Droughts in Thailand

Outline

Causes of droughts in Thailand Effects of droughts in Thailand Strategies to reduce effects of droughts in Thailand

What are droughts?

Drought, a natural phenomenon, causing water deficiencies has both directly and indirectly serious effect on human life. A period of abnormally dry weather sufficiently prolonged for the lack of water to cause serious hydrologic imbalance in the affected area In particular, the effects of prolonged drought are devastating in the countries where a majority of the population is dependent on agriculture.

Causes of droughts in Thailand

Global warming Worst El Nino phenomenon encountered in the past 10 years The falling level of the Mekong River
Climate change and El Nino

are variously being blamed for the unusually hot weather and lack of rainfall, which began with an early end to last years tropical rainy season.

Asia Times Online

Effects of droughts in Thailand

Affected various provinces in the North, Northeast, East, South and central regions of Thailand Scorched 1,726,737 rai of farmland Affected 6 million people in 21,888 villages Affected at a individual level Water is now rationed and available for around three hours each day for personal consumption Seriously affecting coconut production, hence threatening Thailands status of being the worlds second largest exporter of coconut products

Effects of Drought in Thailand

Rice production in Thailand, the largest exporter of the grain, may drop to the lowest in eight years as drought and the spread of plant hoppers damage crops.
Bloomberg Affecting rice production http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jfQ7v_8xThQ

Strategies to reduce effects of droughts in Thailand

With Oxfam's support, families across the area built water storing ponds and wells and installed drainage systems between May 2008 and March 2009. And many farmers, designed their own ingenious solutions: using old advertising billboards, Some even constructed their own make-shift wind turbine to pump water from a nearby well.

Strategies to reduce effects of droughts in Thailand

Due of the uncertain impact of climate change on rice production, many introduced new crops. Where their fields were previously used only to cultivate rice, fruit and vegetables now grow. This meant that when drought struck again in late 2008, they were able to produce enough food to feed their family. In fact, out of the 57 households that took part in the program, 14 produced a surplus of food to sell at market.

Strategies to reduce effects of droughts in Thailand

By 2015, an estimated 375 million people per year will be affected by climate change-related disasters. World leaders have already committed to establishing a new Climate Fund -- a way of delivering cash to help poor communities avoid the worst effects of global warming.
Through charging pollution-heavy industries, such as shipping and aviation, for the right to pollute, or by implementing a Robin Hood Tax on the banking sector, money could be raised without squeezing extra money from tax payers.

Strategies to reduce effects of droughts in Thailand

Cloud seeding http://www.dailymotion.com/video/xehg1u_kingsrainmakers-take-to-the-skies_news

References

http://www.mrcmekong.org/download/Papers/d mp-paper-seawfoct071.pdf http://www.oxfam.org/en/campaigns/thailandfinding-innovative-solutions-uncertain-impactclimate-change http://www.johomaps.com/as/asia2map.jpga http://www.thailandblogs.com/2010/07/10/drought-in-thailand-2010/ Google Images