Saraburi – Persistent rainfall in several provinces has caused farmers to begin planting rice ahead of schedule and prompted disaster management agencies to prepare themselves for flood-related hazards.
Farmers in Saraburi province are pumping water into their paddy fields to begin rice cultivation, after the Royal Irrigation Department began supplying water on May 1. Local farmers have chosen to grow the Kor Khor 41 rice strain to complete harvesting by September, during which natural flooding is likely to occur.
Meanwhile, in Nong Khai province, days of thundershowers have produced ideal breeding conditions for frog farms. Farmers have reported an increase in healthy tadpoles.
The early arrival of rainfall has raised water levels in natural water sources in the Huai Kha Khaeng Wildlife Sanctuary in Uthai Thani province as well as of major reservoirs, benefiting farmers in both irrigated and non-irrigated zones. The water levels of the Thap Salao and Huai Khun Kaew reservoirs reportedly exceeded 50% of their respective capacities.
In Nan province, around 250 disaster response officials across 15 districts have participated in flash flood and mudslide-rescue training. The government has accelerated this year’s rice growing schedule by a month to prevent later flood damage, as the dry season has ended earlier than expected.
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