Agriculture Minister Warns Farmers to Harvest Rice Amid Rising Flood
Heavy rains have raised water levels in Thailand's Chao Phraya basin, threatening rice fields. Agriculture Minister Suriya Juangroongruangkit has urged farmers to speed up harvesting and ordered a damage assessment, while agencies mobilize pumps and monitor water distribution. About 15% of lowland paddies remain unharvested and will be gathered quickly to reduce flood damage.
The Royal Irrigation Department will monitor planting conditions alongside water management, pumping additional water into canals where fields have been harvested and canals can accept more flow to distribute water and ease pressure downstream of the Chao Phraya dam. Water inflow into the canal system is increasing steadily, with some sections nearing capacity. An initial assessment shows that high-risk areas are mostly rice paddies; many of these have already seen 60-80% of their crop harvested, upland areas are largely finished, and lowland areas are mostly harvested but a portion awaits full maturity, requiring close water monitoring. Horticultural crops in lowlands also face risk, and farmers may need to reinforce water defenses and follow official announcements. The ministry is preparing mobile machinery, especially portable pumps, for lowland sites where water cannot drain naturally, and strengthening weak points to prevent inflow and drain affected areas. Damage surveys are underway; Minister Suriya has ordered all agencies to survey affected people and farmland to prepare relief according to government regulations. Assistance will follow Ministry of Finance procedures after verifying the number of affected individuals, cultivated area, and actual damage. Funds for compensation have not yet been set, as they depend on the survey results; the ministry will handle agricultural damage assistance based on the verified facts.
