Little rain forecast in Thailand in next few months

BANGKOK, May 27 (TNA) - The Thai Ministry of Interior's Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation has warned local farmers to plan their cultivation well as scarce rainfalls are expected over the next couple of months. The department's director-general, Chatchai Phromlert, told journalists on Friday that the Meteorological Department has forecast a rain stoppage during late June-July; so, all parties should save water and farmers should have appropriate agricultural plans. Chatchai suggested that local rice growers delay their main rice crop this year to avoid any possible loss. Chatchai cautioned although the rainy season has started in Thailand, it has had no rain in upstream areas to raise water levels of large dams, while water levels in medium and large-sized dams only stand 17-18 per cent. According to the senior official, more than 9,300 villages in 36 provinces remain facing drought, 12 of them lack water for consumption, other seven have not had enough water for farming and 17 others even lack water for both consumption and farming. (TNA)