The Prime Minister follows up on the water management plan and instructs Minister Thammanat to keep an eye on all at-risk areas as there is currently a lot of rain. Must drain water quickly. At the same time, it is time to store water for use in the dry season. Supports the El Niño situation that will drag on throughout 2024.
Mr. Settha Thavisin, Prime Minister, traveled to the Royal Irrigation Department to follow up on the runoff situation in main streams and the water management plan for the end of the rainy season 2023, with Captain Thammanat Phromphao, Minister of Agriculture and Cooperatives, and Mr. Prayun Insakul, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives. Welcomed by Mr. Praphit Chanma, Director General of the Royal Irrigation Department.
The Prime Minister expressed concern about the water situation, both floods and droughts. Therefore, we request that relevant agencies be vigilant in all risk areas. At this time there is a lot of rain in the Chao Phraya River Basin. and the Chi-Mun River Basin Therefore, he asked the Royal Irrigation Department to expedite drainage of water. At the same time, store water for use in the upcoming dry season to prevent as much damage as possible.
The Minister of Agriculture and Cooperatives said from the continuous rain in the upper part of the country This has a positive effect on the amount of water in the reservoir and increased runoff. In addition, it is now the end of the rainy season. Therefore, he ordered the Royal Irrigation Department to procure alternative water sources. and hasten to store water in reservoirs and various water sources. as much as possible Especially the Chao Phraya Basin, which has high water use because there is a lot of rice growing area.
For the dry season, which will begin on November 1, 2023, there will be a meeting to determine a water management plan to support El Niño conditions again. At the same time, we will discuss with various departments. Under the Ministry of Agriculture to adjust cultivation activities Asking for cooperation from farmers to refrain from farming continuously. Then turn to growing plants that have a short lifespan and use less water. It is considered urgent. Because El Niño conditions may continue throughout 2024.
Mr. Praphit Chanma, Director-General of the Royal Irrigation Department, said that Water volume above Chao Phraya Dam Remaining from sending water into the irrigation system to reserve for use in various activities. During the dry season Plans were made to drain water through the Chao Phraya Dam. To maintain the balance of the water volume above the Chao Phraya Dam and for the stability of the dam The water drainage through the Chao Phraya Dam will be controlled to not exceed 1,000 cubic meters/second. The amount of water drained at the end of this dam. Some will be stored in water sources and the Monkey Cheek area. In Chainat Province Singburi Province Ang Thong Province Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya Province, Ayutthaya Pathum Thani Province and Nonthaburi Province as well as supporting the water production of the Metropolitan Waterworks Authority. and maintaining the water quality of the Chao Phraya River as well
As for the water situation in the Chimun River There is a decreasing trend. The Royal Irrigation Department has organized water traffic. connected from the upper part of the Chi River Basin By using all 6 drainage dams. In the central area, drainage gates were raised at all irrigation dams. In the later areas, water has been rushed through Pak Mun Dam into the Mekong River. At present, the water level in the Mekong River is still lower than that of the Mun River. Makes drainage still work well But still keeping an eye on the rain that will continue to fall until the first week of October as predicted by the Meteorological Department.
Currently, large and medium sized reservoirs throughout the country There is water in the basin. A total of 49,496 million cubic meters, accounting for 65% of the combined reservoir capacity, can receive another 26,886 million cubic meters of water. Only the Chao Phraya River Basin’s 4 main dams (Bhumibol Dam Sirikit Dam Kwai Noi Bamrung Daen Dam and Pasak Cholasit Dam) have a total water volume of 12,588 million cubic meters, accounting for 51% of the reservoir’s combined capacity, able to receive another 12,283 million cubic meters of water in terms of growing rice throughout the year. In the country, 16 million rai has already been harvested, accounting for 91 percent of the plan. 5.68 million rai has been harvested. In the Chao Phraya River Basin alone, 7.71 million rai of rice has been farmed this year, accounting for 94 percent of the plan. 4.82 million rai has been harvested. As for the situation of salinity values in Four main rivers (Chao Phraya, Bang Pakong, Tha Chin and Mae Klong) are still within normal limits.
The Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives’ preparations for providing assistance in the case of agricultural disasters include:
Prepare more than 113 items of equipment and machinery, including 38 water pumps, 6 excavators, 25 weed-killing boats, 2 tractors, 3 trailers, 20 trucks and vehicles, and 19 water trucks.
Prepare to establish a resource reserve, including animal feed reserves. (baled dry grass) at centers/stations, 30 tons, which farmers can request at Chainat Animal Feed Research and Development Center and Dong Khana Luang Center, Wat Sing District, medical supplies reserve. and vaccines for various animals
Agricultural production is divided into
On the plant side, public relations will be organized to create awareness to reduce the risk of drought in 2021/2022 by changing the activities of planting short-lived crops/abstaining from the second round of second-season farming, promoting the planting of short-lived crops that use less water. and to grow a variety of crops according to the Sufficiency Economy Philosophy Let farmers be informed of the situation Trends in pest outbreaks during the dry season Survey information on areas experiencing drought conditions. and expedite the preparation of information on the situation of cultivated land. and damaged areas through the agricultural production information system on a monthly basis.
In terms of fishing, there is surveillance. and notify warnings about aquaculture management Including developing farmer networks Volunteer to watch out for drought Public relations for aquatic animal farmers in 8 districts to gradually catch large aquatic animals. or get a size to sell/consume to reduce risk
On the livestock side, support 30 tons of hay to help farmers and various animal medical supplies, producing 30,000 kilograms of animal feed reserves at centers/animal feed stations
Source: Thai News Agency