The Office of the National Water Resources (ONWR) is urging farmers in Thailand to plant only one rice crop this season due to below-average rainfall expected due to the El Niño weather pattern. ONWR Secretary-General Surasee Kittimonthon revealed that the rainy season, which typically starts in the third week of May, will be delayed this year with only intermittent rain expected in June.
The ONWR has developed a water management plan for the country’s dams to ensure water preservation, but the success of the plan depends on the cooperation of all stakeholders, particularly farmers, in conserving water resources. Surasee emphasized that water will be provided to farmers during the first rice crop in the upcoming rainy season. However, he urged farmers to cooperate by growing alternative crops that require less water for the second and third crops to mitigate water scarcity.
On May 11, the ONWR held discussions on water management for the upcoming rainy season with several agencies, including the Royal Irrigation Department, the Meteorological Department, the Department of Water Resources, the Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand (EGAT), and the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA).
Surasee stated that due to the El Niño phenomenon, rainfall would be approximately 5% below the average, but he noted that heavy rainfall was expected from August to September, covering 60-80% of the country. He further predicted the occurrence of at least two tropical storms between August and September that could replenish water levels in certain dams.
