes is over-allocated (i.e. more demand than supply), then farmers fight (sometimes literally) for their share of the water in the canals. Many schemes in the Central Plains are a kind of organised anarchy, where political muscle usually decides who gets what and how much. Banharn and Suphan Buri is a master at this game of water pinching, which is maybe one of the reasons he's so popular traditionally amongst his electorate. Being a slimey eel helps too.

[Thai at Heart]

Water in Thailand is far far too cheap. Until it is priced correctly, including agriculture, it will continue to be wasted.

The irony of having huge gardens being constantly irrigated, but at cost of probably less than 1000 baht per month is ridiculous. Conversely, the endless pursuit of rice production without consideration for the costs of its largest input is also ridiculous.

It's not just "cheap" - it's given away to farmers for free - at least in the state (Royal Irrigation Dept) irrigation schemes. The only places where farmers pay for water is when they do their own pumping or extraction from public / private water bodies or, a limited number of state pumped irrigation schemes, where farmers have to pay a small fee for electricity or fuel costs, but the bulk of the running costs of the scheme are subsidised by the govt. In other words, farmers are neither paying for capital nor O & M costs on state irrigation schemes, and as water in many of these schemes is over-allocated (i.e. more demand than supply), then farmers fight (sometimes literally) for their share of the water in the canals. Many schemes in the Central Plains are a kind of organised anarchy, where political muscle usually decides who gets what and how much. Banharn and Suphan Buri is a master at this game of water pinching, which is maybe one of the reasons he's so popular traditionally amongst his electorate. Being a slimey eel helps too.

Absolutely. the free cost of water is a massive problem when trying to efficiently and profitably choose which crops to grow. The price of rice is falling, and yet Thailand remains determined to keep pursuing being the largest exporter. This isn't to say that in itself, rice might not be the best product to grow, it is just that from the market's perspective, but not charging for water, its cost is underestimated.

[KunMatt]

Rainfall has dropped dramatically in recent years, The Rainy seasons have not been very rainy. And water conservation in Thailand is bad

Didn't we just have up to 11 days in some places of the whole country throwing millions of gallons of water at each other?

I'm curious what the waste of water and the cost of damages during what Songkran is becoming is compared to the money made on tourism it attracts.

[elcent]

Just found this ... http://civoc.com/m/videos/view/Story-of-St...ork-About-Stuff

This touches one of the major problems many don't want to recognize. As a matter of fact it is our greed that has brought us the droughts, floodings storms etc..

[Tejas]

Just found this ... http://civoc.com/m/videos/view/Story-of-St...ork-About-Stuff

This touches one of the major problems many don't want to recognize. As a matter of fact it is our greed that has brought us the droughts, floodings storms etc..

Population growth = increase in economic activity = more water use

Population growth + increase in environmentally unsound energy = global warming and climate change = drought

Population growth + increase in economic activity + increase in environmentally unsound energy use + unsustainable farming practices + global warming and climate change = DISASTER

Greed? It is one factor, but it is not that simple. It also avoids the most important variables..........most important causative factors.

[jombom]

The problem in Thailand seems to be that rain falls during 8 months (66% of 1 year) and the other 4 months are dry (33% of 1 year). Thailand, therefore needs to collect and store water in large ammounts. However, it seems Thailand only collects and stores less than 20% of annual rainfall.

The issue of global warming is not relevent, as the population of Thailand, at approx 67 million, is only 1% of the population of the globe. Thailand can only fix problems in Thailand, and can do very little about the other 99%.

[Tejas]

The problem in Thailand seems to be that rain falls during 8 months (66% of 1 year) and the other 4 months are dry (33% of 1 year). Thailand, therefore needs to collect and store water in large ammounts. However, it seems Thailand only collects and stores less than 20% of annual rainfall.

The issue of global warming is not relevent, as the population of Thailand, at approx 67 million, is only 1% of the population of the globe. Thailand can only fix problems in Thailand, and can do very little about the other 99%.

Thailand's seasons have long been dominated by a rainy season and a dry season. That is not the issue.

The issue is that the recent dry periods are becoming more severe due to, in large part, global warming and climate change.

That something has to do with many global factors.

