Nong Sai Police Open Yard for Farmers' Safe Rice Drying
Nong Sai Police Station in Buri Ram is offering its concrete yard as a free, secure drying ground for farmers' rice during harvest. Police provide 24-hour surveillance and help with turning and collecting the grain, eliminating the traffic hazards and theft risks of roadside drying. The initiative has prevented accidents and earned praise from local farmers.
BURI RAM — Nong Sai Police Station has opened the concrete yard in front of its barracks for farmers to sun-dry paddy rice at no cost, guaranteeing safety and 24-hour police supervision. Officers also help turn and gather the grain, reducing road accidents and theft that often occur when crops are spread along highways.
During the current harvest, many farmers lack their own drying space and resort to road shoulders, creating traffic hazards and inviting opportunistic thieves. Recently, Pol. Lt. Col. Prawanprachaya Sathitthiyaphon, superintendent of Nong Sai Police Station in Nang Rong district, led patrols to warn farmers of these dangers and invited them to use the station's spacious, secure yard instead.
Since the program began, no vehicle has struck a rice pile in the station's area. Farmer Samkiet Khlomhamil, 63, who farms 50 rai, said he used to dry rice on the village access road but now feels comfortable and safe at the police yard, where officers welcome them warmly and assist with sweeping and collecting.
Pol. Lt. Col. Prawanprachaya confirmed the station has provided this service for several consecutive years. "I guarantee there is no loss," he said, contrasting the safety with the high accident risk and traffic obstruction of roadside drying. He urged all farmers in Nong Sai subdistrict to bring their paddy to the station yard for free, round-the-clock protection.
