More than 100 farmers from five districts in Ayutthaya demanded irrigation officials release water to rice fields spanning more than 100,000 rai.
Rice growers led by Khwanchai Mahachuenjai, vice chairman of the Farmer Club of the Central region, gathered Friday at the Sena district office to meet district chief Theeraphol Sirinanuwat and representatives from the Phak Hai Operations and Maintenance Project of the Royal Irrigation Department.
They requested that the Phai Hai water sluice be opened 100 centimetres to release water into fields in Sena, Bang Sai, Phak Hai, Bang Sa-ai and Lat Bua Luang districts.
The farmers reasoned that the Noi River was about two metres higher than their fields, so the timing was right to release water for the farmers' first supplementary crop, which requires four months to grow.
Growers want to start working the fields now to ensure the harvest will be ready by the end of September, when storm runoff from the north arrives and deluges their fields, which are designated as flood plains.
Sena district chief Theeraphol said authorities agreed to lift the sluice gate 10cm at a time. The gate will be lifted more each day so the full supply of water will be available by month's end.
He said the sluice gate could not be lifted too quickly because it might impact water-management plans, the community and the surrounding environment.
Farmers wait to see the district chief of Sena district in Ayutthaya province. (Photos by Sunthorn Phongpao)