Govt to get tough on off-season rice crops

The government is looking at banning off-season rice farming after a campaign to discourage farmers from planting a second or third crop failed to meet its target.

The government wants to limit the amount of rice being grown because of the fear of a looming water crisis.

Irrigation Department chief Chalit Damrongsak said at the weekend irrigation offices had been told to step up their efforts to dissuade farmers from planting a third crop this year.

Many farmers were planting one crop after the other without giving their land the time necessary to recover.

Mr Chalit said his department would support irrigation offices that come up with their own initiatives to discourage over-planting.

One method adopted was the 12th Irrigation Office's helicopter drop of 500,000 leaflets warning farmers of the likelihood of a water shortage.

The office also gave out a gold award worth about 40,000 baht to the farmer who held the leaflet with the same number as the government's winning lottery number. The award was an incentive to farmers to look carefully at the leaflets.

"If the water shortage becomes even worse, the department might have to ban off-season rice farming," Mr Chalit said.

The irrigation chief said water levels in dams and natural sources had fallen sharply. The level in natural water sources was lower than usual this year because only one storm had passed over the country.

The situation is especially worrying in the Chao Phraya River basin, where the water level has fallen markedly. This is because the demand for water has soared in recent years following the increase in rice planting as a result of higher prices.

High prices have convinced farmers to plant a second crop soon after harvesting the first crop, Mr Chalit said.

A second crop is expected to be planted on an estimated 12 million rai this year, but the department only has plans to supply water for 9 million rai.

Mr Chalit said farmers in the central provinces were now planting whenever they wanted, not just during the rainy season.

The shortage of rainwater had seen the water levels in large dams such as Bhumibol and Sirikit to fall to about 70% of capacity. In other smaller dams, the levels have fallen to 50% to 60% of capacity.

Drought is affecting about 30 provinces in the lower North and Northeast.

The Irrigation Department will implement measures to limit water consumption between now and July so there are enough supplies to last the dry season.