Drought Impact on Rice Production and Farmers’ Adaptation Strategies in Northeast Thailand

抄録

Drought is an important constraint to rice production in Thailand especially the northeastern part, as a result of the erratic distribution of rainfall. The objectives of this research were to study rainfall characteristics in northeast Thailand, assess the impact of drought on rice production in 2012 and assess adaptation to strategies of farmers relative to drought. Rainfall data over the 10 year period (2001-2011) and the drought year (2012) of northeast Thailand, as well as selected site study in Nakhonratsima and Kalasin provinces were also investigated. Mean annual rainfall recorded in 2012 was only 966 mm in Nakhonratsima which declined by 239 mm, compared to the mean annual rainfall 1204 mm in the time period during 2001-2011. Similarly, mean annual rainfall recorded in 2012 was 1133 mm in Kalasin which declined 375 mm, compared to mean annual rainfall 1508 mm in the time period between 2001-2011. The crop cutting study were done in the farmer's fields to obtain rice yield and the yield components found that the actual yield loss due to drought was 59-68% in Nakhonratsima and 55-65% in Kalasin, respectively compared with the attainable yield. Farmer's coping adaptation strategies included crop diversification (short-term adaptation options), change of land use pattern (long-term adaptation options) and built on farm pond in the paddy fields.