Bangkok, The Minister of Agriculture orders irrigation to strictly control water allocation for the last period of the drought. This is because the Meteorological Department expects to announce the start of the rainy season at the end of May. Emphasize that water delivery must be reduced in areas where off-season rice has already been harvested. Ready to strictly organize water pick-up shifts. The Royal Irrigation Department asks that the second round of second-season rice farming not be done because it must be reserved for consumption. Ready to speed up correction of the salinity value at the Samlae raw water pumping point that sends water into Bangkok's water supply system. and metropolitan area Captain Thammanat Phromphao, Minister of Agriculture and Cooperatives, said: Ordered the Royal Irrigation Department to strictly control water allocation during this period because the Meteorological Department predicted that The rainy season will be announced on the 4th week of May, which is 1-2 weeks later than n ormal. At this time, temperatures in many areas are still very high. In addition, the global boiling situation has caused the average temperature around the world to rise, which Thailand has also been affected by. Therefore, Thai people must adapt. Especially in the field of cultivation in the dry season, which must be changed to growing crops that use less water or doing other types of agriculture instead of rice farming, which uses a lot of water. By the Ministry of Agriculture will be promoted so as not to have an impact on income Since entering the dry season I have always asked for cooperation. When the second rice field is harvested Requesting cooperation to refrain from second-season rice farming, especially in the Chao Phraya Basin, as the Royal Irrigation Department will reduce water delivery into the system in order to preserve water for use in maintaining the ecosystem and for consumption. When the rain comes late, you may need to consider arranging a water receiving shift in order to have enough water until the rainy season enters. Including a reserve in case of heavy rain. In addition, he ordered the Royal Rainmaking Department and Agricultural Aviation to expedite royal rainmaking in areas where weather conditions are favorable for operations. Meanwhile, the Land Development Department must speed up drilling miniature ponds to alleviate the drought. For this period is the end of the El Niño condition. In the rainy season, La Nina conditions will enter, causing more rain than normal at the end of the season. The Prime Minister ordered the Ministry of Agriculture Accelerate dredging of water sources to accommodate the rain that will fall in order to store water as capital for the next dry season. Mr. Thanet Somboon, Director of the Office of Water Management and Hydrology, said that Farmers in 11 low-lying fields of the Chao Phraya Basin can now cultivate annual rice fields starting yesterday (1 May), but upland areas Please wait mainly for the rain. It was also found that Some farmers have already harvested their second crop. The second round of rice will be planted so that rice can be grown again in the middle of the rainy season. There is a risk that The second crop of second-season rice will be damaged by lack of water. As for the rice fields that are made in the middle of the rainy season, they will not be harvested in time for the flooding period. Therefore, irrigation projects in every area ask for cooperation from farmers not to do second-season rice farming in order to conserve water for use in preserving the ecosystem and for consumption. At this time, water drainage from the Tha Chin River has been increased into the Chao Phraya River in order to dilute the salinity caused by the high sea level during 25-30 April, resulting in the salinity of the water near the raw water pumping station yesterday. Samlae, Mueang District, Pathum Thani Province, at some times exceeded the monitoring threshold of 0.25 grams per liter and the standard for tap water production of 0.50 grams per liter. This morni ng (2 May 2024) it was at 0.65 grams per liter, a period when the salinity value exceeded the standard. For approximately 12 hours, the Royal Irrigation Department coordinates with the Metropolitan Waterworks Authority to reduce water pumping into the system, for another 12 hours in which the salinity does not exceed the standard. Increase the amount pumped into the system to dilute it so as not to cause a change in the taste of tap water that serves people in the areas of Bangkok, Nonthaburi, and Samut Prakan. In addition, water delivery from the Chao Phraya Dam has been increased. To push out saltwater during the new high sea level on 10-11 May, and will also consider increasing water drainage from the Pasak Jolasid Dam. As for the Pasak Cholasit Dam, there is a limited amount of water available, so it will only increase water drainage a little, but we are confident that by preparing to add more water in advance, we will be able to cope with the situation. Source: Thai News Agency