Second-crop farmers given Thai govt warnings

[webfact]

Second-crop farmers given govt warnings
Chularat Saengpassa
The Nation


Yom river Bang Rakam district Phitsanulok

'No dam water for rice grown out of season'

BANGKOK: -- THE Royal Irrigation Department has issued written warnings to farmers who illegally pump water from public waterways into their paddy fields - a move that reflects the severity of imminent water shortage.

"Their action is against the law. They may face legal penalties. But for now, we have decided to warn them first," the department's director-general Suthep Noipairoj said a few days ago.

He was referring to the 190,000 rai of paddy fields now engaged in a second round of rice planting this year.

"We have limited water supply," Suthep emphasised.

As of November 1, four major dams for the Chao Phraya River basin had just 4.247 billion cubic metres of disposable water. The amount was far below the over 6 billion cubic metres at the start of the dry season last year. In Thailand, the dry season officially runs from November 1 to April 30.

The country usually relies on rainfall during the wet season in storing water for use in the dry months. However, water shortages have seriously affected the Chao Phraya River basin during the rainy season this year.

That is why authorities are now being strict about water-allocation.

Suthep said all sides must comply with the water-allocation plan for the Chao Phraya River basin, otherwise the imminent drought could pose a serious threat.

"All sectors must collaborate in saving water in a serious manner," Suthep said.

His department has been closely monitoring the water situation. Inflows into the four major dams have reached about 15.6 million cubic metres a day, while usage totals 15.55 million cubic metres.

"When it comes to the agricultural sector, our focus is now on irrigating water for the fields of rice farmers who are working on their farmland for the first time this year," he said.

The Irrigation Department head said there were now about 1.33 million rai of such paddy fields in the Central region. These fields belong to farmers who agreed to the government's plea to delay work on their fields. They are expected to collect their harvest later this month.

Suthep said the limited water supply meant his department would not be able to ensure adequate water for paddy fields growing rice outside the farming season.

As soon as the department found that some rice farmers in areas north of the Chao Phraya Dam had pumped water into second-season paddy fields, it issued written warnings.

"Farmers should not forget that we need to allocate water for consumption and ecological systems too," Suthep explained.

He complained that even though officials had warned about the imminent water shortage for months, many farmers had begun work on paddy fields outside the farming season.

"They in fact should be cautious about water sources in their areas, and determine if there will be enough for their paddy fields," he said.

Suthep said very few farmers had opted for alternative crops lately, despite recommendations from various bodies, including the Agriculture Ministry that sent its officials to local fields.

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/national/Second-crop-farmers-given-govt-warnings-30272999.html

-- The Nation 2015-11-16

[eliotness]

What's the use of alternative crops unless there is a definite market with a stable price. We planted some veg to diversify and come harvest found the wholesale price had dropped from 15 baht per kilo down to 5 baht a kilo. Not even worth growing for that price.

[apetley]

How can you plant alternative crops when the canals are dry as in our area? There is no water available in our village simple as that.

[aircut]

CP will sell them GMO corn seeds to grow corn for animal food. Someone will get richer.

[selftaopath]

Just wondering. Wood and wooden products seem to be at a premium in Thailand. Wouldn't it then be financially beneficial to grow trees to use for wood i.e. building material, furniture etc.?

[Inn Between]

Grow hemp (not cannabis) as an alternative crop -- very hardy plant with many good uses. Hemp ruled for ages until the oil barons and companies like DuPont killed it to get rich from their synthetics. Thailand could be the eco-friendly hemp fabric supplier to the world. The new Thai silk.

Edited November 16, 2015 by Inn Between

[worgeordie]

They will take no notice !,and will expect help when the crops

fail from lack of water.

regards Worgeordie

[oneday]

Second-crop farmers given govt warnings

...and no help.

[djayz]

If this dry spell contunues, will people also receive written warnings about wasting tens of millions of litres of water between 13th and 15th April next year?

[nichol]

If this dry spell contunues, will people also receive written warnings about wasting tens of millions of litres of water between 13th and 15th April next year?

You hit the nail exactly on the head because drought or not Song kran will still happen

[Hawk]

"Their action (farmers) is against the law. They may face legal penalties.

All this comming from an illegal government and a non elected PM. Mafia style thugs who legally carry weapons.

[Doc46]

They will take no notice !,and will expect help when the crops

fail from lack of water.

regards Worgeordie

Yep that's the Thai way,

[godden]

Government warning, about as scary as being savaged by a dead sheep

[CWMcMurray]

Second-crop farmers given govt warnings

...and no help.

Not the whole truth...

