7.8 Billion baht Approved for Drought-hit Areas

[Jacob Maslow]

Prime Minister has approved 7.8 billion baht to help alleviate the effects of the worst drought in the last decade.

Severe droughts have plagued Thailand. Drought has reached 8 of the country’s 76 provinces so far. Initial reports indicate that the drought this year will be the worst seen in over a decade. Prime Minister, Prayut Chan-o-cha, announced on Wednesday that the cabinet approved a 7.8 billion baht budget to alleviate drought concerns.

The approval allows the government to bolster much-needed water management. Leftover funds from 2014 will be utilized to supply water to those hit hardest by the drought and to combat further water-related concerns, states Prayut.

Further details state that the government plans to provide mobile water tanks to provinces. Water pumps will also be installed in these areas. Farmers are expected to be hit the hardest as the drought will lead to a major loss in crop yields this year.

Estimates are already being released by the Office of Agricultural Economics that show an expected reduction in the country’s rice production by up to 30%. Off-season crop growth takes place primarily between November and April. This is the time after the main crops are harvested. This is a period when traditionally low rainfall amounts are already seen, drawing further concerns. Irrigation is a necessity during these months.

Next month will be the hot season for Thailand, making drought concerns grow higher. Prayut Chan-o-cha states that aid will be focused on main agricultural centers in the north and northeast.

Reports from earlier in the month indicate that the current drought is the worst in 15 years with concerns to crop production. New reports from earlier in the day state that initial budget estimates were a mere 5 billion baht. The increase of 2.8 billion baht is due to concerns that the drought will worsen next month.

In total, 1,712 projects will be funded to help with drought concerns.

-- 2015-02-19

[shirtless]

Lets hope the money goes where its needed

[ezzra]

Any body for another round of rice planting? when you disregard mother nature and cramp

3-4 rice planting cycles, this is what you get... do you think those farmers learned anything?

I doubt it very much....

[Srikcir]

"The approval allows the government to bolster much-needed water management."

These are well-known drought-hit areas. But the Junta needs a crisis to provide water management? And what exactly is its plan? Trucks with water. No infrastruture projects, no long-term solutions - just more knee-jerk reactions. Frankly, if the Junta-government had been elected, it wouldn't survive a year in a democractic monarchy.