Pua is divided into 12 sub-districts, which are further subdivided into 107 administrative villages.
No.
Name
Thai
Villages
Pop.
1.
Pua
ปัว
8
7,302
2.
Ngaeng
แงง
7
4,843
3.
Sathan
สถาน
13
6,074
4.
Sila Laeng
ศิลาแลง
8
3,968
5.
Sila Phet
ศิลาเพชร
10
4,567
6.
Uan
อวน
11
4,990
9.
Chai Watthana
ไชยวัฒนา
8
4,232
10.
Chedi Chai
เจดีย์ชัย
9
6,908
11.
Phu Kha
ภูคา
14
4,902
12.
Sakat
สกาด
4
2,903
13.
Pa Klang
ป่ากลาง
7
8,300
14.
Wora Nakhon
วรนคร
8
5,824
Missing numbers belong to tambon which are now part of Bo Kluea District.
Local administration
There are two sub-district municipalities in the district:
Pua consisting of sub-district Pua and parts of the sub-districts Sathan, Chai Watthana, Wora Nakhon.
Sila Laeng consisting of sub-district Sila Laeng.
There are 10 sub-district administrative organizations in the district:
Ngaeng consisting of sub-district Ngaeng.
Sathan consisting of parts of sub-district Sathan.
Sila Phet consisting of sub-district Sila Phet.
Uan consisting of sub-district Uan.
Chai Watthana consisting of parts of sub-district Chai Watthana.
Chedi Chai consisting of sub-district Chedi Chai.
Phu Kha consisting of sub-district Phu Kha.
Sakat consisting of sub-district Sakat.
Pa Klang consisting of sub-district Pa Klang.
Wora Nakhon consisting of parts of sub-district Wora Nakhon.
Economy
Pua District is heavily agricultural. It is a significant maize-growing area. Farmer's zeal to clear more land for maizecultivation has led to deforestation of vast tracts of hillsides, resulting in "bald mountains". A by-product of the land clearing is smoke from field burning, contributing to the northern region's significant air pollution. Charoen Pokphand Group, Thailand's largest agro-industrial and food conglomerate, and the leading purchaser of Pua District maize, in March 2016announced an "agricultural social enterprise" to steer district villagers away from maize farming. CP Group has incurred criticism for the way it purchases maize harvests for animal feed from farmers in Nan and other provinces. Suphachai Chearavanont, vice-chairman of CP Group, said that corn planters will be encouraged to grow cash crops such as coffee, which requires less farmland and makes a higher profit than maize. Not only will this address the bald-mountain problem, he said, but it will also help reduce the spring haze in the north which is caused by slash-and-burn practices to prepare land for the next maize season. Mr Suphachai said crops like coffee take about three-and-a-half years to show a yield, but stated that CP Group would stand by farmers and provide assistance in the meantime.
