Thailand Orchid Farms

"Orchid farms face disaster from floods...
Floods could cause a ''catastrophe'' for orchid farms in the central plains, which could lose rare breeds in damage estimated at 300 million baht. Farmers are struggling to protect their orchids against floods...said Manit Yamprayoon, a member of the Thai Orchid Farmers Association.The group represents orchid farmers in Nakhon Pathom, Ayutthaya and Pathum Thani provinces, the country's major orchid-growing areas.These provinces have been badly hit by floods since August. Some areas, especially in Ayutthaya, were also used to hold water diverted from the Chao Phraya river to break what would have been a powerful flow to Bangkok.The association's vice-chairman, Tongchaipat Deesawat, says the government failed to give farmers correct information on flood levels, and some farmers failed to build dykes high enough to protect their farms as a result....''The government should not take care only of Bangkok or economic zones,'' the group said. It has asked a lawyer to lodge a complaint with the Royal Irrigation Department, which diverted water to their farms, and vowed to sue the department if it fails to act.The Agriculture and Cooperatives Ministry... promised to give farmers fair compensation....Meanwhile, department chief Samart Chokkhanapitark said he expected that water in major rivers would return to normal levels before Nov 15, as the rate of flow of the Chao Phraya river was continuing to fall. The river is a source of tributary rivers in the central plains.However, water levels in Bangkok continued to rise."article URL : http://www.bangkokpost.com/News/10Nov2006_news16.php
Steve Peralta
1888Orchids.com
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