PM expresses concerns over agricultural issues

 

BANGKOK, 24 October 2017 (NNT) – Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha expressed his concerns over agricultural issues, calling on farmers to adjust their methods to minimize costs and maximize yields. 

The premier said that agricultural sector has been facing varied problems, especially the quality of the life of the farmers, the majority of the Thai population, and that proper uses of farmland and the diversification of plants and livestock are needed to help them gain more incomes according to the New Agriculture Principle of His Majesty the late King Bhumibol Adulyadej. 

"Many factors contribute to the increases in products' prices, most notably by maximizing their values and minimizing their costs. Farmers should change their farming methods by using quality seedlings and organic methods with the use of innovation and technology, such as the farming of organic rice, rubber processing, or the planting of more palm oil, while the operating costs can be cut with respect to the unnecessary use of chemical fertilizers, and efficient use of water. 

"The farmers should come together as groups to improve their leverage in negotiations to prevent being force to cut down prices. The government is working to provide more marketing opportunities to farmers such as health conscious consumers or new adopters of new products, both domestically and internationally, to allow direct sales to these potential buyers." 

He said changing to farming methods is the only way to sustainably solve agricultural issues as the help in forms of pricing aid will not ultimately do away with the issues that involve oversupplying from excessive farming of the same kind of plant, stressing farmers and the government should cooperate to solve the issue. 

"The government is willing to provide support and send out officials to provide guidance in order to work together. Farmers are encouraged to talk with farming officials closest to them or visit one of 880 agriculture learning centers across the country to learn more about how to change their farming practices to meet with the actual consumers' demand, increasing their income, and improving the livelihood of themselves and their family."

 

-- nnt 2017-10-24

28 minutes ago, webfact said:

"The government is willing to provide support and send out officials to provide guidance in order to work together.

Was that get off your ass and work as we need the money you provide Do It Now I need more arms.

For many generation now, Thai farmers knew and heavily relied of a government's

bailouts and freebies when ever they encounter hardship which is almost

all the time, not even Yingluck who paid them hugely inflated prices for their

rice crops and they're still ' poor ' and as it seems now, so shall they remain

for decades to come.....

Fair enough, after all, a large number of those engaged in agriculture would probably like to express concern over "Prayut" issues...

The PM words are not in line with the sufficiency economy as he likes to suggest. Asking farmers to maximise profits and come together to achieve more leverage is entirely what encourages them to beg for adjustment of market prices and government assistance (rubber/ rice subsidies). 

 

At a time when floods are widespread  (only in lieu of a drought) the focus should not be on diversification but on aid. Education through these 880 learning centers has obviously not been effective and those centers need a wake up call.

2 hours ago, webfact said:

minimize costs and maximize yields. 

Great words of wisdom there... 

Follow that advice, and farmers'll be rolling in money soon. 

From the man 'maximizing arms purchases'

Khun Prayuth Chan O Cha is doing the correct thing here, he has prioritized the issue of flooding, he has maintained economic development through the China-Thai HSRP  ( high speed rail project )  also the Northern Thailand highway expansion and many other projects.

He is assisting the farmers wherever necessary to ensure there future and economic viability through diversification and sustainable harvest practices and not some fraudulent rice scheme.  Good job  !!

Edited October 24, 20178 yr by steven100

Where are the specifics ?  Pick something !   Show where farmers have diversified and come out ahead.  The mango farmers started a collective making dried mango with damaged or left over fruit.  That is the only thing I have heard that seems positive.  It is always a lot of hot air with no specifics.

1 hour ago, steven100 said:

 

Edited October 24, 20178 yr by rtco
Deleted

Subtly moving the farmers into collectives, and then the collectives to be bought by corporations.  Watch.....

Changing the crops farmers grow sounds a good idea, but is there a market for these different crops ?  Our local markets seem full of fruits and veg, so what can small farms diversify to ?      There is a hard reality coming to Thailand, small farms cannot make a profit.  Europe went through that pain during the industrial revolution, but at least there were jobs in the new factories and mills. Unfortunately Thailand has already exhausted that option.

"The government is willing to provide support and send out officials to provide guidance in order to work together."

 

Maybe Reagan got it right?:

 

 

"The farmers should come together as groups..."

 

Be careful what you wish for.

The family do not talk of politics normally but the other day the gf said no one liked the PM now as his government is responsible for the poor prices that the farmers are getting. Nothing to do with oversupply and the middle man's cut.

9 hours ago, ezzra said:

For many generation now, Thai farmers knew and heavily relied of a government's

bailouts and freebies when ever they encounter hardship which is almost

all the time, not even Yingluck who paid them hugely inflated prices for their

rice crops and they're still ' poor ' and as it seems now, so shall they remain

for decades to come.....

What countries farmers don't get government bailouts?

Talk is cheap. Let's see a bold agriculture reform and policies. Maybe start with reducing the military budget and hold back more hardware procurement and spend on meaningful agriculture policies.  

9 hours ago, djayz said:

Great words of wisdom there... 

Follow that advice, and farmers'll be rolling in money soon. 

Maximizing convinced me ........................................

11 hours ago, yellowboat said:

Where are the specifics ?  Pick something !   Show where farmers have diversified and come out ahead.  The mango farmers started a collective making dried mango with damaged or left over fruit.  That is the only thing I have heard that seems positive.  It is always a lot of hot air with no specifics.

Indeed. The Missus ca'nt stand the man. Of all the bullshit that comes out of his mouth, the crap he spouts about farmers and farming (he knows NOTHING about the subject, NOTHING), is the stuff that really gets her riled. I'm talking footwear being thrown at the tv screen....

13 hours ago, steven100 said:

Khun Prayuth Chan O Cha is doing the correct thing here, he has prioritized the issue of flooding, he has maintained economic development through the China-Thai HSRP  ( high speed rail project )  also the Northern Thailand highway expansion and many other projects.

He is assisting the farmers wherever necessary to ensure there future and economic viability through diversification and sustainable harvest practices and not some fraudulent rice scheme.  Good job  !!

 

Steven he is saying the level of Bull is only at 50% but needs to be much higher, so you need to re-write this and catch up with his requirements.

6 hours ago, thaiguzzi said:

Indeed. The Missus ca'nt stand the man. Of all the bullshit that comes out of his mouth, the crap he spouts about farmers and farming (he knows NOTHING about the subject, NOTHING), is the stuff that really gets her riled. I'm talking footwear being thrown at the tv screen....

please ask the missus if she would like a couple of Khun Prayuth pictures for the hallway, I can send some over if you'd like.