Royal rainmaking operation launched to alleviate drought

0
1233

NAKHON SAWAN, 15 May 2012  – With the collaboration of the Bureau of Royal Rainmaking and Agricultural Aviation and the Royal Thai Air Force, a royal rainmaking operation was officially launched in Nakhon Sawan province on Monday to relieve the drought crisis, which has struck many areas of the country. 

Presiding over the launch of the royal rainmaking operation, Advisor to the Agriculture and Cooperatives Minister Banharn Silpa-archa said that Thailand will be seeing little rainfall this year. With the objective of assisting residents outside irrigation zones, royal rainmaking operation centers have been established to receive petition for rain and assist the public nationwide. Currently, there are five royal rainmaking operation centers located in the North, the Central Plain, the Northeast, the East and the South.

As of February 20, a total of 11 royal rainmaking operation units have been established while over 1,500 royal rainmaking operations have been carried out so far, producing rain to circulate in all 56 drought-hit provinces across the country.

All 11 royal rainmaking operation units will continue to provide assistance to the people until the end of the rainy season in October. The operation’s main goal is to alleviate the lack of rainfall as well as to raise the water in reservoirs to a sufficient level to prepare for the next drought season.