The Royal Irrigation Department (RID) has advised farmers who rely solely on irrigated water not to grow off-season rice to maintain water supplies in case a drought strikes later in the year.
The advice was made at a forum on water management during the summer, which was organised by the RID in Saraburi on Saturday.
The forum was told that the rainy season may arrive early this year. However, there is a risk of dry spells during the season in some provinces and the farmers must prepare themselves for water shortages that may disrupt their farming.
The forum agreed that farmers who depend solely on irrigated water and have no, or little, access to water from natural sources such as rivers and canals should forgo planting off-season rice, which normally starts around this time of year. This would help ensure sufficient water supply for farmers in the irrigated areas.
The use of water for farming should be regulated with rules clearly set for how the water should be channeled and managed, according to the forum.
Farmers should therefore take a break now and start growing rice again in May which marks the onset of the rainy season when water becomes plentiful once again.
The RID representatives told the forum there will be enough water from the Chao Phraya River to be irrigated to rice fields in the Central Plains provinces before the flooding period begins in September.
Suchart Charoensri, director of Irrigation Office 10, said farmers should dig their own ponds to conserve water for use on their rice farms when drought strikes. He added the so-called Khon Nong Kae farming model -- where residents of farming communities can set up a homestay tourism business which can generate employment and income and spur the local economy -- could be implemented.
The tourism business can be operated alongside rice farming to provide a new revenue stream and greater financial security for farmers, he said.
Also, Mr Suchart promised to pass on to the RID a request by local farmers for subsidies towards the cost of electricity used to pump water into their rice fields.
Suchon Paithrat, Saraburi assistant provincial governor, said many local farmer groups have taken part in deciding how the limited water supply should be shared among them to prevent a conflict.
On Saturday, the government announced that water management units have opened in Chiang Mai, Phitsanulok, Khon Kaen, Nakhon Sawan, Kanchanaburi, Chanthaburi and Prachuap Khiri Khan. These are the core provinces that serve as centres of water distribution for regions with vast farmland.
