El Niño Drought Threatens Rice Crop in Nakhon Ratchasima

Agricultural areas in Dan Khun Thot District, Nakhon Ratchasima are experiencing the effects of El Niño, which has brought erratic rainfall patterns despite the ongoing rainy season. Farmers who have already planted their wet-season rice crops now face severe risks of water scarcity.

El Niño's intensifying impact has reduced overall rainfall, raised temperatures, and created prolonged dry spells from late June through mid-July, putting many areas at risk of critical water shortages.

Lae Phrakunchon, a 66-year-old farmer from Ban Thanon Hak Yai Village in Khud Phiman Subdistrict, revealed he invested in 10 rai of farmland outside irrigation zones. He purchased 300 kilograms of jasmine rice 105 seeds and 12 bags of rice seed at 700 baht each, totaling 6,400 baht. Combined with plowing costs of 3,000 baht per plowing at 300 baht per rai—requiring three rounds—and 10 bags of fertilizer at 1,400 baht each, his initial production costs came to approximately 29,400 baht.

He sowed seeds on June 16, but over half a month has passed without any rain. All his water collection ponds are now bone dry with no surplus water for irrigation. He is deeply concerned that if rains don't come soon, the seeds will dry up and die, or be damaged by rats, birds, and insects. Some seedlings that sprouted have yellowed and stopped growing due to continuous water shortage. If the dry spell persists, the rice plants will wither and die, leaving only weeds and drought-resistant grass, forcing him to replant and waste time clearing the field again.

He urgently appeals to the government to implement cloud seeding quickly to bring rainfall to revive his rice and seeds. Without immediate intervention, he faces severe losses, and farmers are suffering greatly.