The rainy season will begin early this year as a low pressure system causes higher rainfall this month, especially in lowland areas and coastal regions, according to a statement released yesterday by the Ministry of Water Resources and Meteorology.

A low pressure system that has developed over the South China Sea will cause higher rainfall in the Kingdom, hastening the start of the rainy season to April.

Yang Saing Koma, president of  the Centre for the Study of Agriculture and Development, said in the statement that it was important for farmers to prepare their rice plantations.

Tin Ponlok, climate change project coordinator at the Ministry of Environment, said yesterday that the early rainy season could be natural.

“I do not exactly know about this information, but I think that it is not caused by climate change,” he said.

Hong Narith, cabinet chief at the Ministry of Agriculture said that the general department of agriculture would discuss the issue at the Ministry’s annual congress on April 5.