The Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives says it has received reports that the dry season caused 180 million baht of economic damage, although the rice crop was unaffected.
Peeraphan Korthong, the ministry's deputy spokesman, said that as Thailand enters the rainy season next week, farmers should be able to grow rice on schedule despite forecasts of less rain than normal.
"Drought damage reported to the ministry totalled 180 million baht across 18,900 rai for 1,600 families, 17,000 rai of which were cassava plantations in Phitsanulok province," Mr Peeraphan told reporters.
He also rebutted reports by Kasikorn Research Centre which had estimated drought costs of up to 17.3 billion baht, saying the private research centre's report used different metrics and also misrepresented the length of the rainy season.
Meanwhile, 12 dams and 149 reservoirs are currently at less than 30% full. However, a Department of Royal Irrigation spokesperson said that this was planned for, except in the Chao Phraya River basin where the water used already constitutes 120% of original estimates.
