Development of water sources for cultivation or irrigation is important and beneficial for the majority of the country’s population in that it enables them to produce crops all the year round. At present, most of the cultivated land in every region of the country is outside irrigated areas. They rely mainly on rainwater and water from natural sources. As a result, crop production has to suffer from irregular water supply and fluctuations of rainfall which cannot serve the needs of the crops. His Majesty the King attaches priority to the projects concerning the development of water sources. His Majesty recognizes the importance of the value of water and considers it to be “life” as appeared in his following speech delivered at Chitralada Villa on March 17, 1986:
“…The importance is we must have water to drink, use and cultivate because life is here. If there is water, we can survive. If there is no electricity, we also can survive. But if there is electricity but no water, we cannot survive…”