The permanent secretary of Agriculture has confirmed that the amount of agricultural product from the first crop of 2014 is within the normal range, even though as many as 44 provinces have been declared drought disaster zones.

The permanent secretary, Chavalit Chukhajorn said on Sunday that with the upcoming rainy season, the total amount of water stored in dams and reservoirs nationwide would be much increased and there would then be enough to irrigate the second and third crops of 2014. Therefore, there is no real concern about a water shortage during the year.

However, farmers could be faced with much lower prices for agricultural products, especially rice from the off season crop. Longan are also likely to fetch lower prices this year.

The ministry projects that there will be more than 500,000 tons of longan in the crop of 2014. Therefore, the ministry has been seeking solutions because the local market would not be able to absorb the entire amount. Solutions will be submitted to a national committee meeting in May, and a proposal will then be sent to the caretaker government for its decision.