Yes, global warming is very relevant to Thailand (the process is a global process). As long as Thailand is on the earth, it is relevant.

Yes, global population is relevant for the same reason..........it is the cumulative impact of the earth's citizens (primarily engaging in environmentally unsound economic activities) that is causing global warming/climate change.

Even if Thailand does some temporary fix, it will not fix the global problems that are negatively impacting it.

People need to understand something: We are all in this together.

One thing is very true: Thailand needs to focus more on water storage.

But water storage systems (e.g., lakes) are fed by natural system impacted by global warming and climate change.

There is ample evidence now that the Mekong is drying up.............that will negatively impact Thailand.

Another poster said "greed" is the problem.

I would say that the massive greed expressed by fossil fuel energy corporations and the irresponsible politicians that support them is an example of greed being the problem.

[BlackJack]

global warming is a myth

[Tejas]

global warming is a myth

Trolling trolling trolling........keep those myths a-rolling........trolling trolling trolling..........troll on................yeah!

Santa Claus is a myth

Believing trash paid for by Exxon-Mobile is a myth

But, unfortunately, the global scientific community agrees that global warming and climate change are very much real.

Now, back to the topic, do you have a solution to the problem?

[tfc]

I wonder how much water was thrown out during songkran...

[Thunder26]

Rainfall has dropped dramatically in recent years, The Rainy seasons have not been very rainy. And water conservation in Thailand is bad

Not everywhere, 2009 was quite wet all over Thailand witnessing rainfall above average, but I agree that this year is hotter than normal and there is less rainfall. Due to high temperatures there are plenty of violent thunderstorms with huge amount of rain in some areas, unfortunately the rainfall is isolated causing droughts in many provinces. We are in June, and the temperatures are still above average, which in my opinion might cause severe thunderstorms in some areas including flash floods. I believe that this year will be average in rainfall all over Thailand, but due to high temperatures we will feel that is drier. Let's wait for July which is a cloudy month over Thailand.

[RickBradford]

As the British government put it in a series of advertisements for children:

"Jack and Jill went up the hill to fetch a pail of water. There was none as extreme weather due to climate change had caused a drought."

They were forced to pull this nauseating drivel off the airwaves by the Advertising Standards Authority.

Most AGW scientists believe that a warmer world will be a wetter one -- more evaporation = more precipitation.

Kevin Trenberth, the head of the National Center for Atmospheric Research, and one of the inventors of global warming, has attributed the recent floods in Nashville to global warming, even though there has been no trend in US precipitation over the past 100 years.

Equally, Australia's CSIRO attributed the country's recent drought to global warming, but had to retract the claim when it was shown that Australia's rainfall has not altered much over the 110 years that detailed records have been kept.

It's dry, it's wet, it's hot, it's cold, all due to global warming, simpletons believe.

Talking of simpletons leads naturally back to the former British government, which paired the 'Jack and Jill' ad with one called "Rub a dub dub" (also canned by ASA)

“Rub a dub dub, three men in a tub — a necessary course of action due to flash flooding caused by climate change."

Well they finally got it right, that's where global warming belongs -- in nursery rhymes.

Thailand will continue to experience periodic drought and flood, as no doubt it has for many millenia. No other explanation required.

[Searat7]

Rainfall has dropped dramatically in recent years, The Rainy seasons have not been very rainy. And water conservation in Thailand is bad

Didn't we just have up to 11 days in some places of the whole country throwing millions of gallons of water at each other?

I'm curious what the waste of water and the cost of damages during what Songkran is becoming is compared to the money made on tourism it attracts.

I wondered about the same thing...especially when I saw fire hydrants being opened in Silom with fire hoses attached... Wonder how this was allowed with the current drought situation. The use of ice (added to water during Songkran) is another waste of water.

[dumball]

The time Thai in BKK start to show any concern in regards to water preservation , is the minute they turn a tap and nothing comes out , the smallest action in the bathroom and the whole floor is flooded , we no have ploblem , many more in tap .

[gemini81]

global warming is a myth

I'm sorry to hear you weren't born with a sense of sight or hearing ability. Just look around you. A myth? What an ignorant thing to say! You arrived in Thailand by....Bangkok?!

