On Monday, July 6, 2026, Mr. Krongsak Songraksa, Deputy Secretary General of the Office of Agricultural Economics, along with Mrs. Sujaree Picha, Director of the Regional Office of Agricultural Economics 1, and relevant officials, participated in an official inspection visit led by Mr. Suriya Juangroongruangkit, Minister of Agriculture and Cooperatives. The delegation also included Mr. Julapun Amornvivat, Minister of Labour, and Miss Piyarat Tiyapairat, Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Cooperatives, in Chiang Rai Province.
At 2:30 p.m., the delegation visited the Siriwat Building in Pa Ngae Subdistrict, Pa Daet District, Chiang Rai Province, to monitor water management and the progress of the Ban Rong Pao floodgate construction project, as well as to listen to the concerns of local farmers. The Minister of Agriculture and Cooperatives stated that the government highly prioritizes field visits, as effective policies must originate from listening to the people’s problems and addressing them with sincere, concrete actions. The Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives is prepared to fully support farmers in various aspects, including water management, production cost reduction, yield enhancement, product quality improvement, and market opportunity creation, in order to ensure stable incomes and a better quality of life for farmers. Concurrently, the Ministry of Labour will assist in enhancing occupational skills and labor security, ensuring that the improvement of the public’s quality of life progresses simultaneously. Subsequently.
At 3:30 p.m., the Minister of Agriculture and Cooperatives and the delegation traveled to the Mueang Phan Subdistrict Municipality Auditorium in Mueang Phan District, Chiang Rai Province, to further monitor water management and listen to local farmers’ concerns. The farmers proposed that the Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives support the development of water resources and irrigation systems in the area to resolve water scarcity during the dry season and alleviate the impacts of flooding during the rainy season. This would be achieved through key initiatives, namely the Ban Mae Hat floodgate construction project complete with a water distribution system, and the 3La-RMC lateral canal distribution system improvement project in San Klang Subdistrict—both of which have already been incorporated into the Royal Irrigation Department’s medium-term plan. Additionally, the proposal included the construction of a water delivery canal and a weir in Than Tawan Subdistrict to optimize water retention and distribution, thereby preventing recurrent flooding in the area.
Mr. Suriya further noted that, having acknowledged the problems and needs of the public, he has instructed all relevant agencies to expedite water management and royal rainmaking operations. The Royal Irrigation Department has been assigned to accelerate water resource development projects, encompassing floodgates and distribution systems, alongside the dredging and removal of waterway obstructions. This aims to enhance water management efficiency, mitigate flood and drought issues, and ensure water security for both agricultural and domestic use. Furthermore, the Minister directed the Department of Royal Rainmaking and Agricultural Aviation to closely monitor weather conditions and continuously conduct proactive operations to increase primary water reserves, alleviate droughts, and mitigate the adverse effects of wildfires, smog, and PM2.5. He also urged all agencies to integrate their operations and accelerate project implementation so that the public may benefit as expeditiously as possible.
