Shortages of hay for cattle in drought-hit Thai North

CHIANG RAI, April 23 (TNA) - Drought has persisted in the Thai North for over three months, causing rivers to have dried up and shortages of hay for cattle, which are troubling local farmers. In Chiang Rai province alone, the provincial livestock development office is asking for additional 40 tonnes of hay from the Department of Livestock Development in Bangkok for local farmers to feed their cattle. All 18 districts in Chiang Rai have been declared drought-hit disaster zones since February 2012 and more than 5,000 local cattle are suffering from themhay shortages. Chiang Rai's livestock development office has anticipated the persistent drought for a certain period of time and suggested local farmers to utilize the corn harvesting season currently by feeding their cattle with fresh corns alternatively in order to mitigate the problem. (TNA)