Mr. Lertviroj Kowattana, the Director of the Royal Irrigation Department (RID), noted that a cold air mass from China is moving down to Thailand, signalling the arrival of winter and the end of rainy season.
RID is concerned about the lack of remaining water in all dams and reservoirs as the current has reached the lowest point in 15 years, due to the delay of this year’s rain and the exhaustion of 2000 cubic-metres of water that was used for agricultural purposes last year.
As a consequence, there is a sufficient amount of water for consuming purposes but not off-season rice planting.
In response of the current situation, RID will therefore propose an impact-mitigation plan to the cabinet next week and the government is expected to announce a prohibition of off-season rice planting in Chao Phraya and Mae Klong River Basins.
Rather than rice planting, farmers would be encouraged to plant crops and vegetables that need less water in the 820,000 rai located along the basins.
