NAKHON RATCHASIMA: Farmers in Prathai district of this northeastern province are suffering from severe drought as more than 200,000 rai of rice fields have seen no rain for a long period, according to local media reports.
Pakphum Ninarat, a farmer in Ban Lung Chan in tambon Huay Han Sai, said most of the rice fields in Pathai district have been without rain for several weeks despite the official arrival of the rainy season. Farmers have resorted to pumping water from artesian wells to keep rice plants alive and growing.
If this drought continues unabated, the farmers might have to leave their crops to die and stop growing rice this year, he said.
Mr Phakphum said this year's drought was a repetition of last year when more than 80% of the rice fields were damaged by the lack of rain. The situation has become even worse this year, he added.
Most of the natural water resources in the district have dried up. Water levels in most reservoirs are low, enough for tap water production only for the next one to two months. If there's no rain soon, tap water might run dry in many localities of Prathai district, he said.
Farmers are placing their hope on help from the government, Mr Phakphum said.