Rain-making operations against drought kicked off in Thailand

NAKHON SAWAN, THAILAND, March 3 (TNA) - To be well-prepared for seasonal drought, Thai Agriculture and Cooperatives Minister General Chatchai Salikulya has launched this year’s artificial rain making operations to fill major dams with water for national consumption throughout the coming dry season. General Chatchai presided over a ceremony to launch the artificial rain making project at Nakhon Sawan Airport in the Lower Thai North on Friday morning. According to the minister, the country’s water reserve for nationwide use in dams and reservoirs is recorded at about 24 billion cubic metres in total, or about 47 per cent of their full capacity. The minister said his ministry has laid out water management plans in the dry season for nationwide consumption, farming and ecological conservation, prevention of salt water intrusion, but it is not enough for off-season rice cultivation and the artificial rain making operations are, thus, needed. The minister noted that the artificial rain making operations will cover 25 river basins across the country. The minister explained that, apart from helping raise water reserves in the major dams and reservoirs, the artificial rain making operations will also help trigger rain to relieve drought, haze and summer hail storms. (TNA)