The lingering effects of the El Niño weather phenomenon are taking a heavy toll on northern farmers, as a prolonged dry spell is leaving rice crops in Lampang province’s Thoen district withering away.
Local residents in Mae Wa sub-district say they have never witnessed such severe drought conditions during, what should be, the peak of the rainy season. Paddy fields across Moo 2 village are rapidly drying out due to a critical lack of rainfall and water supply.
Somwang Ariyadib, a local farmer, said rain has been virtually absent since June. Although brief showers have occurred occasional, they were far from sufficient to sustain the growing rice plants.
She expressed deep concern that, unless significant rainfall arrives within the next two weeks, her remaining crop will be completely destroyed before harvest.
Mae Wa sub-district is outside official irrigation zones and relies heavily on natural runoffs flowing from the nearby Mae Wa National Park.
Anan Jinawut, another resident, noted that, while streams usually swell with seasonal rain every year, precipitation has been exceptionally low this season, leaving natural waterways completely dry.
He urges authorities to construct medium- or large-scale reservoirs in the area to capture runoffs for both agricultural use and consumption.
Nittaya Paeng-ngam, mayor of the Mae Wa Sub-district Administrative Organisation, said that local officials have issued advisories to farmers against planting water-intensive crops, while distributing drinking and utility water to affected households as a short-term measure.
For long-term relief, the local administration has submitted budget requests to build reservoirs to tackle recurring droughts.
Covering eight villages with roughly 320-480 hectares of rice fields, the sub-district is now appealing to relevant agencies for immediate artificial rainmaking operations.
Without rainfall in the coming weeks, local officials warn that the area’s entire rice harvest will be lost.
