2.8 million rai of farmland damaged by drought so far



BANGKOK: -- About 2.8 million rai of rice, other cash crops and fruit orchards in and outside irrigation areas have been damaged by drought affecting some 272,000 farming households, according to the Office of Agricultural Economics.

Latest survey conducted by the Office of Agricultural Economics shows that out of 2.8 million rai of farmland ravaged by drought, there are two million rai of rice farmland, about 860,000 rai of other cash crops and about 5,000 rai of fruit orchards. Total damage was estimated at 15.5 billion baht which was broken down into 8.5 billion baht for rice, 6.8 billion baht for other cash crops and the rest for fruit orchards.

Northern provinces account for most damage estimated at 6.9 billion baht or 45 percent of the total damage followed by the northeastern region’s 6.2 billion baht in damage or 40 percent of total damage.

The government has introduced eight measures and 45 projects worth about 32 billion baht to help ease the impacts from drought. So far, about 11 billion baht has been dispensed.

The Meteorological Department has predicted that rainy season this year would arrive in May and more rains are expected which is a good sign, said Mr Surapong Jiasakul, secretary-general of the Office of Agricultural Economics.

Source: http://englishnews.thaipbs.or.th/content/156754


-- Thai PBS 2016-03-25

Only 2.8 million rai?

2.8 million rai equates to 4480 km². Thailand's total area is 513,120 km² - so they're telling us that only 0.87% of the country is damaged by the drought?? Really?

According to the World Bank, Thailand has 198,340 km² of arable land - so they're telling us that only 2.26% of the country's arable land is damaged by the drought...

Only 2.8 million rai?

2.8 million rai equates to 4480 km². Thailand's total area is 513,120 km² - so they're telling us that only 0.87% of the country is damaged by the drought?? Really?

According to the World Bank, Thailand has 198,340 km² of arable land - so they're telling us that only 2.26% of the country's arable land is damaged by the drought...

Don't worry about it. Statistics is a dark art in Thailand. They usually just got with the first number they hear and never analyse it. I am sure there are a lot of damaged crops, although I doubt the land is damaged as the headline announces .

I know we are losing some young trees now, and our water is almost gone so not much we can do about it If the rains hold off too long, we will lose a lot more.

Those who planted off season rice against the warnings can carry some of the blame. You can see the translator is very angry about it.

Edited March 25, 201610 yr by canuckamuck

So what's the problem. Just call up the Thai Airforce and book those same rain making planes that are spraying water all over Chang Rai. No worries, as Alfred E Newman once said.

Burn everything!! Just burn it today! Hurry before it rains! Hurry before the Air Force! We always do that. It's Thainess

Only 2.8 million rai?

2.8 million rai equates to 4480 km². Thailand's total area is 513,120 km² - so they're telling us that only 0.87% of the country is damaged by the drought?? Really?

According to the World Bank, Thailand has 198,340 km² of arable land - so they're telling us that only 2.26% of the country's arable land is damaged by the drought...

Then a 'certain amount' of money can be released for the projects to combat the inflated effects. As there is not enougth to spend it on, one could see an opportunity for the surplus money to 'disappear'.

Maybe it should say public water supply damaged by 2.8 million rai of unauthorized rice production? The farmers were told to halt growing new crops. It shouldn't come as any surprise.