WHILE the flooding has eased in Chanthaburi around 4,000 fruit farmers are in deep distress as stagnant floodwaters led to durian trees grown on over 20,000 rai of orchards having died, Amarin TV said this evening (Oct. 4).
The farmers said floodwaters caused extensive damage with durian trees in particular affected by deprivation of oxygen which led to their leaves withering, curling, turning brown and dropping off.
These farmers are now praying for the trees to recover and sprout new shoots so they can eventually yield fruit and earn an income to support their families. However, if the trees fail to sprout new growth, they will have to find capital to purchase new saplings to replace the ones that died.
Mr. Supot Nimplao, a durian orchard owner Sam Phi Nong subdistrict, Kaeng Hang Maeo district, spoke with sorrow about the ordeal. The flooding began on Sep. 25, with water stagnating in the orchard for six days and reaching depths of four to five metres at the lowest points. Seeing the damage to the durian trees has left him physically and emotionally drained; despite attempts to comfort one another, his family is struggling to come to terms with the loss and is under immense stress.
Meanwhile, Ms. Jaruwan Thongbai, a provincial agricultural officer, led a team to survey the flood damage, monitor the situation, and offer moral support to the affected farmers. Preliminary assessments confirmed that over 4,000 farmers in this eastern province have been affected, with more than 20,000 rai of orchards sustaining damage.
Officials are currently conducting detailed on-site damage assessments to gather data for determining assistance measures in accordance with relevant regulations. The Chanthaburi Provincial Agricultural Extension Officer has advised farmers on post-flood orchard recovery, such as expediting water drainage from plots where possible, pruning damaged branches, revitalising root systems and soil, monitoring for root and stem rot diseases, and improving drainage systems to prevent future damage.
Furthermore, officials from this office have coordinated with partner agencies—such as the Land Development Station—to secure dolomite for distribution to affected farmers, aiming to alleviate their hardship and facilitate a swift recovery of agricultural production.
They are also collaborating with the Bank for Agriculture and Agricultural Cooperatives (BAAC) and local cooperatives to consider financial assistance measures and appropriate relief channels, thereby mitigating the impact and boosting the morale of the affected farmers.
CAPTIONS:
Top and Front Page: Dead durian trees in Chanthaburi.
First insert: Mr. Supot Nimplao looking at his dead durian tree.
Second insert: Ms. Jaruwan Thongbai pointing to dead durian trees. All photos – Amarin TV
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