Thailand: Public-private should join forces in combating drought

The Government held a press briefing on “Public-Private Alliance on Combating of Drought”, and called on all sectors to conserve water as much as possible. Although the drought situation in 2016 has not been critical, the Government continued to undertake measures in preventing and tackling drought in a bid to ensure sufficient water supply throughout the dry season. The Government also urged people to consume water wisely, and called on farmers to cooperate with the Government.

January 29, 2016, at 1000hrs, at the Inner Santi Maitree Building, Government House, the Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives, the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment, the Ministry of Defense, the Ministry of Interior and related agencies represented the Government in a press briefing on “Public-Private Alliance on Combating of Drought”. The following is a brief of the contents:

Director-General of the Royal Irrigation Department (RID) Suthep Noipairoj stated that 2016 wass another year in which the drought situation was severe with very little water available. As a consequence of the Great Flood in 2011, large volumes of water led to increase of rice cropping which had consumed about 18,153 cubic meter of water. Approximately 14,861 million cubic meter of available water was released for that purpose resulting in a huge drop in overall water availability volume.

Geo-Informatics and Space Technology Development Agency (GISTDA) (Public Organization)'s Deputy Director Chaowalit Silapathong revealed that satellite images had been used for the analysis of Government agencies’ water allocation plan. GISTDA has also constantly monitored off-season rice growing situation, and found that in 2013-2014, up to 15 million rai of land were used for off-season rice cropping. The Government, therefore, urged farmers to reduce growing off-season rice, and to replace it with drought-resistant crops, as well as take alternate jobs. This resulted in major reduction of off-season rice cropping, especially in the Chao Phraya River Basin where it went down to only around 3 million rai.

Deputy-General of Department of Water Resources Supot Tovichakchaikul added that compared to the previous years, the drought situation in 2015 was not as critical as that in 2013, which was the most severe. The drought situation nationwide had not reached the critical stage except in Nakhon Ratchasima, Buriram, and Surin which were approaching the critical state. Nevertheless, the Government has carried out operations under the 2015-2026 Water Resources Management Strategy which include 1) Strategy on water consumption management; 2) Strategy on promotion of water security in production sector (agriculture/industry); 3) Strategy on flood management; 4) Strategy on water quality management; 5) Strategy on restoration and conservation of denuded watershed forests and prevention of land erosion; and 6) Strategy on general management. The Government has also implemented district-based water consumption management in 928 districts across the country to determine exact amount and demand for water consumption in a bid to ensure efficiency in water management which will lead to national security, prosperity, and sustainability.

Director-General of Department of Agricultural Extension Olarn Pitak stated that the Cabinet had ordered the Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives to provide assistance to farmers in the repetitive drought-affected areas, and to implement agricultural development and revenue generation schemes in a bid to alleviate adverse effects of drought during 2014/15 in 3,051 sub-districts (Tambons) of 58 provinces. There are 6,596 projects in 3,043 sub-districts (Tambons) under the scheme worth 3,004.51 million Baht in budget. Approximately 2.87 million farming households have benefited from sufficient water sources during the dry season, more employment opportunities as labourers, more agricultural facilities, reduction of production cost, and higher quality crops. The schemes have created 870,000 jobs, and generated 2,048.02 million Baht of the revolving funds in community’s economic system.

Permanent-Secretary of the Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives Teerapat Prayunsit revealed that the volume of total usable water in 481 large and medium-scale reservoirs was 16,870 million cubic meters or 33%. Usable water volume in 4 major dams in the Chao Phraya River basin (Bhumibhol, Sirikit, Kwae Noi Bumrung Dan, and Pa Sak Jolasid) stood at 3,489 million cubic meters or 19% in total; in water sources outside the irrigated areas nationwide were 182.10 million cubic meters or 52% of total capacity (as of January 20, 2016); and in 4,789 smaller reservoirs across the country 1,072.55 million cubic meters, 59% of the total capacity (as of January 21, 2016).

Deputy Permanent-Secretary for the Ministry of Interior Chayapol Thitisak stated that the Ministry of Interior had provided assistance and mitigated plights of drought-affected people in accordance with the People’s State Policy to ensure transparency, worthiness, and accountability. The following measures had been implemented: 1) Measure to improve living standards at the Tambon or sub-district level (5 million baht per sub-district); 2) Urgent measure to empower farmers and low-income earners in a sustainable manner; 3) Support provision on agricultural machinery to cooperatives/agricultural groups; 4) small-scale investments stimulus scheme.

The Deputy Permanent-Secretary added that the Ministry of Interior had urged public administrations, provincial governors, and district chiefs to oversee and monitor all project implementation in respective areas to ensure achievement, efficiency, and public benefits. The budget should be disbursed in a transparent and prompt manner in a bid to alleviate people’s plights, and promote better quality of life. Currently, 4 provinces, 71 districts, 371 sub-districts and 3,380 villages were declared drought disaster zones. The Ministry of Interior put utmost effort in providing continuous assistance to the drought-affected people.

The Ministry of Defense Spokesman Maj Gen Kongcheep Tantrawanich stated that all units under the Ministry of Defense and the Royal Thai Armed Forces have been deployed to provide support in tackling disasters both in terms of prevention and mitigation. In addressing drought disaster, military units have continuously carried out preventive and urgent operations as part of the Government’s assistance provided to the people.

The public were urged to rest assured that the Government and National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO) would do their best and would not let them suffer from water shortage. In the meantime, the Government was putting effort in implementing water management measures, which may result in insufficient water for agricultural purpose, especially for water-consuming crop growing and off-season rice cropping. The Government called on fellow farmers to understand and cooperate, and place priority in public interests. The public were also urged to consume water wisely. The drought disaster this time was a challenge that had impacted all. Therefore, cooperation from all was needed. The Government and NCPO believe that Thailand could get past the drought disaster with sustainable immunity.