Chiang Mai tells farmers to delay planting rice, raising fish
The Chiang Mai provincial administration is looking into the possibilities of digging well to cope with future water shortages and will also seek cooperation from farmers to delay planting rice and raising fish in rivers when the water level is low, the deputy governor said Monday.
Komsan Suwanampha said the provincial administration was contemplating digging underground wells in the southern part of the province, which is outside existing irrigation projects, to prevent water shortages in the future. Farmers will be encouraged to form groups to dig underground wells so that they would have enough water for farming in the future.
Komsan said the provincial administration is confident that the remaining water would be enough for consumption at rate of about 1 million cubic metres per month.
But water from reservoirs in the northern province cannot be released for irrigation purpose so farmers should refrain from planting rice for now and villagers who raise fish in cages on rivers should stop after harvesting, Komsan said.
He said the provincial administration will try its best to help rice farmers who planted their crops earlier as well as longan orchard owners but farmers who plant new crops after the warning the warning will not get compensation.
Komsan said officials will also relocate water pumps in southern districts, such as Chom Thong, from downstream to upstream of reservoirs so that the pumps could draw water to alleviate the water shortage.
The Chiang Mai Disaster Prevention and Mitigation Office will also set up drought alleviation operation centres in all districts.