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Farmers told not to expand their second crop cultivation



BANGKOK: -- Rice farmers in the Chao Phraya river basin have been told by the Royal Irrigation Department not to increase their second rice cropping in order to save water for consumption during the dry season.

4.4 million rai of farmland in the Chao Phraya river basin have been cultivated with the second crop and 1,866 million cubic metre of water or 64 percent of water stored in various dams have been used up, according to the latest survey by the Royal Irrigation Department.

To ensure that the limited water reserves will last through the dry season and to reduce the risk of water shortage, the department has sought cooperation from farmers not to increase their second cropping.

The latest water conditions in various dams as of February 9 are as follows: Bhumibol dam, 5,941 million cubic metres of water or 44 percent of its capacity but with 2,141 million cubic metres that can be used; Sirikit dam, 5,667 million cubic metres or 60 percent of its capacity but with 2,871 million cubic metres which can be used; Kwae Noi BamrungDaen dam, 554 million cubic metres or 59 percent of its capacity but with only 511 million cubic metres that can be used; Pasak Chonasit dam, 578 million cubic metres or 60 percent of its capacity but with 575 million cubic metres that can be used.

Source: http://englishnews.thaipbs.or.th/farmers-told-not-expand-second-crop-cultivation


-- Thai PBS 2015-02-11

[thesetat2013]

Aren't these the same farmers who were told not to make a rice crop off season before. They didn't listen then so why would they listen now?

These people don't look at how much water there is for others. They look at the needs for their families and for the almighty baht. Telling them not to do something is pointless.

[toybits]

No, the real reason for preventing them to plant is so that people in Bangkok have enough water for their own consumption. Just another way of saying Bangkok in more important than those Kwai farmers.

[recycler]

What would you do if asked to substantially reduce your income with nothing in return?

[Toknarok]

Indeed, I don't suppose the rice farmers give a damn wether the people of Bangkok can flush their toilets.

[thhMan]

It could all be resolved with just a little bit of education on the officials behalf and some "squeezed out" logic that really doesnt exist in this backward country...

At least give some alternatives, so these uneducated buffoons can make a living

[apetley]

'Buffoons'?

[monkeycountry]

What would you do if asked to substantially reduce your income with nothing in return?

Arent these the same farmers who claim they are losing money on growing rice? Or is that claim only for when they need the government to buy their rice?

[rickirs]

Asking the farmers to make sacrafices to their economic well-being for the sake of Bangkokians is unfair. The government should immediately institute water rationing in Bangkok and surrounding areas in conjunction with farmers not expanding crop cultivation. Otherwise, the government should stop pestering farmers.

[monkeycountry]

Asking the farmers to make sacrafices to their economic well-being for the sake of Bangkokians is unfair. The government should immediately institute water rationing in Bangkok and surrounding areas in conjunction with farmers not expanding crop cultivation. Otherwise, the government should stop pestering farmers.

I am quite sure the farmers use alot more water than anyone in Bangkok, even without rationing, but maybe a compromise is possible - the government should stop pestering farmers, but only if the farmers stop forcing the government (all of us) to buy their crops.

[apetley]

Asking the farmers to make sacrafices to their economic well-being for the sake of Bangkokians is unfair. The government should immediately institute water rationing in Bangkok and surrounding areas in conjunction with farmers not expanding crop cultivation. Otherwise, the government should stop pestering farmers.

I am quite sure the farmers use alot more water than anyone in Bangkok, even without rationing, but maybe a compromise is possible - the government should stop pestering farmers, but only if the farmers stop forcing the government (all of us) to buy their crops.

Nobody is forcing the Govt to buy any crops. If any Govt buys anything is is almost certainly as part of a populist policy to gain support.

[ExPratt]

I asked the missus and apparently the Farmers in this neck of the woods are going for the full or normal second crop. From my experience not many Thai's worry about Tomorrow let alone 6 months time

[NeilSA1]

No, the real reason for preventing them to plant is so that people in Bangkok have enough water for their own consumption. Just another way of saying Bangkok in more important than those Kwai farmers.

Population of Bangkok is about 6,5M

The Chao Phraya River Bay of Bangkok. The Chao Phraya basin covers 30% of Thailand's land area, is home to 40% of the country's population, employs 78% of its work force, and generates 66% of its Gross Domestic Product (GDP). The total population of the Chao Phraya basin was 23.0 million inhabitants in 1996.

It would seem that Bangkok is not the main user of water and that many millions of the population also depend on this water source. No real need to just pick on Bkk.

[wow64]

Workers at the Royal Irrigation Department should just work for half the year and get half their income.. its no big deal.

Edited February 11, 2015 by wow64

[angiolo]

Hey the PM wants Thailand to be the worlds biggest rice exporter. Well perhaps he must have some rice to export,so why stop the farmers growing rice to sell. Does make sense to me.

[ratcatcher]

Hey the PM wants Thailand to be the worlds biggest rice exporter. Well perhaps he must have some rice to export,so why stop the farmers growing rice to sell. Does make sense to me.

" Well perhaps he must have some rice to export,so why stop the farmers growing rice to sell"

Have you forgotten that they also have a few thousand sacks of rice, from past years also in storage, which they are desperately trying to sell?

[cocopops]

Thai farmers are in this respect unexceptional. The officials making these requests are impressively optimistic though.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tragedy_of_the_commons

Edited February 11, 2015 by cocopops