Drought ironically hits Nakhon Sawan’s outer district

By Thai Newsroom Reporters

FARMERS IN AN OUTER district of Nakhon Sawan are ironically affected by drought despite an average distance of 40 kilometres between their villages and the capital district where flash floods are anticipated sooner than later in the current monsoon season, officials said today (Oct.2).

The villagers in five subdistricts of the central province, namely Lat Yao, Sra Kaeo, Soi Lakorn, Nong Yao and Nong Nom Wua, have joined hands to literally force a natural waterway from a nearby Mae Wong district to flow into their drought-stricken farmlands growing cash crops ranging from rice, tapioca and sugarcane to corn which could otherwise have died standing on the parched earth. The rural farmers would not expect any excessive rainwaters to flow into their farmlands, given their relatively high terrains.

Sandbags and excavators were used to force the Mae Wong waters to flow into the farmlands in the central part of Lat Yao district, barely 40 kilometres from the capital district of Nakhon Sawan where the provincial and district authorities have been put on alert preparing relief measures for villagers in low-lying areas which will likely be hit by flash floods sooner than later due to torrential rain and overflowing rivers during October and December.

Nakhon Sawan is where four rivers, namely Ping, Wang, Yom and Nan, merge with Chao Phraya River, the country’s largest, which will likely overflow farmlands on both sides of the river at the height of a monsoon season.

Apart from an overflowing Yom River which is currently wreaking havoc in Sukhothai, torrential rain and brimming Wang River have critically inundated the low-lying districts of Lampang in the lower northern region with floodwaters rapidly coming down to Nakhon Sawan.

Torrential rain and flash floods are also expected to hit Kampaengpet and Pichit lying north of Nakhon Sawan later this month.

CAPTION:

Top: A representative image of drought and floods. Credit: Matichon Weekly

Front Page: A farmer in the midst of a drought. Credit: Thai Rath

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