Should A Woman Be Allowed to hold the office of President of the USA?

[Lite Beer]

DROUGHT
Farm survey to assess the damage
The Sunday Nation

BANGKOK: -- Major operation to evaluate drought situation in 22 provinces to dispatch appropriate aid

THE Agriculture Ministry is set to conduct a large-scale survey of drought-hit farmlands in the Central plains from tomorrow to assess the severity of the damage before dispatching proper assistance measures.

Agriculture Minister Peetipong Phuengboon na Ayutthaya said yesterday that officials from the Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives would be mobilised to conduct the survey.

Peetipong said heads of agricultural offices from 22 provinces in the Central plains are to gather today in Ayutthaya province to plan the mobilisation and assessment.

They would mobilise their subordinates from various departments to go to the fields and evaluate the situation of rice fields.

The ministry estimates about 1.4 million rai of rice fields in the plains had been hit by the drought, but Peetipong said he would like to know the severity of the damage before delivering appropriate assistance.

The areas would be classified based on the severity of the assessed damage, he said, ranging from the hardest-hit areas, where the rice yield is withering, the areas where farmers could help themselves but need some assistance, and the areas where no help is needed.

The deadline has not yet been set, but it is expected that it would be delivered today at the meeting.

The plan was part of the new effort by the ministry to try to manage the demand side in the drought-hit area.

"Demand-side management is as important as water management, which is supply side," said Peetipong during his inspection of the Rama IX Reservoir in Pathum Thani province.

"It's about the needs of the areas and how we can manage to help alleviate the problem. If we know which areas need help and to what extent, we will be able to deliver help more efficiently, rather than disseminating it all over and wasting it," he said.

The Royal Irrigation Department (RID) since Thursday has shut down more than 300 sluice gates in the plains as part of its measures to prevent water being channelled to farms to ensure water for domestic consumption. Soldiers have been dispatched to help keep a watch on any water pumping activity. Meanwhile, angry farmers are reported to have staged protests, demanding water for their withering rice crop.

Some 18 million cubic metres of water a day is being discharged from the Department's major dams for consumption and to maintain the ecological system in the Central plains. However, there have been reports of water being heavily pumped out of the system, raising fears that this would disrupt the water for consumption downstream.

The Department has urged farmers not to pump water into their fields over the next few days. The minister said he has received a report that the water level near the Chao Phraya Dam in Chainat province has risen by 12 centimetres.

Irrigation department director-general Lertviroj Kowattana conceded that water discharge from its major dams was not as efficient as it should be. The department has allocated 8 million out of 18 million cubic metres for consumption, and 5 million for maintaining the ecological system. However, there have been reports of an increase in salinity downstream, prompting concerns among water users in the Chao Phraya. By shutting down the sluice gates, the Department has seen more clearly where the problem was, he added.

Peetipong said water stored in the major dams had been reducing continuously over the last three years, and in the future it may become necessary for farmers to give up their practice of growing rice two or three times a year, as there was likely not enough water to irrigate their rice fields.

This would be part of the ministry's long-term plans, Peetipong added.

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/national/Farm-survey-to-assess-the-damage-30264734.html

-- The Nation 2015-07-19

[arthurboy]

The Min of Ag. needs a survey to survey a survey of agricultural land affected by the drought.

For everyone's information, every province - yes every province - already has a permanent Min. of Ag sub department - decentralised from the Bangkok Min. of Ag.- to monitor and advise on all things relating to farming and food production in that province which is staffed with a team of civil servants and land development experts whose very job it is is to survey agriculture development and advise on all related matters, including issues that may or will affect efficient and productive food production.

Now that's clear, let's ask a question.

More budget, anyone?

[Lite Beer]

Compensation for drought-damaged farmland still awaits assessment

BANGKOK: -- Aerial survey recently conducted by the Ministry of Agriculture and Agricultural Cooperatives shows that up to 1.4 million rai of rice farmland are expected to be damaged by drought, said Agriculture Minister Pitipong Pungbun na Ayudhya over the weekend.

However, the minister said that field inspection by officials which is underway would help determine how much of the rice farmland aerially surveyed were actually damaged; how much of them are at risk of facing water shortage and how much of them can be revived so that help can be appropriately provided.

The minister disclosed that water level in the Chao Phraya river has increased by 12 centimetres enabling the Royal Irrigation Department to release more water into the lower Chao Phraya river basin after farmers were told to stop pumping water from the river as of July 16.

However, he said famers would have to stop pumping water for two more days after which it can be determined how much water are left in storage and how much water can be diverted for agricultural purpose without affect water for consumption.

Government’s deputy spokesman Maj-Gen Sansern Kaewkamnerd, meanwhile, said compensation for farmers affected by drought would have to wait because the government would still have to assess the damages from drought as rains have fallen in some drought-stricken areas.

Source: http://englishnews.thaipbs.or.th/compensation-for-drought-damaged-farmland-still-awaits-assessment

-- Thai PBS 2015-07-19

[ramrod711]

The areas would be classified based on the severity of the assessed damage, he said, ranging from the hardest-hit areas, where the rice yield is withering, the areas where farmers could help themselves but need some assistance, and the areas where no help is needed.

Given the fact that farmers were warned more than one year ago, and several times since then, that there would not be enough rainfall to support a second rice crop this year. Perhaps the farmers who listened, and are suffering, should be paid first. The farmers that invested money in seed and fertilizer, despite the warnings, should not recoup expenses, but should qualify for a grant of some type, certainl not more than the ones that did not plant.

[wabothai]

"would be mobilizes sounds kind of funny. had to think of inactive posts made active.

[mango66]

where can i apply for compensation ?

I cant show the 100 rai of ricefield,

but I willing to share the compensation 50/50,

like we did sucessfull already in past with TS !

Thanks for advise !!

[mango66]

The areas would be classified based on the severity of the assessed damage, he said, ranging from the hardest-hit areas, where the rice yield is withering, the areas where farmers could help themselves but need some assistance, and the areas where no help is needed.

Given the fact that farmers were warned more than one year ago, and several times since then, that there would not be enough rainfall to support a second rice crop this year. Perhaps the farmers who listened, and are suffering, should be paid first. The farmers that invested money in seed and fertilizer, despite the warnings, should not recoup expenses, but should qualify for a grant of some type, certainl not more than the ones that did not plant.

If I good remember,

it was called not to do a 3rd crop, and not the 2nd one !!

Sometimes i asks me, which farmers in Thai are living from work and crops which have the land,

and how many live from compensation for crops and land they even don't have ??

[Ulic]

If you are taking a survey asking how bad the damage is, I will tell you whatever is necessary

to get maximum compensation/support.

[ramrod711]

http://news.thaivisa.com/thailand/second-rice-crop-planting-ban-takes-toll-on-farmers/60275/ I do sympathize with farmers, subsidies can't go on forever, teach them to manage their crops. Planting a second crop in the face of a drought is merely hoping for the best when the worst is expected. I can't see why the taxpayers should fund that.