A number of provinces in Thailand have been hit by an early, severe drought, which is causing troubles for several farming areas.

Sukhothai province, which has been experiencing a decreasing amount of water in the Yom River, has declared four of its districts drought-hit zones. The dry season is also affecting off-season cultivation in downstream areas.

In Tak’s Mae Sot district, the water level in the Moei River has been dropping steadily, exposing sandbars at the bottom of the river, making goods delivery between Thailand and Myanmar difficult.

In Ayutthaya province, authorities are speeding up distributing water for agricultural use, as over 400 rai of rice farms are in desperate need of water.

Meanwhile, Nakhon Ratchasima has ordered its local offices to set up relief centers in areas battered by dry weather condition. Despite the drought, the provincial governor is confident that the province will be able to cope with this year’s drought, thanks to its excellent water management system.-VNA