Some rice farmers in Phitsanulok province are drilling wells in their dry riverbed to get around the Irrigation Department's warning not to grow off-season crops due to the water shortage, insisting it's the only livelihood they know.
About 100 rice growers in Bang Rakam district of the northern province were now depending on underground water from wells drilled right in the middle of the Yom, the main river running through the district, said Wirat Phutkosa, head of Moo 2 village in tambon Chumsaeng Songkhram of Bang Rakam district.
He and the other farmers resorted to the groundwater solution as their paddy fields are near the dry river, he said.
On Wednesday he hired a drilling contractor for 5,000 baht to drill another well in the dry riverbed, to supply his 40-rai paddy field. The well struck water at a depth of 18 metres, Mr Wirat said.
Although the Irrigation Department has told farmers not to plant a second crop because there is not enough water, local farmers are desperate, he said. Rice farming is all they have ever known. They had no idea what else they could to do make a living.
The village headman said the water shortage was very severe this year. Their paddy fields had dried out and they had no choice but to drill wells.
Lower oil prices convinced farmers they could afford the drilling and fuel for the pumps, Mr Wirat said.
Chalita Chuthong said she had drilled a well in the middle of the Yom River last year and plugged it during the rainy season. The well was reopened this year and a pump installed to draw water for her 30-rai paddy field about 100 metres from the river. The water was enough to also serve about 100 rai of adjacent paddy fields farmed by her brothers and sisters, Miss Chalita said.
Wat Bot, Bang Krathum and Wang Thong districts of Phitsanulok were declared drought-stricken areas, but Bang Rakam has not even though many local streams have dried up.