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Thailand

Chainat faces drought due to El Nino and irrigation problems

CHAINAT, 19 July 2014 (NNT) - Chainat Province Governor Sutthipong Chulcharoen has revealed that Chainat is now facing drought due to several causes.

First, there was an irrigation design problem, as the water pumps at Manorom waterway are installed at 16-meter height but water is now is only reaching 14-15 meters. The Royal Irrigation Department has planned to address the problem but it does not have budget to do so.

The second problem is that water hyacinth plants are blocking water flows from the rivers and canals so there is a campaign to make fertilizer or basketwork from these water hyacinths. The third problem is that now there is the El Nino weather pattern in effect. Furthermore, the water level in the beginning of rainy season in May to June has been lower than normal.

Meanwhile, the governor requested the artificial rainmaking from the Department of Royal Rainmaking and Agricultural Aviation about two weeks ago with the hope that it would relieve the drought for farmers who has started their planting season on May 15.