Thai farmers urged to help prevent water shortage in dry season

AYUTTHAYA, THAILAND, March 6 (TNA) - Overall water supply in Thailand should be adequate for domestic consumption during the dry season this year provided that local farmers cooperate to limit their off-season farming. Preecha Srinoi, Director of Sirikit Dam in Uttaradit Province in the Lower Thai North, told journalists on Monday that the total water reserve in the country currently appears to be enough for domestic consumption and farming this year. However, Preecha said, if this year's drought is as severe as that of last year, people have to help save water and farmers should not expand their farming areas. Meanwhile, Bodaeng Thakaeo, Director of Irrigation Project in Ayutthaya Province, warned of a possible water shortage for off-season rice cultivation in the central Thai region. Bodaeng stressed that his office has launched public relations (PR) campaigns to create farmers' awareness on a need to follow their authorities' suggestion on limiting off-season rice cultivation to prevent any water shortage in their areas during the ongoing dry season. The senior irrigation official acknowledged that based on the latest data, the existing water supply can be allocated to about 1.04 million acres of off-season paddy fields in the central Thai region, but farmers have already started growing off-season rice on about 2.12 million acres, approximately doubling the officially-suggested farming plan. The senior official, thus, expressed his concerns over the current situation, cautioning that a water shortage could cause damages to domestic rice produce and lead to a domino effect. According to updated reports, Thailand has already entered this year's summer since March 3. (TNA)