Second rice crop to be banned

Second rice crop to be banned

Agriculture Minister Chatchai Sarikulya will propose to the cabinet on Tuesday a ban on the second crop of rice totalling 15 million rai as water shortages have become more serious than previously estimated.

Water reserves are expected to total 3.6 million cubic metres at the end of the rainy season on Oct 31, an inadequate amount for farming, said Gen Chatchai.

The Agriculture Ministry will also propose that the cabinet set up a national committee to manage the situation. Ministries in charge of government projects must also be instructed to hire farmers so they have some income.

The ban means rice farmers will not be able to grow rice for most part of the 2015 crop year. This involves 870,000 rai that have not been farmed and the 15 million rai on which planting will be banned. Some farmers have ignored the order and continued to farm on 6 million rai anyway.

"This time it's critical. All farming must be totally banned. All ministries must also try to help farmers," said Gen Chatchai.

However, he dismissed the need for the junta chief to use Section 44 of the interim constitution to enforce the ban.

"The ministry must tell farmers now what they are supposed to do if they can't farm and what relief measures they can expect from the government. We may promote raising animals and find extra jobs for them," he added.

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