Suriya Launches Plan to Counter Super El Niño; Orders Water and Royal Rainmaking Agencies to Support Farmers
Thailand's Agriculture Ministry is launching a four-pronged strategy to protect farmers from Super El Niño, directing water and rainmaking agencies to manage irrigation, promote drought-resistant crops, and monitor conditions nationwide.
The Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives is implementing proactive measures, ordering the Royal Irrigation Department and the Royal Rainmaking and Agricultural Aviation Division to execute the four-pronged strategy of 'water storage, water replenishment, crop adjustment, and monitoring' in response to Super El Niño.
Agriculture Minister Suriya Jungsrungkij revealed that the Super El Niño phenomenon is causing extreme heat and rainfall well below normal levels, which could inflict widespread damage to agricultural areas nationwide this year. The ministry has prepared four strategic responses using the 'water storage, water replenishment, crop adjustment, and monitoring' approach to minimize farmer impacts. All affiliated agencies have been ordered to implement these urgent strategies:
1) Water Management: The Royal Irrigation Department will strictly manage water in major dams, prioritizing domestic consumption and planning water distribution through canal systems to all agricultural areas awaiting harvest.
2) Rainmaking Operations: The Royal Rainmaking and Agricultural Aviation Division will establish rapid mobile units in drought-prone areas to replenish reservoirs and create moisture for forests and farmland whenever weather permits.
3) Crop Substitution: The ministry will promote high-value, low-water crops, encouraging farmers to shift to short-season crops requiring less water with existing market support to reduce crop failure risks.
4) Early Warning and Relief: An agricultural disaster monitoring center will track and address problems.
Permanent Secretary Winayaroj Sapsongsuk stated that all agencies are ready to implement the directives and have established special task forces to closely monitor the situation, particularly El Niño's impact which may cause drought and irregular rainfall patterns.
The ministry is also launching public campaigns to prepare farmers and mobilizing volunteers from agriculture agencies to assist implementation and awareness. Support includes a 'One Stop Service' through the Pirunraj Agricultural Service Center application. Agencies will integrate weather and water data with meteorological and irrigation departments to efficiently manage water during El Niño, while advisory teams will guide farmers in adjusting planting plans to reduce crop loss risks. Emergency relief measures are being prepared for affected areas to maintain farmer incomes and livelihoods through the crisis.
