Severe drought expected in Thailand early 2016

BANGKOK, September 12 (TNA) -- Farmers are asked not to grow rice during off-season in 2016 after the state-run Royal Irrigation Department (RID) made a forecast that Thailand would face severe drought while Agriculture and Cooperatives Minister General Chatchai Sarikulya plans to propose Prime Minister General Prayut Chan-ocha to assist farmers. Although several areas in the country are having heavy rainfalls, the amount of rain is still less than previous years, said Suthep Noipairoj, deputy director-general of the RID, adding that water stored at major dams is not sufficient to grow off-season rice. A meeting was held recently with relevant government agencies, said Mr Suthep, and Agriculture and Cooperatives Minister Gen Chatchai assigned several departments to find ways in assisting farmers who would be affected by the expected severe drought. He said Gen Chatchai would propose the prime minister to order ministries to help farmers in providing temporary jobs to enable them in making income to feed their families as they would have to refrain from growing rice during the off-season. (TNA)