The PM said large agricultural areas of the country, hit hard by the drought, were still outside the irrigated areas, while water had become more and more scarce because of losses from watersheds and other sources.

However, he said that as Thailand has an agricultural-based economy, providing water was still among the government’s policy priorities so that farmers can produce agricultural products to make a living.

Prayut said the government was looking for more effective water-management methods, and long-term water planning for the country was essential. He said the plan needed to be overhauled and become more integrated.

Agricultural practices, he said, may also need to be readjusted depending on water availability in these areas. This is not about limiting water, but regulating water supply, he said. Unless adjustments are made, farmers could plunge into indebtedness, which is also the country’s problem as a whole.

Besides farm-practice adjustments, the government would try to find more water sources and better distribution to feed the farm sector. This plan is part of the five-year period of transition afte the next election.

The government is also seeking more cooperation with neighbouring states in order to get more water from outside. China, for instance, is willing to share water from the Mekong with Thailand because of the close relationship between the two countries, he said.

The prime minister called for more understanding and support between the government and the private sector, and said his Pracha Rath initative aimed to help solve problems at the grass-roots level. He urged people not to obstruct development or the country would remain dependent on others and would never be able to stand on its own feet.