NAN, 2 February 2016 (NNT) - The local people in Pua district in Nan province are adjusting themselves to drought by selling broom grass from roadside forests to create extra income totaling more than many thousands baht a year per household.
Broom grass is sun dried before they are sold for broom making. The plant is bought from January to April every year—the only period of time when it blooms. The locals sell broom grass at 35 baht/kilo to 40 baht/kilo.
In Phrae province, Director-General of the Department of Land Development Suradet Tiewtrakul has handed water supply and raw materials for agriculture to the local people. An exhibition on agriculture and land development has also been organized for them.
In Phayao, Deputy Governor Nimit Wanchaithanawong has inspected the construction of a weir in Ban Rong Bo. Under the construction budget of 190,000 baht, the weir is expected to help prevent drought and benefit 185 households.
In Chiang Mai, a northern rainmaking center was opened on Tuesday. The center is equipped with two airplanes to spray chemicals into the clouds and helicopters from the Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives to survey and extinguish forest fires. The center will conduct artificial rains from 1 March until 31 October 2016.