Flood Devastates Salt Farms in Chanthaburi, Farmers Plead for Aid
Floodwaters devastated salt farms in Tha Mai, Chanthaburi, dissolving hundreds of sacks of salt and destroying essential infrastructure. Local farmer Aunty Phon described losing nearly all her savings and appealed for urgent government aid to restart. Officials are compiling damage reports to seek relief from provincial and national agencies.
Reporters followed up on the flood situation in Tha Mai, Chanthaburi, after water levels began to drop but left extensive devastation. The flooding didn’t just affect households; it also dealt a harsh blow to those engaged in salt farming, a niche livelihood that depends on investment, manpower, and continuous work throughout the year.
‘Aunty Phon’ – the owner of the Rueang Fah shop and a local salt farmer – described the frantic moments with a trembling voice. She said the floodwaters rushed in rapidly from the onset, rising steadily through the evening and surging sharply around 8 p.m. Her husband and workers scrambled to lift salt sacks onto higher ground, but once the water reached the base of the stacks, the salt began to dissolve quickly. The piles collapsed and melted away with the current, leaving no time to rescue them.
She added that she spent the whole night watching the inundation in despair. At dawn, upon inspecting the damage, she was shocked to find that nearly all the salt she had set aside for sale had been destroyed; many sacks had melted down to empty plastic bags. Relatives and municipal council members managed to arrange three six‑wheel trucks to salvage some of the remaining salt, but only a portion could be moved.
Beyond the loss of product, the salt‑farm infrastructure—bunds, saline‑water reservoirs, and drainage systems—was severely damaged. Restoring it requires completely re‑digging and rebuilding the land, a process that demands high labor costs, sometimes reaching 5,000–7,000 baht per day because the work is strenuous and requires specialized skills.
‘Families that rent land for salt farming have lost all their capital to the flood and now have no idea where to find money to start again next year. It feels like we have to begin from scratch, and we don’t know how we’ll manage. The funds for a fresh start are gone, wages are high, but we must grit our teeth and persevere. I urge government agencies to look after salt farmers, who face high costs and mostly rent their plots. Even partial assistance would give us vital encouragement to rise and fight again,’ Aunty Phon said, tears in her voice.
Meanwhile, Maiyuth Tangraksat, Mayor of Tha Mai Municipality, visited the site to assess damage and console residents, including the salt‑farming community. He is expediting the collection of detailed loss reports to coordinate with provincial and Ministry of Agriculture agencies for prompt relief under existing regulations.
