Remaining water drops to only 1% of the total capacity of Nong Raeng Thao water retention area in Phimai district of Nakhon Ratchasima, Thailand, August 2023. (Photo: bangkokpost.com)Bangkok (VNA) – Thailand’s government is stepping up efforts to address concerns aboutdecreased rainfall and drought caused by the El Nino weather phenomenon that isaffecting the country's agricultural sector.
Speaking after a special cabinet meeting on September7, Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin said that the government has attachedgreat importance to the agricultural sector and people’s well-being, especiallyissues related to market expansion, increasing farmers’ income, boostingfarming efficiency, reducing production costs, promoting exports and ensuringsufficient food supplies for domestic consumption.
He said the impact of El Nino must particularlybe taken into account when implementing measures to help the farming sectorwhile instructing the Agriculture and Cooperatives Minister to gather informationon the phenomenon, including the impacts.
The impacts of El Nino will be discussed during thenext cabinet meeting on September 13, he said, adding that measures will thenbe rolled out to address concerns.
Kriengkrai Thiennukul, chair of the Federation ofThai Industries, said the private sector is concerned about the impact of thedrought situation, which is predicted to worsen this year. As of July thisyear, accumulated rainfall was unusually low in every region, with the amountof rainfall in the Central Plains Region, in particular, falling by 40% whencompared with the amount of rain the region usually receives during the rainyseason.
Visit Limlurcha, vice chair of the Thai Chamberof Commerce and president of the Thai Future Food Trade Association, echoed thisview, saying El Nino will inflict damage on the agricultural sector.
According to Visit, crops that are likely to be the worst hitby El Nino include rice, cassava, rubber plants, maize for animal feed, oilpalms and fruit. Severe El Nino impacts could seriously affect sugarproduction in Thailand and India, as well as the harvesting of sugarcane inBrazil. Visit warned it could all lead to a sharp increase in globalsugar prices./.
