Rubber growers told to brace for severe drought



BANGKOK, 19 February 2016 (NNT) – The Rubber Authority of Thailand has warned rubber growers to ready themselves for a severe drought.

The Rubber Authority of Thailand has suggested that rubber planters prepare contingency measures to cope with water shortages, which are expected to grip the country in a month.

Owners of young rubber trees are advised to weed their plantations, as well as use the weeds to cover their tree’s stems to maintain moisture.

Other ways to safeguard their rubber plantations include growing water-rich plants such as bananas or pineapples, as well as trimming branches to reduce the effect of wind.

Rubber growers who need advice on plantation care can contact local offices of the Rubber Authority of Thailand countrywide.

-- NNT 2016-02-19

Really, this is stupid. The drought is coming next month. And their solution is to plant new Banana and Pineapple trees ?

I know they say " Amazing Thailand " . But you cannot grow a tree in a month !

The best way for the rubber farmers to get ready for the drought is to plan for a new round of government subsidies and soft loans that Prayut will give them. Grudgingly of course.

The RAT must not have read statements by other government officials issued over the last six months that there will be no major water shortages. Is this suggestion that banana plantains and pineapples store water which the rubber trees can suck back when dry or is it actually a suggestion to scrap your rubber and grow alternative crops?

Really, this is stupid. The drought is coming next month. And their solution is to plant new Banana and Pineapple trees ?

I know they say " Amazing Thailand " . But you cannot grow a tree in a month !

Pineapple plants.

Really, this is stupid. The drought is coming next month. And their solution is to plant new Banana and Pineapple trees ?

I know they say " Amazing Thailand " . But you cannot grow a tree in a month !

Pineapple plants.

Banana trees?

Do bananas grow on trees? FAQs by Chiquita® Bananas

www.chiquitabanana.com/worlds.../banana-answers-information-faqs.asp...

The banana plant is not a tree, but the world's largest perennial herb and grows up to 25 feet, developing massive banana leaves that may extend 9 feet in the air. Ediblebananas are technically berries and do not produce mature seeds. Their rhizomes, or roots, can be hundreds of years old.

Forget the rubber farmers. Driving through the country it is clear that in areas where the people take care of their resources there are less water problems, but for most there are water for a few months left.

Really, this is stupid. The drought is coming next month. And their solution is to plant new Banana and Pineapple trees ?

I know they say " Amazing Thailand " . But you cannot grow a tree in a month !

But some would argue that Thais can do ANYTHING and EVERYTHING. :-)

Has The Rubber Authority of Thailand been asleep for the last 6 months?

There are large areas of Thailand, certainly in Issan, the North and Central parts of Thailand where the drought has been bad since the end of the rainy season last year (hollow laughter).

It has been on the TV, in the papers and the social media for quite a while and if there any rubber,rice, fruit or any other type of farmers who have no idea what is coming then they are not in this world.

This year will be a really bad one for Thailand and it will take many years to refill the dams to the levels where they used to be.