The Royal Irrigation Department (RID) has repeated its strong advice to rice farmers not to plant a crop after the harvest in October and November this year, due to the water shortage as a result of the extended El Niño, which is expected to intensify and drag on until early next year.

RID Director-General Prapit Chanma said today (Friday) that the amount of water stored in the country’s reservoirs will be sufficient for consumption, maintaining the ecological system and the planting of big trees, but not for thirsty rice cultivation which requires a lot of water.

The four main reservoirs in the Chao Phraya river basin, namely Bhumibol, Sirikit, Kwae Noi Bamrung Daen and Pasak Jolasid, currently contain a combined total of 10.825 billion cubic metres of water, only 44% of their combined capacities.

The combined total amount of water stored in the country’s large and medium size reservoirs stands at 45.239 billion cubic metres, accounting for 59% of their combined capacities.

Prapit also urged all sectors in society to use water sparingly and to store as much water as they can, if they have the storage facilities, to mitigate the effects of a water shortage.

Increased rice prices this year, after India, the world’s Number 1 rice exporter, banned rice exports, may tempt Thai farmers to plant a second crop.

In Thailand, planting of the main crop usually starts in May, the beginning of the rainy season, and the rice is harvested in October and November.

Published Date: September 15, 2023