Over 1 million rai of off-season rice farming in Chao Phraya River Basin

BANGKOK, 30 November 2015 (NNT) – Water management for the Chao Praya River Basin continues to be challenging with decreasing water inflows, while all sides have been urged to conserve water consumption during this drought season.

The four major dams in the Chao Phraya River Basin currently contain an accumulated water reserves at 10,891 million cubic meters. The amount of water flowing into these dams has continued to decline, with 7.35 million cubic meters inbound, against a consumption rate of 15 million cubic meters per day.

Water reserves available for usage are reported to be at 4,195 million cubic meters.

From 1 November 2015 until now, 419 million cubic meters of water has been used, with 13 percent allocated to the Chao Phraya River Basin. This drought season's water allocation plan dictates that 2880 million cubic meters can still be allocated for usage for the remainder of the season.

Although the water consumption has proceeded according to plan, farmers have cultivated a total of 1 million rais of off-season rice, and are at risk of suffering water shortages in the near future if off-season rice farming continues to expand.

However, the Royal Irrigation Department and related agencies have continued their task in providing knowledge and understanding to the farmers and water users, so that the limited supply of water is sufficient for consumption and ecosystem conservation throughout the dry season; until the early rainy season next year.

All sectors have been asked to use water as sparingly as possible so that this year's drought crisis can be overcome.


-- NNT 2015-11-30

Thais could not give a F$&@, it's all about Me Me Me, look at the way they Drive...

Thais have never been truly taught about farming and agriculture! You can not expect them to understand water shortage when they don't see it physically happening and even then they would blame someone else for it happening. Just look how they rape the land and continuously farm everything they own without concern for depleting the nutrients needed to grow things that occur naturally in the soil. Better to spend thousands of baht on fertilizers than to leave a rai or 2 unplanted each year. Thailand is on a downward slope from which they will never recover simply because of pig headedness and thinking they know everything and are never wrong.

Having noted thesetal2013 comments it is worth noting having over time spoken to the younger brigade they have gone to the Uni or agriculture schools to learn about modern agriculture, they complain that the old ones won't change and that is evident in the burning off period when told not to and they go ahead anyway, the young brigade have then gone to the larger cities for work and quite a few end up in the Military and no one young coming through to work the land in an ageing population. it is indeed a problem...............................................

When will they stop and think about new and more lucrative crops , that use less water,

I our village several farmers cropped their rice last week. On Thursday the village was wrapped in smoke from the stubble burning. Over the weekend water was being pumped from up to a kilometre away to flood the paddy which as I speak is being sowed with an off season crop.

The farmers, for whatever reason, just will not listen.

Edited November 30, 201510 yr by apetley

Why would they listen ,if they not grow something they not get money and they know the government will not enforce any rules

When will they stop and think about new and more lucrative crops , that use less water,

That would be logic farming,,,,They rader go broke and cry to government for money.

Thais could not give a F$&@, it's all about Me Me Me, look at the way they Drive...

Sad but true.

Thais have never been truly taught about farming and agriculture! You can not expect them to understand water shortage when they don't see it physically happening and even then they would blame someone else for it happening. Just look how they rape the land and continuously farm everything they own without concern for depleting the nutrients needed to grow things that occur naturally in the soil. Better to spend thousands of baht on fertilizers than to leave a rai or 2 unplanted each year. Thailand is on a downward slope from which they will never recover simply because of pig headedness and thinking they know everything and are never wrong.

That's because the choice is the grow rice, or steal water from those in the city down river who aren't apparently doing anything to reduce their consumption.

Oh dear..... all that "urging" done by the government earlier, and it seems that the farmers didn't take any notice. That is really disappointing.

I think the officials in the irrigation departments who are assigned to oversee this part of the use may have a little influence as to where , when and how much is released via the irrigation channels might need a stern talking to, to get people on board the ship, in compliance, including themselves