The three steps are pumping water from sources to maintain levels in tap-water reservoirs – so far 32 million cubic metres has been pumped; digging groundwater wells; and dispatching 133 trucks to distribute water in local communities.

The 10 drought-hit districts are Kham Sakae Saeng, Khong, Bua Lai,

Kaeng Sanam Nang, Non Thai, Dan Khun Thot, Non Sung, Theparak, Phra Thongkham and Bua Yai. Water levels at three of the province’s five major dams are below 50-per-cent capacity. Lam Takong Dam is at 33 per cent capacity (96 million cubic metres), Lam Moon Bon at 30 per cent (40 million), and Lum Sae Dam 32 per cent (84 million). Lam Plai Mat Dam is faring little better, at 52 per cent capacity, or 46 million cubic metres.

Drought is also affecting the North, where many rice mills in Uttaradit province have temporarily shut down, as farmers can no longer grow crops, Uttaradit Rice Mills Association president Reungsak Tia-eiumdee said. Twelve large rice mills have been hit by a shortage of unhusked rice to feed their machines, he said.

The drought has forced many rice farmers to halt operations, while others have shifted to cultivating alternative crops. Mill operators have shuttered their businesses after being unable to pay production costs such as machinery maintenance, daily wages and long-term debts.

Uttaradit traditionally cultivates 600,000 rai of rainy-season rice and 400,000 rai of summer rice, yielding a total of at least 500,000 tonnes per year. But that figure shrank to 200,000 tonnes last year, which resulted in the temporary closure of seven mills, Reungsak said.

If this drought lasted until the rainy season, he added, Uttaradit would have only two privately run rice mills left operating. Reungsak warned that unless the government provided emergency aid in the form of low-interest loans or extension of loan repayments, they would permanently close.

Chalit Thanawat, whose family has operated Chok Thanawat Rice Mill in Tron district for 40 years, said that last year the mill was forced to cut workers’ hours by half because of a shortage of rice supplies in both growing seasons.