BANGKOK (NNT) – The Office of National Water Resources has explained water fee collection from farmers, as mandated by the Water Resources Act, saying this fee will only apply to the second crop cycle or beyond, to discourage excessive water use.
The Office of National Water Resources (ONWR) Secretary General Somkiat Prajamwong has clarified agricultural water fee imposition, as mandated in the Water Resources Act BE 2561, that no fees will be collected for water used for general consumption or the first farming cycle of the year, regardless of volume. However, the fees will be applied for water used beyond the first farming cycle of each year, including animal farming.
Mr. Somkiat said the intention of this law is to encourage users to save water, and make a comprehensive plan for its use.
During the dry season however, the fees will be applied to rice farmers who farm on the land over 10.56 hectares, as water availability is more scarce during this time.
The ONWR Secretary General said this amount of farmland has been calculated from the overall income, minus costs, which shows a household of farmers can survive from the money they receive from rice harvested on 10.56 hectares.
He said this new regulation will help reshape the practice and awareness of Thai farmers on how they can use water more appropriately during the dry season.
