Cloud seeding operations are planned to help fill Lam Takong Dam reservoir in Nakhon Ratchasima if the water level remains below 30% of usable capacity.
Agriculture and Cooperatives Minister Chatchai Sarikulya said artificial rainmaking flights are planned in many areas before the approaching end of the rainy season to ensure there is adequate water in storage for household use during the dry season.
The ministry was particularly concerned about the water levels in two dams - Mae Kuang Udom Tara Dam in Chiang Mai and Lam Takong Dam in Nakhon Ratchasima.
If the volume of water behind Lam Takong remained below 80 million cubic metres, or 30% of capacity, farmers using it for irrigation would be instructed to stop planting crops because it was needed for household use and to preserve the ecology.
As of Wednesday, the water level in Lam Takong was 111 million cubic metres, or 35% of total capacity, but usable water was only 88.56 million cubic metres, or 28%.
Water from Lam Takong Dam feeds 154,195 rai of irrigated land, of which 120,599 rai is alrady planted with crops.
Surasri Kidtimonton, director-general of Department of Royal Rainmaking and Agricultural Aviation, said artificial rain was needed at 10 dams, and Lam Takong was one of them.
He said rain had fallen in Lam Takong area but the inflow to the dam was still inadequate, so the rainmaking teams would make plans to top it up. His department aimed to increase the amount of water in the dam by 20%.
So far this year, rainmakers have made 3,049 cloud seeding flights, operating on 182 days between March 3 and Sept 18.
The flights were 97.2% successful with artificial rain reported in 56 provinces, adding to the water stored at 14 dams.