Agriculture
Agricultural management systems and technologies
Thailand’s Mekong water-diversion plan raises concerns
The Thai government’s statement in late July that it is considering bringing water from the Mekong, Moei and Salween rivers to farmland to nine of its provinces has raised major concerns. The water diversion has been described as a move to ‘extract blood from the Mekong’s ...
Chinese loan for Cambodia's rice sector on hold
A project to build 10 warehouses to store rice paddy using Chinese funding has hit a roadblock, as the Cambodian government has been unable to meet criteria set by the Chinese for the project, according to an official associated with the project. Keep reading ...
Thai locals worried about plans to divert water from Mekong
A network of Thais living along the Mekong River have voiced their concern about a plan to divert water from the river to special economic zones. “Careful studies must be conducted before such a plan is implemented,” said network representative Jintana Kaysornsombat, who described the plan as a ...
Lao farmers devastated by severe drought
A lack of rainfall and scorching heat is destroying the livelihoods of Lao farmers, who say their crops are dying amid an ongoing drought in the Southeast Asian region linked to the El Niño phenomenon. The drought since May has left those in Laos who rely on ...
Bangkok faces water use limits
Tough water conservation measures for state agencies and households in Bangkok and surrounding areas could be introduced to address the water scarcity crisis. The proposal comes amid criticism the government has forced farmers to bear the burden of the crisis by banning agricultural water use without substantial ...
Thai Government poised to launch water donation plan
The government plans to ask people to donate drinking water to drought-stricken residents, deputy government spokesman Sansern Kaewkamnerd says. The cabinet will discuss the donation campaign. Water distribution points will be set up under an initiative of His Majesty the King in drought-hit areas in various ...
Farmers defy ban, continue to pump water
Farmers in several drought-stricken provinces in the Chao Phraya River basin have spurned the government’s calls to halt pumping water for agricultural use. The move came as water discharges from four major dams in the Chao Phraya River basin are being gradually cut from 28 million cubic metres per ...
Farmers welcome long-overdue rain
Long-awaited rain fell over four drought-struck provinces overnight and during the day, reviving withering rice crops but only slightly raising hopes of the upcountry regions coming out of the crisis. While rice farmers in Surin, Maha Sarakham and Phayao were grateful for rain replenishing their crops, ...