Rapid Assessment for Resilient Recovery and ... - GFDRR

Losses
Crops
The flood severely affected crops in all areas that were flooded. According to the assessment
findings 21 of the 26 assessed provinces, huge losses were incurred to major
agriculture crops, such as wet season rice, sweet corn, vegetables, flowers such as
orchids and marigolds, and fruits including bananas, guava and mangoes. Other affected
crops include sugar cane, maize, cassava, coconut, and other fruit trees. Wet season rice
– the main seasonal crop in the Chao
Phraya River Basin, normally planted
in August and harvested in November/
December – was the most affected crop.
Some medium-sized farmers (about 50
rai) reportedly sold some premature rice 22
(up to 30 percent) that had not flowered
properly before flooding started 23 in
order to generate some operational
cash. However, small farmers (about
10–20 rai) lost most of their rice crops.
Given the length of time the crops have
been under water – and are projected
to be under water after the assessment – it is very unlikely that any rice crops will be
salvaged. Toward the end of the assessment some farmers had restarted farming in fields
from which the water could be pumped, but the percentage of such land was low compared
to the overall area of damaged rice crops.
The assessment team estimates 24
about THB 27.5 billion. 25
total losses to the crop sub-sector in 2011 accounts for
Livestock
The communities were informed in advance about the flood through different media sources.
Thanks to the timely early warning the farmers were able to move their large animals, such
as cattle and pigs to higher ground, which reduced losses for these farmers. Nevertheless,
a portion of the animal flock was lost in all areas due to either drowning or stress. Many
households reported selling a few heads of livestock after the floods to generate cash,
though at a significantly lower price than normal. In addition to their livestock, farmers
reported losing their feedstock and vaccines. Cows producing milk also produced less milk
due to high stress.
21 Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives (MOAC), Office of Agriculture Economics (OAE), Bank for Agriculture and
Agricultural Cooperatives (BAAC), Satellite Imageries, direct observation and interaction with farmers during the
field visit, discussion with village heads, and government officials, etc.
22 Premature rice produce is used for animal feed production.
23 From first week of September.
24 See assumptions in Annex 3
25 It is important to note here that the estimate of loss carried out by the agriculture sector team is lower than the
loss and damage reported by the farmers in 67 provinces, which totaled THB 28,463 million. This figure,
as reported by the MOAC also includes the loss of production and damage to permanent trees.
THAI FLOOD 2011 RAPID ASSESSMENT FOR RESILIENT RECOVERY AND RECONSTRUCTION PLANNING
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