Farmers in Phitsanulok asked to delay rice cultivation until mid-Aug

PHITSANULOK, 16 July 2010 (NNT) – The Phitsanulok Provincial Irrigation Office has asked local farmers to delay their rice cultivation until mid-August in order to prevent damages from drought.

Mr Bandit Inta, Director of the Phitsanulok Provincial Irrigation Office, disclosed that the water level at Sirikit Dam in the northern province of Uttaradit now stood at 3.2 billion cubic meters or 33% of the total capacity. About 353 million cubic meters of the water reserve or 5% is usable water.

At present, Mr Bandit indicated that the amount of water released to the public for consumption and household use and for balancing the ecological system stood at 9 million cubic meters per day.

The Director then asked farmers in Phitsanulok and nearby areas to postpone their rice cultivation until mid-August. He reasoned that water supplies for agricultural use would be released during the period while the late farming would help rice growers avoid damages from the ongoing dry conditions.