Isan duck farmers fear a drought
NAKHON RATCHASIMA - Duck farmers have moved hundreds of thousands of their birds to low-lying areas of Lam Phra Ploeng dam in Nakhon Ratchasima's Pak Thong Chai district to find new water supplies.
- Published: 28/01/2013 at 09:19 AM
- Newspaper section: breakingnews
The Regional Irrigation Office 8 in the province earlier asked authorities at several dams not to release water so that water could be conserved for farmers.
Operators of the Lam Moon Bon, Lam Takhong, Lam Praimat, and Lam Sae dams have been told to restrict water, which is affecting farms downstream.
The dams are at 40% of their capacity on average.
Farmer Surasak Ngobkhonburi, 32, said he took about 5,000 ducks from the Lam Sae dam area in Khon Buri district of Nakhon Ratchasima to an area downstream of the Lam Phra Ploeng dam.
He said the dam is still releasing water to its low-lying areas. It is the only source of water left in the province.
The dam is at 63% capacity, or 69 million cubic metres.
Meanwhile, authorities have declared disaster zones in 26 provinces severely affected by the drought, the Disaster Prevention and Mitigation Department said.
Nakhon Ratchasima is among the hardest-hit areas. Other badly affected provinces include Buri Ram, Chaiyaphum, Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai and Phayao.
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- Writer: Post reporters