Agriculture and Cooperatives Ministry confirmed yesterday that an estimated 16.5 million rai of agricultural land nationwide will be impacted by reduced rainfall as a outcome of El Nino phenomenon this yr. The ministry’s deputy permanent secretary, Apai Sutthisang, expressed concern over the approaching dry season, particularly as the effects of El Nino are predicted to accentuate in November.
The Royal Irrigation Department anticipates that by the close of this year’s wet season in November, the country’s 35 main reservoirs will comprise roughly 22.8 billion cubic metres (m³) of water. This is a decrease of round thirteen billion m³ in comparability with the previous 12 months due to the unprecedented impacts of El Nino.
If present rainfall patterns persist, by November, the four largest dams in the nation – Bhumibol Dam located in Tak, Sirikit Dam in Uttaradit, Kwai Noi Bamrung Daen Dam in Phitsanulok and Pasak Jolasid Dam in Lop Buri – will collectively contain 6.eight billion m³ of water. This is a discount of 7.7 billion m³ compared to last year.
Consequently, nearly sixteen.5 million rai of cultivable land might be affected by El Nino. Of this, 7.3 million rai are located throughout the 22 provinces forming the Chao Phraya Basin.
To combat the looming dry season, authorities have devised several methods. First, they’ll encourage the cultivation of other crops that exhibit larger drought resistance, similar to beans, rather than a second rice crop, reported Bangkok Post.
Secondly, local authorities will establish different water sources to irrigate the affected farmlands. The ministry may even collaborate with relevant agencies to advertise various employment alternatives in areas where a second rice crop cannot be planted to mitigate the influence of El Nino.
The last measure, in accordance with Apai, involves conserving water during the subsequent wet season.
In the meantime, water ranges at Lam Takhong Dam in Nakhon Ratchasima have dropped to a ten-year low, with the dam presently holding a mere 133 million m³ of water. Untold constitutes 42% of its complete capacity.
Yutthasart Teerawattana, director of the dam’s water irrigation and maintenance division, stated that this case has affected a total of 277,000 rai across ten villages..