Surin Rice Farmers Face Weed Invasion After Month-Long Drought
Surin rice farmers face devastating crop losses after a month-long drought that has allowed weeds to overrun paddies, with some losing nearly 90 percent of their harvest.
Surin farmers are facing severe crop losses after more than a month without rain. A field survey on August 18 across multiple subdistricts in Muang Surin district found that rice paddies have been hit hard by the prolonged drought, despite weather warnings from the meteorology department. The area received only scattered rainfall, leaving fields without standing water, dried reservoirs, and rice plants severely stressed as weeds and wild seedlings—particularly a fast-growing type known as "dao dee"—have overgrown the paddies.
One farmer, Nophidol, 48, from Nong Thai village in Salakaew subdistrict, who cultivates 5 rai and has invested over 10,000 baht, has resorted to tethering his herd of 12 buffalo in the rice fields to graze. Less than 10 percent of his rice plants remain; the rest has been replaced by weeds and wild seedlings that grow faster and larger than normal rice. "The long dry spell caused grass to grow faster than rice. From a distance it looks green like rice plants, but it's actually covered in weeds and wild growth," Nophidol explained. "Normally at this time, the fields would have standing water and rice would be near heading, but this year there's nothing but grass. Looking at it, I've lost all hope. I'll have to buy rice to eat. Farming is really tough."
The extended dry period has severely impacted the livelihoods and economic situation of farmers across Surin province. Residents are hoping for rainfall in the coming weeks to ease the drought before crop damage becomes even more severe.
