Farmers are being urged to postpone their in-season rice cultivation until August or September, in the hopes of taking advantage of the rain that comes during the rainy season. Meanwhile, a deputy prime minister and the agriculture minister inspected water levels at reservoirs in the northeastern region.

Deputy Prime Minister Sanan Kajornprasart and Agriculture Minister Theera Wongsamut, inspected the drought situation in the northeastern region including water levels in Ubonrat Reservoir in Khon Kaen province.

The ministers reported that water supplies in seven large reservoirs in the northeastern region remain at critical levels, citing as an example the Ubonrat Reservoir, which is currently at just 27 per cent capacity.

However, they noted that of this amount, only 4 per cent, or 75 million cubic meters, is usable.

Farmers are advised to delay growing in-season rice until August or September, when more rains are expected.

Source : TANN