In Nakhon Sawan, which is badly hit by drought every year despite having many rivers passing through it, the “Bung Platu Model” learning centre for agricultural product promotion in Banphot Phisai district, would be highlighted to the premier as a means to tackle drought.

The centre, set up in collaboration with locals to experiment on less-water-dependent crops, found that the most effective and value-for-money choice was green beans. This has led to many villagers opting for green beans instead of rice.

Almost 90,000 rai in the district is devoted to green beans, which is mainly watered by morning dew and can be harvested in 80 days. Green beans can be sold for Bt6,000-Bt7,000 per tonne – about the same price of unhusked rice. Each day, many farmers came to learn farming tricks from the different demonstration vegetable patches, such as aubergine and other vegetables.

Nakhon Sawan governor Thanakhom Jongjira said Prime Minister General Prayut Chan-o-cha would visit Tambon Bung Platu to follow up on the progress on the implementation of 25 activities under the eight Cabinet-approved measures to aid drought-hit farmers.

The measures include the promotion of knowledge and support of production factors to reduce household spending; extension of farmers’ debt-repayment periods; creating jobs for affected farmers; projects to relieve the effect of drought as per the needs of each community; increasing efficiency in water usage; increasing the volume of water by dredging natural water sources, artificial rain-making and development of underground water for agriculture.

At the agricultural centre, Prayut will take an “E-Taek” trailer while visiting a demonstration rice field and green bean patches, meet the locals and plant a pomelo tree there before joining a public-private committee meeting at Chao Phraya University. The province aims to present possible solutions including the improvement of “monkey cheek” water-retention areas to boost water containing ability, the building of flood-prevention dams along some parts of Chao Phraya River and the state agencies’ integration in making a complete drought prevention and mitigation plan, which would include promotion of agricultural products, according to Thanakhom.

Bung Platu farmer Pichai Sotha said he had shifted from rice to growing beans, cucumber and other plants as it earns him Bt200-Bt300 a day. Growing green beans alone earned his family Bt30,000 per year and his plot also became a model for other farmers.

Meanwhile, Chai Nat governor Khanit Eiumrahong said Nong Mamong district would be at the front and centre as 400-rai of land was donated to the authorities for a Bt49-million pond digging project since last October. Some 149 two-rai plots were also donated in four sub-districts to be used for small-sized monkey cheeks to contain water for farming and general usage.

District chief Apichat Srimoung said the big ponds and other water-retention spots helped cover the district’s annual demand of 200-million-cubic-metres. Some 2,000 residents will welcome the premier today, he said.

Farmer Boonrod Jupia, 45, whose rice field is located near the 400-rai pond said he hoped there would be a better supply of water for farming once the pond was full.