webfact Posted July 23, 2019 Share Posted July 23, 2019 Commerce ministry frets over rice output By THE NATION Commerce Minister Jurin Laksanawisit said on Tuesday he would urgently meet rice exporters and related parties to discuss ways to boost exports once the government has unveiled its policies in Parliament on Thursday. He expressed concern that the drought gripping the upper half of the country could hamper plans to export 10 million tonnes this year. In a related matter, Anan Suwannarat, permanent secretary of the Agricultural Cooperatives Ministry, said the Department of Agricultural Extension had set up “war rooms” in all provinces to closely monitor the drought situation. The drought that has extended from May into July could cost the economy at least Bt15 billion, representing 0.1 per cent of Gross Domestic Product, the Kasikorn Research Centre estimates. The estimate is mainly based on the drought’s impact on the first rice crop of the year, known as the “in-season” crop. The economic loss could be greater if damage to other kinds of farm produce is also taken into account. In Lop Buri, the Pa Sak Jolasid Dam reservoir has dropped dangerously low, to only 4 per cent of capacity – even lower than it was four years ago when the central province withered in the grip of severe drought. In Nan in the North, millions of worms have infested 47,000 acres of cornfields spanning all 15 districts, more than half the province’s land devoted to corn. In Nong Khai in the Northeast, the Mekong River is running too low to catch any fish. The level is more than 10 metres below the top of the bank on the Thai side. Residents are instead earning a living in construction or small business. The news was only good in Ubon Ratchathani, also in the Northeast, where a significant amount of rain fell on Tuesday, credited to cloud-seeding operations. A Muang Ubon farmer said his rice had narrowly escaped devastation in what he called the most severe drought he’d ever seen. The Kwang Noi Dam in Phitsanulok currently holds 134 million millimetres of water – 14 per cent of its capacity. One of four major dams designated for dispensing water for public consumption, it is able to release just 10 per cent of what it normally shares. Warawut Niumnoi, director of water distribution and maintenance at the dam, said only 91 million millimetres of water was available to distribute. There is currently no inflow at all, he said, and what is being released into the Chao Phraya plain can only be let go at 25 cubic metres per second. Phitsanulok Governor Piphat Eakphapun has directed agencies to closely monitor the drought situation, prepare remedial plans for farmers, especially those growing rice and corn, determine the need for artificial rainmaking, and coordinate with the Department of Groundwater Resources on further plans. The Army has established a centre to monitor the situation in real-time so that water can be provided to the drought victims efficiently. Source: https://www.nationthailand.com/business/30373497 -- © Copyright The Nation Thailand 2019-07-24 Follow Thaivisa on LINE for breaking Thailand news and visa info Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jabis Posted July 23, 2019 Share Posted July 23, 2019 Nothing wrong with rice output - everything wrong with exporting it, aka the strength of baht... ???? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chang_paarp Posted July 23, 2019 Share Posted July 23, 2019 Bet he regrets selling off the stockpile at a discount now. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Justgrazing Posted July 23, 2019 Share Posted July 23, 2019 49 minutes ago, webfact said: In Nan in the North, millions of worms have infested 47,000 acres of cornfields spanning all 15 districts, more than half the province’s land devoted to corn Farm the worms then .. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
leeneeds Posted July 23, 2019 Share Posted July 23, 2019 The weather man / lady has lied again, The climate and cycles of duration and saturation have changed a fact that they have not fully grasped Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
geoffbezoz Posted July 23, 2019 Share Posted July 23, 2019 2 hours ago, Chang_paarp said: Bet he regrets selling off the stockpile at a discount now. Doubt it considering no doubt 50% of the proceeds was pocketed. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
holy cow cm Posted July 23, 2019 Share Posted July 23, 2019 Looks like this guy in the photo used to be a farmer. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
soalbundy Posted July 24, 2019 Share Posted July 24, 2019 I bet the farmers are fretting even more than he is Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RichardColeman Posted July 24, 2019 Share Posted July 24, 2019 Feel sorry for the farmers a bit here, even if they could grow their rice during a drought they can't export it due to the baht ! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dexlowe Posted July 24, 2019 Share Posted July 24, 2019 Buying one less submarine (13.5 billion baht) might help the situation. A lot of money could also be saved on the hundreds of thousands of flash and fancy submariner badges for all service personnel. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Srikcir Posted July 24, 2019 Share Posted July 24, 2019 7 hours ago, webfact said: He expressed concern that the drought gripping the upper half of the country could hamper plans to export 10 million tonnes this year. Which makes India the world's number One rice exporter. Loss of face for Thailand - again. Remember how PM Prayut chastised PM Yingluck regime for losing Thailand's #1 ranking for rice exports? 7 hours ago, webfact said: The Army has established a centre to monitor the situation in real-time so that water can be provided to the drought victims efficiently. Watching water levels is a valuable role for the Army. Whether water runs downhill is still being investigated. Not to be outdone the Royal Rainmaking Air Force has mobilized its approx. 30 aircraft for cloud seeding and successfully accomplished - nothing. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Isaan sailor Posted July 24, 2019 Share Posted July 24, 2019 I’d be happy to watch water levels in my neck of Isaan. In fact, I already do on my daily bike rides through the rice paddies, canals and nong nams. So how much could they compensate me? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FarFlungFalang Posted July 24, 2019 Share Posted July 24, 2019 6 hours ago, Justgrazing said: Farm the worms then .. Farmers apparently went to Ghengis Khan and said the locusts have eaten the crops!He said to eat the locusts! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FarFlungFalang Posted July 24, 2019 Share Posted July 24, 2019 20 minutes ago, Srikcir said: Which makes India the world's number One rice exporter. Loss of face for Thailand - again. Remember how PM Prayut chastised PM Yingluck regime for losing Thailand's #1 ranking for rice exports? Watching water levels is a valuable role for the Army. Whether water runs downhill is still being investigated. Not to be outdone the Royal Rainmaking Air Force has mobilized its approx. 30 aircraft for cloud seeding and successfully accomplished - nothing. 7 hours ago, webfact said: The news was only good in Ubon Ratchathani, also in the Northeast, where a significant amount of rain fell on Tuesday, credited to cloud-seeding operations. The rain makers claimed credit for Ubon where they say they cloud seeded but didn't cloud seed here in Yasothorn or claim credit, where we've had heaps in the last couple of days. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Huayrat Posted July 24, 2019 Share Posted July 24, 2019 Cloud seeding hahahahahaha Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
trainman34014 Posted July 24, 2019 Share Posted July 24, 2019 All they keep saying is things will be discussed after the Government has 'unveiled it's Policies', like some magic moment is going to occur and all problems of the country will be solved ! I think the next 12 months could be very interesting and things will get worse in many area's of the country's fortunes, because sadly the majority of those in ruling positions are clueless how to put things right. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lemonltr Posted July 24, 2019 Share Posted July 24, 2019 Many millions of tourists need to drink and shower. Maybe border immigration should stipulate all tourists must bring in 20.000 baht and 30 liters of water. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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