PM starts field trip to Suphan Buri, Ayutthaya

SUPHAN BURI, Sept 18 (TNA) – Prime Minister Gen Prayut Chan-o-cha is visiting central provinces of Suphan Buri and Ayutthaya to follow up water management projects. He was accompanied by deputy prime minister Somkid Jatusripitak, Interior Minister Gen Anupong Paochinda and Minister attached to the Prime Minister's Office Ormsin Chivapruck to follow up implementation of government’s policy. He started his trip to Wat Pa Lelai Worawihan to pay respect to Luang Phor Toh sacred Buddha image and went to the Farmer Field School and the Thailand Rice Science Institute, a learning centre for agricultural technology transfer. He will travel to Ayutthaya this afternoon to visit Ban Pan water retention area in Sena district. He will open Ban Pan sluice gate, which is part of the pilot project to advise farmers to cultivate rice twice a year and grow other suggested crop. Under the project, water will be released into paddy fields to be used as water retention areas and for fisheries in the rainy season after harvest. Prime minister will later convene a meeting with governors from central provinces and business sectors to discuss water management and flood prevention. Authorities plan to dig a new canal and two dykes will be built to increase efficiency in water drainage in central provinces with the budget of 700 million baht. (TNA)