Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha has repeated his plea to farmers to delay planting of the main rice crop because of a water shortage.
"I do not want to force things but please help out by switching to crops that need little water, or by switching to aquaculture, livestock or alternative crops," Gen Prayut said on his weekly Returning Happiness to Thai People broadcast on Friday night.
The appeal may have come too late, however. Many farmers say they are determined to go ahead and plant rice because they have already bought their seed and other supplies for the season.
The Agriculture Ministry has said that there is only enough water in reservoirs to irrigate the 3.4 million rai of paddy fields already planted in the main rice bowl of the Chao Phraya River basin.
Farmers holding another 4 million rai in 22 provinces have been asked to delay planting until normal levels of rainfall return, expected around late July.
"This year, Thailand is facing a recurrence of drought," Gen Prayut said on his broadcast. "The causes may be climate change and deforestation. The latter has resulted in a diminished amount of raw water available, an amount that was low to start with.
"Today, we see how water in dams, canals and rivers is depleted. Farmers grew crops in quantity last year, resulting in continuously reduced raw water supplies. This has been exacerbated by the lowered amount of rainfall now.
"Let this be a lesson and let us turn this crisis into an opportunity. I must ask for cooperation in delaying the planting of in-season rice and in abstaining from the planting of off-season rice."
He also encouraged farmers to think of innovative ways to supplement their incomes.
"I have seen on television that frogs and turkeys are being raised for export. Livestock might be kept in rubber plantations and paddies might be converted to vegetable fields," he said.
"The government is considering support toward alternative farming such as raising crickets — these can be eaten as a source of protein. Earthworms could be raised to generate more income and for use in soil improvement. Much of our soil has deteriorated."
At the same time, the premier acknowledged that the authorities needed to do a better job of water management.
"The government does not deny any responsibility for the well-being of people and the task of finding water sources," he said.
"Some plans call for water to be drawn from the Salween River and from the Mekong," he said, though this would be quite costly.
He also noted a report from the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment that said only 10% of groundwater was being utilised and there was much more potential for its use.
Other sources, he said, might be available to replenish reserves in dams and then fed into the irrigation system.
"We will do our best, and we ask for a little patience," he said.