Its the traditional Thai feudal way, straight out of the handbook Keep them poor and present yourself as a benevolent kindly father like figure by very publicly offering the occasional handouts, Do they still give them a few free blankets per village in the cool season ?
Same with the rice "industry" , controlled by a handful of very influential Chinese-thai families, who are making billions off the back of it the whole system is based on paying the farmers the absolutely lowest possible price they can get away, coupled with ridiculously complicated incentive systems of subsidies, quotas and loans, all widely abused and designed primarily to ensure even more money finds its way into the coffers of the elite. Yet all presented as aid and assistance offered by a caring patriarch.
The fact is it certainly seems to work, as its been like this for a very long time