Bangkok: Thammanat Prompao, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Agriculture and Cooperatives, is actively pushing forward initiatives to address the prices of agricultural products and the recurring flooding problems affecting Thailand.
According to Thai News Agency, Thammanat recently visited China to sign a protocol that will facilitate the export of honey, bird’s nests, and poultry. This agreement is anticipated to generate over 10 billion baht in added value for Thai agricultural products, opening up new markets and enhancing the income of Thai farmers. The initiative is part of the “Market-Leading, Innovation-Driven, Income-Increasing” policy, aimed at transforming Thailand into a global food hub and increasing farmers’ income by producing in-demand agricultural products.
In addition to economic initiatives, Thammanat has expressed concern for farmers grappling with prolonged flooding, particularly in the Chao Phraya River basin. He plans to propose special relief measures to the Cabinet, targeting those affected by the extensive flooding. It is expected that the discharge from the Chao Phraya Dam will be reduced to approximately 1,000 cubic meters per second by December, returning to around 700 cubic meters per second in January. Water pumps have been deployed to expedite water drainage, while specific areas will retain dew for rice paddy preparation.
Thammanat has also emphasized the need for permanent solutions to flooding in areas downstream of the Chao Phraya Dam, such as Ang Thong and Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya provinces. He has tasked the Royal Irrigation Department with studying long-term solutions, including constructing permanent embankments and expediting the Bang Ban-Bang Sai Flood Drainage Canal project in Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya Province, which aims for completion by 2026.
The Bang Ban-Bang Sai Flood Drainage Canal Project, part of the Lower Chao Phraya River Flood Mitigation Plan, involves creating a 22.50-kilometer flood drainage canal. The project includes a floodgate and a road on both sides of the canal. The initiative is expected to alleviate flooding in Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya and the lower Chao Phraya River, benefiting agricultural areas and providing water resources for consumption and agricultural use, with a budget of 21 billion baht.