Agriculture Ministry becomes major agency solving flood problem

BANGKOK, Oct 1 (TNA) -- The government has assigned Agriculture and Cooperatives Ministry to become the major agency in solving flood problem which is now ravaging several provinces in Thailand, said a government spokesman. Spokesman Lt Gen Sansern Kaewkamnerd said the ministry is responsible for diverting floodwater from community and economic areas while officials in flood-stricken areas are to provide information and to also find ways to solve the problem as soon as possible. It is “necessary” for the government to divert floodwater to certain areas and flood barriers will be built, said Lt Gen Sansern. Officials of the Royal Irrigation Department and provincial authorities will decide how to divert flood and where the floodwater will be hold so that farmers and people would be minimally affected. Officials in affected provinces will set up a team of officials to explain to people that they have to sacrifice their land to be flood holding areas as floodwater will be diverted and stored, said Lt Gen Sansern. The government will compensate them. He said the Agriculture and Cooperatives Ministry would urge agriculturists to join a major plantation programme and to also grow other cash crops instead of rice, aimed at reducing risks from natural disaster and for them to also save costs. (TNA)