PHICHIT, 23 December 2013 The northern province of Phichit is expected to suffer from severe drought as the Yom River is likely to dry up in the next 30 days and rice farmers are in dire need of water for off-season crops.
An irrigation agency in Phichit reported that the Yom River in the province had shown signs of drying up. Local farmers growing off-season rice, as a consequence, are pumping more water into their fields in fear of damages from drought, causing the water level in the river to drop even more rapidly. It is forecast that in 30 days’ time or by the end of January next year, the Yom River will be completely drained.
Since there are no dams in Phichit province at the moment, irrigation officials are planning to propose that a large sluice gate be constructed on the Yom River in Sam Ngam district bordering Phitsanulok province. If approved, the sluice gate will help conserve water for over 20,000 rai of rice fields in the two provinces.
