CHIANG RAI – On July 6, 2026, Agriculture and Cooperatives Minister Suriya Juangroongruangkit visited Chiang Rai with Labor Minister Jullapan Amornvivat and Deputy Agriculture and Cooperatives Minister Piyarat Tiyapirach for an on-site inspection at Siriwat Building in Pa Ngae Subdistrict, Pa Daet District. Chiang Rai Governor Chucheep Pongchai, along with local officials, community leaders, and residents, welcomed the delegation and presented the main problems facing the area, especially in agriculture and labor.
Key Takeaways:
- The main focus is the Rong Pao water gate project and its irrigation system.
- The project is meant to reduce both flooding and drought in several Chiang Rai communities.
- The Agriculture and Labor ministries are also coordinating on water management, cloud seeding, and job skills support.
The visit centered on progress for the Rong Pao water gate project and the related water delivery network. The plan is meant to help people in Pa Ngae and nearby areas, including Rong Chang, Si Pho Ngoen, San Makha, and Doi Lan in Mueang Chiang Rai District. These communities have dealt with water problems for years.
The old Rong Pao weir, built in 2001, has deteriorated badly, so water leaks out and cannot be stored well. At the same time, the Mae Phung stream is shallow and winding. During the rainy season, it cannot drain fast enough, so farmland floods almost every year.
San Makha Subdistrict Mayor also asked for more work, including dredging the Mae Phung stream along its full length, building a gate-style water barrier, and installing a solar-powered pumping station to improve water distribution.
Joint Work to Move the Project Forward
Suriya gave three immediate instructions. First, he told the Royal Irrigation Department to speed up the Rong Pao water gate project and the 34,000-meter water delivery system. The project is expected to strengthen water security for more than 18,700 rai of farmland and support household water use as well. He also ordered faster dredging work to improve drainage during the rainy season and water storage during the dry season.
Second, he assigned the Royal Rainmaking and Agricultural Aviation Department to monitor weather conditions and carry out rainmaking operations ahead of demand. That work is meant to add water to reservoirs, ease drought conditions, and help reduce forest fires, haze, and PM 2.5 dust in the area.
Third, he told all agencies to work together in a clear and coordinated way so the project can move ahead without delay and residents can benefit as soon as possible. The Labor Ministry will also help with job skills training and labor security, which will support long-term income stability for farmers in Chiang Rai.
