Phichit province

Climate

Phichit province has a tropical savanna climate (Köppen climate classification category Aw). Winters are dry and warm. Temperatures rise until August. Monsoon season runs from April through October, with heavy rain. Climate statistics according to the Agromet station Phichit: maximum temperature is 39.4 °C (102.9 °F) in April and lowest temperature is 15.2 °C (59.4 °F) in January. The highest average temperature is 36.9 °C (98.4 °F) in March and the minimum average temperature is 19.9 °C (67.8 °F) in November. The average relative humidity is 74.6%. Annual rainfall is 1,309.5 millimetres (51.56 in). The number of rainy days was 120 days for a year.

Population

Population history of Phichit province is as follows:^[8][9]

Religion

There are total 482 Theravada Buddhist temples in the province, of which 478 Maha Nikai and 4 Dhammayut temples.^[10][11]

There are fourteen Christian churches and one Mosque.^[12]

Local government

As of 26 November 2019 there are:^[13] one Phichit Provincial Administration Organisation (ongkan borihan suan changwat) and 28 municipal (thesaban) areas in the province. Phichit, Taphan Hin and Bang Mun Nak have town (thesaban mueang) status. There are a further 25 subdistrict municipalities (thesaban tambon). The non-municipal areas are administered by 73 Subdistrict Administrative Organisations (SAO) (ongkan borihan suan tambon).

Higher education

There is one higher education institute in the province with 2,279 students:

Vocational education

• Total five vocational colleges with 4,305 students.

Secondary education

• Total 35 upper secondary schools with 10,546 students.
• Total 90 lower secondary schools with 17,137 students.

Primary education

• Total 184 primary schools with 31,258 pupils.

Government hospitals

There are twelve government hospitals in Phichit province, of which Mueang Phichit district has one general hospital:

• Phichit Hospital with 400 beds.

The other eleven districts have a community hospital:

Private hospitals

There are four private hospitals in Phichit province, all are in Mueang Phichit district:

• Chaiaroon Vechagarn Hospital with 108 beds
• Pitsanuvej Hospital Phichit with 90 beds
• Srisukho health Centre with 10 beds
• Thatsanavet Hospital with 10 beds

Health promoting hospitals

There are total 109 health-promoting hospitals in the province, of which: 17 in Mueang Phichit, 13 in Thaphan Hin, 12 in Bang Mun Nak, 10 in Pho Pratab Chang, 10 in Pho Thale, 8 in Thap Khlo, 7 in Sam Ngam, 7 in Vajirabarami, 7 in Wang Sai Phun, 6 in Bueng Na Rang, 6 in Dong Charoen, 6 in Sak Lek.^[15]

Clinics

Around 210 clinics are in Phichit province, of which 78 clinics (37%) in Mueang Phichit, 27 Taphan Hin, 24 Bang Mun Nak, 18 Pho Thale, 17 Pho Prathab Chang, 10 Dong Charoen, 8 Thap Khlo, 7 Sak Lek, 6 Sam Ngam, 6 Vajirabarami, 5 Bueng Na Rang and 4 Wang Sai Phun.^[16]

Economic output

In 2021, Phichit province had an economic output of 47.643 billion baht (US$1.489 billion). This amounts to per capita gross provincial product (GPP) of 93,950 baht (US$2,900).^[17] In 2023 the total workforce was 285,854 of which 281,648 persons were employed in economic activity. In agriculture and fishery 123,346 persons (43.8%) were employed and in the non-agricultural sector 158,302 persons (56.2%).^[18]

Agriculture

Agriculture in Phichit province, the biggest sector of the economy, generated 17.959 billion baht (US$561 million) or 37.7% of GPP with a workforce of 123,346 (43.8% of all employed persons).

Agricultural land use, 3,329 km² (1,285 sq mi) is 73.5% of total land of Phichit province 4,531 km² (1,749 sq mi). This is divided as follows: paddy land: 2,899 km² (1,119 sq mi) 64%, upland rice: 250 km² (97 sq mi) 5.5%, farmland: 131 km² (51 sq mi) 2.9%, orchard/perennial crop: 34 km² (13 sq mi) 0.8% and vegetable/ornamental plant: 15 km² (5.8 sq mi) 0.3^[19]

Production of the three main arable crops: rice 1,316,839 tonnes, sugarcane 814,381 tonnes and cassava 49,659 tonnes.

Production of the four main vegetable crops: watermelon 9,923 tonnes, aubergine 967 tonnes, yard long bean 526 tonnes and bird pepper 273 tonnes. Agricultural commodity produced in significant amount include: para rubber 309 tonnes. Further there are: pomelo 43,506 tonnes, lime 34,677 tonnes; banana 28,712 tonnes, mango 24,407 tonnes and tangerine 2,867 tonnes.

Animal husbandry

Livestock produced included: chickens 4,143,384, ducks 854,042, swines 42,656, beef cattle 17,425, goats 9,910, buffalos 8,930, sheep 1,299 and others 206,750.

Fisheries

Total catch from 10,077 freshwater aquaculture companies amounted to 121,380 tonnes.

Trade

Wholesale and retail trade; repair of motor vehicles and motorcycles, the second sector of the economy generated 6,911 billion baht (US$216 million) or 14.5% of GPP with 8,732 registered entities and a workforce of 56,288 (20%).

Manufacturing

The third sector of the economy generated 4,639 billion baht (US$145 million) or 9.7% of GPP with 3,802 registered entities and a workforce of 24,142 people (8.6%).

Construction

With 590 construction entities and a workforce of 11,756 people (4.2%) contributed 1,766 million baht (US$55.2 million) or 3.7% of GPP.

Transportation

Transportation with 10 companies and 4,086 people (1.4%) contributed 798 million baht (US$25 million) or 1.7% of GPP.

Accommodation and food service activities

2,561 registered hotels, restaurants and food service activities contributed 274 million baht (US$8.6 million) or 0.6 percent of GPP, with a workforce numbering 16,060 (5.7%).