BANGKOK, THAILAND – An invisible enemy is approaching the country: Super El Niño! The Ministry of Agriculture sounded the alarm and presented a tough emergency plan. Crops, water, and livelihoods are at stake.
Reservoirs: Water only for households
Minister Suriya Juangroongruangkit made clear on Monday that reservoirs would be strictly managed. Every drop counts.
The Royal Irrigation Department must prioritize households. Fields will receive only allocated rations through canals until harvest.
Replenishment: Cloud seeders roll out
Mobile teams from the Royal Cloud-Seeding Division stand ready. They are to deliberately seed clouds and refill empty reservoirs.
Whenever the weather cooperates, the aircraft will take off. Their goal: moisture for forests, farmland, and desperate farmers.
Adaptation: Farmers must rethink now
The government is pushing farmers toward a radical change of course. Short-cycle plants with low water needs and high market value are in demand.
Only this way can the risk of total crop failure during long dry periods be cushioned. Time is short.
Monitoring: Early warning system for villages
A special staff led by Permanent Secretary Winaroj Subsongsook will closely track El Niño. Nationwide campaigns aim to warn farmers in time.
The Disaster Center for Agricultural Surveillance sends alert messages directly to endangered communities. Livestock can thus be brought to safety.
18.6% less rain – what this means for Thailand
Climate experts already see first signs of El Niño from May onward. By the end of the year, the danger grows dramatically.
Rainfall in 2026 is expected to drop by nearly one-fifth. Through the Pirunraj app, farmers now get all help from a single source.
Who will the drought really hit?
Behind every number stands a farmer worrying about his land. These plans are more than strategy – they are a race against the ruin of ordinary families.