Korat prepares for looming drought

[Lite Beer]

Korat prepares for looming drought

NAKHON RATCHASIMA: Provincial authorities have established drought response centres across 32 districts to help residents prepare for the upcoming dry season.

Provincial governor Winai Buapradit has instructed the chiefs of the 32 districts to survey households that are likely to be susceptible to drought and report back to authorities.

No districts have yet been declared drought-affected.

Of the 32 districts, four – Phimai, Khon Buri, Soeng Sang and Pak Chong – are under close watch for signs of drought.

Mr Winai will call a meeting tomorrow with a provincial committee to draw up guidelines to reduce second-crop rice planting areas and encourage farmers to plant crops and vegetables that consume less water.

Residents in non-irrigated areas of Chalerm Phrakiat district who live far from the Moon River _ the main water source in the northeastern province _ have turned to planting crops that consume less water such as beans to supplement their income during the dry season.

Chidchanok Somprasert, director of the 8th Irrigation Office in Nakhon Ratchasima, said water levels in five major reservoirs in the province were almost full and would be sufficient for household consumption during the dry season. But for agriculture, there is only enough water for farmland in the irrigated areas.

The Lam Takhong reservoir in Sikhiu district currently holds 252 million cubic metres of water, or about 80% of its capacity.

Water in the Lam Phra Ploeng reservoir in Pak Thong Chai district stands at 103.05 million cubic metres, or 94% of capacity.

The Lam Sae reservoir in Khon Buri district is full while the Lam Moon Bon reservoir in Khon Buri district has 131.39 million cubic metres of water or 93.19% of capacity.

Water in the Lam Plai Mat reservoir in Soeng Sang district stands at 85.30 million cubic metres or 87.04% full.

Although the amounts of water in the reservoirs posed no concern at the moment, supply could quickly recede during prolonged dry spells and without efficient water management.

Kritphet Petcharaburanin, chief of the provincial disaster prevention and mitigation office, has urged people to use water sparingly and to store water for use if and when drought strikes.

-- Phuket News 2014-02-16

[HeavyDrinker]

Interesting.

We had rain here (near Lat Krabang) nothing savage but rain it was last night but the canals are nearly empty apart from the tons of crap the locals bung in there willy-nilly....

Edited February 16, 2014 by HeavyDrinker

[KhunBENQ]

In our neighbouring Amphoe (in Khon Kaen province) people were already asked to save water (they get their water from a dam).

Water cuts and pressure reduction announced.

And that as early as February.

Was to be expected after the rain deficit in 2013.

[jayjayjayjay]

I still get annoyed when the word drought it used in Thailand so frequently. Try 4-5 years without significant rains (over 5-6mm) some Austrlain regions have experienced in the past. Sort of pales in significance!

[Dannyboy6]

I still get annoyed when the word drought it used in Thailand so frequently. Try 4-5 years without significant rains (over 5-6mm) some Austrlain regions have experienced in the past. Sort of pales in significance!

. We're not in Austraila Anymore...

[bina]

the determination of what is a drought changes in comaprison to what was in the past, and also the general climate; in the negev , a drought year is different then in areas that generally get some sort of precipitation. we, for instance, are heading in to a major drought year as apart from one giant unusually severe snow, it has not rained at all until today - and farmers are getting worried.

also, at least in soeng sang, there are not too many farms that have access to water without having a generator and drip or any form of irrigation, therefore, lack of rain has more catastrphic affects.

and drought is like disease. there is acute and chonic.

there is yearly rainfall, and there is average rainfall for a specific month which usually has greater rainfall and when crops are based on rainfall farming, drought doesnt need to be in years but in months.

in other words, for the past few year we have been in a drought situation so taht last year, when we had large amounts of rain even in and over the rain line in teh desert, everyone acted as if we had a surplus of water. in reality, it was still drought conditions, just improved conditons compered to waht had been for several years prior to that last year. this year is less promising.

hmph/ in laws (in baan khok soon, very close to soeng sang town) just put in money (hubby's ) on more cassava fields near a stream, but havce also invested in watermelons which do better if they have drip irrigation which wont happen as they dont have any way to do that. we should plant sabras or adult olive trees. but then there will be a year of monsoons and they will all rot.

[Diablo Bob]

"Chidchanok Somprasert, director of the 8th Irrigation Office in Nakhon Ratchasima, said water levels in five major reservoirs in the province were almost full and would be sufficient for household consumption during the dry season. But for agriculture, there is only enough water for farmland in the irrigated areas."

I have a problem with this statement.....

They have enough water for houshold consumption....... OK

There is only enough water for farmland in irrigated areas.......OK

So what's the problem?

The un-irrigated areas of farmland? Where do they normally get their water? What's different from the past? Is there another consumer of water that they have failed to identify?

Seems to me that this is a "Make us look like we (Gov't) are busy" kind of story.

[kamahele]

"Chidchanok Somprasert, director of the 8th Irrigation Office in Nakhon Ratchasima, said water levels in five major reservoirs in the province were almost full and would be sufficient for household consumption during the dry season. But for agriculture, there is only enough water for farmland in the irrigated areas."

I have a problem with this statement.....

They have enough water for houshold consumption....... OK

There is only enough water for farmland in irrigated areas.......OK

So what's the problem?

The un-irrigated areas of farmland? Where do they normally get their water? What's different from the past? Is there another consumer of water that they have failed to identify?

Seems to me that this is a "Make us look like we (Gov't) are busy" kind of story.

I really didn't get the article either...In out village, the farms which are not close enough to pump water from the Moon river, have man made ponds which fill during the raining season and then are used to irrigate the fields during the dry season. No one is turning on the public tap to water their fields.

[willyumiii]

These same areas were flooding two months ago!

Where is all of that water?

Is there any kind of practical water management in place here?

Maybe more reservoirs are the answer?

In my area, river level is fine, kalongs are running full, in some spots over flowing onto the roads.

And we are not far from Khorat.

[soalbundy]

I still get annoyed when the word drought it used in Thailand so frequently. Try 4-5 years without significant rains (over 5-6mm) some Austrlain regions have experienced in the past. Sort of pales in significance!

Not only Austrlain,i hear Australia has a drought problem to. That would only be pertinent though if we were in Autrlain or Australia

[SantiSuk]

We had a water environmentalist with us in Ubon for 3 months last year. He commented that the Agriculture ministry's policy of encouraging second crop (irrigated rice) was a major <deleted> up in water resource planning that would become clear within a few short years.

The river Moon which drains most of Isaan through Ubon dropped dramatically this year at the end of the rainy season - 18 metres within 3 weeks. Hope that's because all you provinces up stream had closed the dams and managed to keep good stocks. Use it wisely - no more till May. The occasional sprinklings of rain reported never reach the water courses.

On the bright side, the unseasonably cool January/February must have cut demand somewhat. If reservoirs are still full at this time of year (as they are in Lower Sisaket) any serious drought hereafter is just down to crass mismanagement at the local level.