Minister visits Nan: New water projects for sustainable agriculture!

Minister visits Nan: New water projects for sustainable agriculture!

The visit of the Deputy Prime Minister

On October 20, 2025, R. Thammanat Prompao, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Agriculture and Cooperatives, traveled to Nan Province to see progress in water management. He was accompanied by a number of important personalities including Woraboj Petchnarach, deputy director of the Irrigation Department, as well as Director Nopadol Noipairoj and Sekasit Pochai. Michai Patiyut, director of the Nan Irrigation Project, was also present.

A key focus of the visit was to monitor the numerous water development projects being implemented in the region. In Nan Province, there are approximately 122,460 rai of irrigated land, where a total of 36 projects are being implemented in different phases. Particularly noteworthy is the “Nam Ki” project, which is considered an important part of the water development plans.

A future-oriented water infrastructure

The Nam Ki Dam, located in Ban Wang Phang, Moo 2, Tambon Phathong in Tha Wang Pha County, will be constructed as an earthfill dam with a storage capacity of over 52 million cubic meters. The water supply system is supplemented by a pipe and canal system with a total length of approximately 88 kilometers. Construction will run from 2024 to 2030. Once completed, the project will provide approximately 35,558 rai of irrigated land in 8 tambons and support over 6,300 households with water for agriculture and daily needs.

Another aim of this ambitious project is to alleviate flood problems in the low-lying areas of Tha Wang Pha. But the focus is not only on flood protection: the dam will also serve as a new breeding ground for freshwater fish, which will create additional income opportunities for the local population. The area will also be developed as a recreational area for tourism.

Climate change and water management in Thailand

The current developments in Nan are not separate from larger challenges affecting Thailand as a whole. The country has achieved a lot in social and economic areas over the last four decades, but rising temperatures and more frequent extreme weather events caused by climate change are increasingly having a negative impact on the economy.

In this context, the topic of water management becomes increasingly important. A current project aims to strengthen the resilience of farmers in the Yom and Nan river basins. This includes improving climate information, climate-resilient agricultural practices and better access to markets and finance. With the support of national and subnational authorities, coordinated planning and decision-making will be promoted to address the challenges.

It is estimated that agricultural losses could reach up to USD 94 billion between 2040 and 2049, highlighting the urgency of such projects. The ratification of adaptation strategies that prioritize flood protection and drought management is therefore seen as an important step. The approach of integrating modern technologies such as artificial intelligence and IoT shows that innovative solutions are the top priority in meeting the challenges of climate change.

Overall, this interplay of infrastructure development and strategic water management offers hope: if the right measures are taken, Nan Province could not only prosper as an agricultural center, but also as a pioneer in dealing with the issues of drought and flooding in Thailand.

For more information about these projects and their impact on the quality of life in the region, visit reports from Today, The Bangkok Insight and UNDP.