Royal rainmaking crew ready to tackle drought

BANGKOK, May 15 (TNA) - The Thai Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives and partners have restarted royal rainmaking operations to cope with drought, as this year's delayed rainy season has been predicted in Thailand. Presiding over the renewed launch of the royal rainmaking operations in Thailand's lower northern Nakhon Sawan province on Monday, Banharn Silapa-archa, a former Thai prime minister who is now chief advisor to the Thai Agriculture and Cooperatives Minister, explained that the event, including an air show of the royal rainmaking crew, was aimed at showing the readiness of the rainmaking team to tackle drought, in response to His Majesty the King’s rainmaking initiative successfully introduced in 2001 and at boosting their morale, as their tasks will be continued for over eight months. Banharn said that the Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives has prepared assistance for drought victims since less rain is expected due to the country's delayed wet season starting next month. Meanwhile, 11 rainmaking crews have been stationed at rainmaking centers nationwide with two chemical bases and 30 planes. The fleet of aircraft has completed 1,500 flights of rainmaking operations in 56 provinces nationwide so far. The operations will continue until the end of the rainy season in Thailand in mid-October. Artificial Rain and Agriculture Office Director Warawut Khatthiyanand, meanwhile, urged people affected by drought to seek direct support from artificial rainmaking centers near their areas. (TNA)