Rainmaking aims to save jasmine rice
The Royal Rainmaking and Agricultural Aviation Department has stepped up efforts to save some 2.1 million rai of jasmine rice on a plain straddling 13 districts in five northeastern provinces from drought.
As part of the efforts, Surasee Kittimonthol, director general of the department, said on Wednesday that he had ordered the relocation of a royal rainmaking unit from Songkhla to Ubon Ratchathani.
He said the team would coordinate with royal rainmaking staff in Khon Kaen and Nakhon Ratchasima to try to make rain to save the rice paddies on the Thung Kula Ronghai plain that straddles Mahasarakahm, Surin, Roi Et, Si Sa Ket and Yasothon.
The department has been informed that at least 757,000 rai of paddies were threatened by drought and rainmaking operations have so far saved 312,000 rai.
He said the operations also benefitted some rice fields in Buri Ram and Khon Kaen.
The department chief said he has instructed the rainmaking teams to monitor the weather to try to use the opportunity to make rain for the Thung Kula Ronghai plain and elsewhere.