Listening to news on the way into work, heard that gov is sending out experts to test soil in many of the affected areas to test and try to help determine best alternative crops for various areas

They also plan to have these same experts Tyler to explain to farmers about which alternative crops to plant

Just hope all done in time and the farmers listen , as will turn out really bad for all (especially the farmers) if they just ignore and plant rice anyway

[whatproblem]

They need water for their golf courses,always very green

[whatproblem]

Will be the same next year too

[ldiablo]

What would the government like then to grow other than rice? Perhaps brains.

On anothe note. The shortage of water certainly hasn't stopped the school i work at from wasting thousands of gallons of water a day on watering their grass,trees and plants.

Edited November 16, 2015 by ldiablo

[Hawk]

What would the government like then to grow other than rice? Perhaps brains.

On anothe note. The shortage of water certainly hasn't stopped the school i work at from wasting thousands of gallons of water a day on watering their grass,trees and plants.

No brains please, just stick with cabbages and coconuts.

[wow64]

Water has to be saved so Songkran can happen.. When will these farmers learn.

[springheeled jack]

these farmers will do what they have always done regardless of the governments warning it is their livelihood .

[elgordo38]

Second-crop farmers given govt warnings

...and no help.

The water must be saved for the expanding tourist market.

[fred Kubasa]

They didn't hear you 6 months ago, or 3 months ago and they won't hear you

now.

[selftaopath]

Second-crop farmers given govt warnings

...and no help.

Not the whole truth...

Listening to news on the way into work, heard that gov is sending out experts to test soil in many of the affected areas to test and try to help determine best alternative crops for various areas

They also plan to have these same experts Tyler to explain to farmers about which alternative crops to plant

Just hope all done in time and the farmers listen , as will turn out really bad for all (especially the farmers) if they just ignore and plant rice anyway

LOL Do Thais listen - to anybody? lol

[NeilSA1]

The headline sounds correct, but there is a spelling mistake - 'No dam water for rice grown out of season'

Should read 'damn'

[eliotness]

Second-crop farmers given govt warnings

...and no help.

Not the whole truth...

Listening to news on the way into work, heard that gov is sending out experts to test soil in many of the affected areas to test and try to help determine best alternative crops for various areas

They also plan to have these same experts Tyler to explain to farmers about which alternative crops to plant

Just hope all done in time and the farmers listen , as will turn out really bad for all (especially the farmers) if they just ignore and plant rice anyway

Alternative crops needing less water, good. Questions,

1. Is there a ready market for those alternative crops ?

2. Will the price remain stable if a large number of farmers in the region start selling at the same time ?

3. Can these alternative crops be stored for any length of time ?

4. Can these alternative crops be the staple diet for the family of a small farmer ?

5. Would not a mix of crops on a farm be better using crop rotation, so reducing rice but not eliminating it ?

6. The construction of rice paddies is such that water is retained, would any alternative crops need a different physical arrangement of the soil/banks ?

7. Will pesticides be required ?

8. Will different and potentially more expensive fertilisers and pH adjustment need to be used ?

9. Will specialised equipment need to be bought or hired to harvest these alternative crops ?

These are just a few that came to mind and no doubt posters can think of a few more.

[Srikcir]

"Their action is against the law."

Their action is to ignore government recommendations and urgings not to grow rice. That's not illegal. As PM Prayut has no legal authority to issue orders to the public.

Prayut as Chief of the NCPO can invoke Article 44 to bypass the legal system to control and punish the farmers should he chose not to provide them with compensation not to grow. In fact when noncompliant IIU fishing ship owners illegally boycotted fishing, Prayut rewarded their action not with criminal complaints but with compensation.

[american12bthai]

SHame on you farmers for using up all the water that fuels the massage parlors in BKK. Farmers are ruining the life styles of hard working brothels and should be sued for LIBEL. -thainess.

[Siammodels]

How nice of the fat cats

[willyumiii]

In my area where we have received ample rain fall and the kalongs are running full, I have noticed that many rice fields are being planted with mon saparong ( cassava) that requires no irrigation.

I suspect this will drive the price of mon sapprong down by harvest time.

But something to harvest is better than nothing.

I think restrictions should be area specific, depending on irrigation water availible in each area.

As I stated abvve, in my area, we are very wet.

Painting with a broad brush is usually not very efficient.

[billd766]

In my area where we have received ample rain fall and the kalongs are running full, I have noticed that many rice fields are being planted with mon saparong ( cassava) that requires no irrigation.

I suspect this will drive the price of mon sapprong down by harvest time.

But something to harvest is better than nothing.

I think restrictions should be area specific, depending on irrigation water availible in each area.

As I stated abvve, in my area, we are very wet.

Painting with a broad brush is usually not very efficient.

Where I live in southwest Khampaeng Phet province near the Mae Wong national park there is some rice grown (but just 1 crop) and the rest is mostly cassava, sugar cane and corn all of which need far less water that rice.

edited by me as my computer cannot spell properly.

Edited November 16, 2015 by billd766