BANGKOK, 25 June 2015 – More artificial rain operations will be conducted over the Central Plains to increase water supplies for farming activities. Artificial rainmaking operations will be expedited to increase the water levels in the Chao Phraya Dam.
Agriculture and Cooperatives Minister Pitipong Puengboon Na Ayutthaya reported that around 3.4 million rai in the Central Plains have already been used for growing rice, despite government decree to postpone the crop’s cultivation. Farmers have been encouraged to grow other types of plants that require less water, such as corns and beans.
Officials have also been advising farmers on how they can conserve water throughout their daily lives. People are urged to use water wisely, as the government must use a supply of fresh water to prevent salination of the farmlands. Meanwhile, the government has instructed the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment to extract groundwater to help farmers that have already begun rice cultivation.
