BANGKOK, 10 July 2015 – Director-General of the Department of Agricultural Extension (DOAE) Olarn Pitak has revealed his office will request a THB900m budget for use in encouraging economomical use of water in the agricultural sector, at the Cabinet meeting next week.
He revealed the measure on Friday after charing the opening ceremony of a seminar which was participated by the private sector and farmers to draw up measures in preparation for the ongoing low water reserve.
Despite a forecast of higher rainfall from July to October, the official said farmers should be prepared for another round of drought which predictably comes after September onwards. The situation could be a cause of worry for farmers in 22 provinces across the Chao Phraya River Basin where rice cultivation has already begun on an area of 1.4 million rai.
The proposed budget aims to relieve effects of the drought in the agricultural sector. Accordingly, farmers are suggested to grow alternative crops which are also in high demand in the market but consume less water such as field corns, green beans, soybeans and so on.
Mr.Olarn added that the DOAE would ask the government to reduce the interest rate of agricultural loans by at least 2% for farmers who have cooperated in postponing their off-season rice planting or growing alternative plants as suggested by the DOAE.
