More than 190,000 hectares of paddy fields in Thailand’s central and north-eastern regions have been damaged by prolonged flooding, according to the Geo-informatics and Space Technology Development Agency (GISTDA) based on analysis of satellite images.
Rice-growing areas most affected by recent flooding are Nakhon Sawan, 32,792.96 hectares; Nakhon Ratchasima, 27,636.96 hectares; Maha Sarakham, 13,095.2 hectares; Phichit, 12,838.24 hectares; Chaiyaphum, 10,378.08 hectares; Surin, 9,859.04 hectares; Roi-Et, 9,131.04 hectares; Chainat, 6,982.4 hectares; Lop Buri, 6,838.72 hectares; Buri Ram, 5,168.8 hectares; Si Sa Ket, 5,110.4 hectares; Phetchabun, 5,018.4 hectares; Suphan Buri, 4,860.96 hectares; Kalasin, 4,088.48 hectares and Sukhothai, 3,739.36 hectares.
Information about damaged and vulnerable farmland will be sent by GISTDA to relevant agencies, so they can roll out plans to help affected farmers and develop measures to mitigate the damage.
Meanwhile, the Royal Irrigation Department reports that flooding remains in Khon Kaen, Maha Sarakham, Kalasin, Roi-Et, Yasothon, Nakhon Ratchasima, Ubon Ratchathani, Phitsanulok, Ayutthaya, Sing Buri, Ang Thong, Chainat, Lop Buri, Nonthaburi, Suphan Buri, Nakhon Pathom and Uthai Thani.
Royal Irrigation Department (RID) Deputy Director-General Thaweesak Thanadechophol said today that the department has received funding to dredge all the waterways around Kwan Phayao, the biggest fresh-water lake in Thailand’s North, which is becoming shallow due to accumulated sediment, adding that the money will also be used to improve sluice gates and irrigation canals on and around the lake.
Kwan Phayao Lake is fed by 18 creeks flowing down from nearby mountains and boasts 48 species of fresh-water fish. It is the most important source of fish in the North.
Dredging to remove two million cubic metres of sediment from Wiang Nong Lom Basin is also on the RID’s agenda, under a four-year project beginning next year, which will enable it to hold more water to irrigate nearby farmland.