[KunMatt]

Rainfall has dropped dramatically in recent years, The Rainy seasons have not been very rainy. And water conservation in Thailand is bad

Didn't we just have up to 11 days in some places of the whole country throwing millions of gallons of water at each other?

I'm curious what the waste of water and the cost of damages during what Songkran is becoming is compared to the money made on tourism it attracts.

I wondered about the same thing...especially when I saw fire hydrants being opened in Silom with fire hoses attached... Wonder how this was allowed with the current drought situation. The use of ice (added to water during Songkran) is another waste of water.

That was a pretty momentous occasion being your 40th post in all of 3 years here, but I don't get your point if you actually had one to make. And if you were just trying to be funny then you failed at that too.

Anything constructive to add?

[bangon04]

"Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva has assigned Deputy Prime Minister for Social Affairs Major-General Sanan Kajornprasart to liaise with the Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives to look into the problem and propose solutions to the cabinet next week."

Send the Royal Thai Aircraft Carrier up the Mekong and blow up the Chinese dams. I knew it would come in useful one day.

[bangon04]

Water in Thailand is far far too cheap. Until it is priced correctly, including agriculture, it will continue to be wasted.

The irony of having huge gardens being constantly irrigated, but at cost of probably less than 1000 baht per month is ridiculous. Conversely, the endless pursuit of rice production without consideration for the costs of its largest input is also ridiculous.

It's not just "cheap" - it's given away to farmers for free - at least in the state (Royal Irrigation Dept) irrigation schemes. The only places where farmers pay for water is when they do their own pumping or extraction from public / private water bodies or, a limited number of state pumped irrigation schemes, where farmers have to pay a small fee for electricity or fuel costs, but the bulk of the running costs of the scheme are subsidised by the govt. In other words, farmers are neither paying for capital nor O & M costs on state irrigation schemes, and as water in many of these schemes is over-allocated (i.e. more demand than supply), then farmers fight (sometimes literally) for their share of the water in the canals. Many schemes in the Central Plains are a kind of organised anarchy, where political muscle usually decides who gets what and how much. Banharn and Suphan Buri is a master at this game of water pinching, which is maybe one of the reasons he's so popular traditionally amongst his electorate. Being a slimey eel helps too.

Absolutely. the free cost of water is a massive problem when trying to efficiently and profitably choose which crops to grow. The price of rice is falling, and yet Thailand remains determined to keep pursuing being the largest exporter. This isn't to say that in itself, rice might not be the best product to grow, it is just that from the market's perspective, but not charging for water, its cost is underestimated.

But subsistence farming of rice is one of the cornerstones of Thai culture! Regular drought and floods keeps the farmers in their place. Bringing efficiency into farming is just not the Thai way. Otherwise small farmers would make a decent living, and challenge the whole concept of the sufficiency economy which has been designed especially for them.

[alex_aka_P]

Rainfall has dropped dramatically in recent years, The Rainy seasons have not been very rainy. And water conservation in Thailand is bad

Well, let's cut more trees and reduce jungle and rainforest's coverage even lower than ever before!!!

[tigermonkey]

global warming is a myth

Trolling trolling trolling........keep those myths a-rolling........trolling trolling trolling..........troll on................yeah!

Santa Claus is a myth

Believing trash paid for by Exxon-Mobile is a myth

But, unfortunately, the global scientific community agrees that global warming and climate change are very much real.

Now, back to the topic, do you have a solution to the problem?

I don't know for which problem you seek a "solution" -- Thailand's ongoing abuse of its water resource, is a massive problem which will require education/retraining, social change and revamping of agrarian economics. The Thai government does nothing but wail and moan about the problem ( other than criticism of China).

Global warming ? -- I'm very sorry to burst your bubble, but ' the global scientific community ' is very divided about the reality of global warming -- except for the Al Gore groupies who gathered in Copenhagen recently to advance their personal economic and political agendas. That's why it is now called only global climate change.

A footnote to your faith in the ' the global scientific community ' -- this is the same community who were preaching about the imminent 'global ice age' less than two decades ago.

We need sensible conservation in all the things we do -- without any economic or political agenda -- all of our resouces -- and we need it now ! Every person on this planet needs to participate.