Persistent drought to cause more damage to Thailand's farm sector

BANGKOK, May 13 (TNA) - The Kasikorn Research Center (KResearch) has projected this year's seasonal drought in Thailand, if persisting, may cause a total damage of about 17.3 billion baht to the country's farm sector. According to a KResearch latest report released on May 12, negative impacts from Thailand's seasonal drought currently should be more limited if this year's dry season ended within this month when it is not yet the cultivation period of such major crops as rice and sugar cane. The leading Thai private think tank cautioned, however, there are now signs that the seasonal drought in Thailand this year should persist for a couple of months, namely remaining low levels of water at major dams in the country presently and a trend of less or delayed downpours during the June-July period. The Bangkok-based research firm said if so, low-income Thai farmers would face more difficulties in earning their families' living and the domestic farm sector could face an additional economic loss of about one billion baht monthly or about 17.3 billion baht totally from this year's dry season. The KResearch forecast, meanwhile, that Thai farmers' income should shrink by 2.1-2.4 per cent year-on-year on average in 2019, from by 1.2-1.6 per cent year-on-year on average earlier estimated. Besides, the price of Thai rice should stand at about 10,700-10,800 baht per ton on average, a drop by about 0.3-1.2 per cent year-on-year, while the price of locally-grown sugar cane should stand at about 700-710 baht per ton on average, a drop of 0.4-1.8 per cent year-on-year, due to a strong competition on the world market. (TNA)