BANGKOK (NNT) - The Thai Feed Mill Association (TFMA) has urged the government to reconsider banning exports of maize and soybean meal. It argues that such a ban would help alleviate local animal feed shortages and price hikes stemming from the ongoing war in Ukraine.

 

TFMA President Pornslip Patchrintanakul made his case in a letter to the director-general of the Department of Internal Trade, the permanent secretary for the Ministry of Commerce, and Prime Minister Gen Prayut Chan-o-cha.

 

Pornsilp said Thailand still allows these crucial products to be exported despite rising local demand and the Kingdom’s dependence on their importation.

 

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According to Pornsilp, allowing the export of soybean meal contradicts an agreement between the administration and animal feed producers to prioritize local soybean meal suppliers.

 

The letter also urged the government to conduct inspections of intermediaries for local animal feed stocks instead of manufacturers. It explained that inspecting producers was redundant, as it is mandatory for manufacturers to file inventory reports with authorities every 10 days.

 

Data from the Customs Department showed maize exports in 2021 exceeded 93,600 metric tons, while combined export tonnage for November and December was 65,930 tons. Thailand also exported a total of 103,091 tons of soybean meal that year.

 

-- © Copyright NNT 2022-03-21

 

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Surely there is no absolute shortage just unwillingness to pay the market rate.

Perhaps  they want in reality for a subsidy or a price cap, security of income who can blame them? 

 

The stark truth worldwide is while mom and pop small holdings could sustain a family a century ago , if you your kids want a new car, laptop, phone, huge TVs a few pigs and chickens isn't enough to compete with horrid factory food mass production in CPland.

 

In some rich countries famers have gone up market to higher price organic foods or niche expensive fruits and flowers, vegetables, tubers , fungi for export.

 

While this may be the way forward the skills , training and investment isn't here yet, and small local market.

 

Western nations voters in real democracies, US excepted, are mainly content to tax the middle class to pay the under employed, unemployed or the unemployable due age, handicap or low skillset. The seriously rich always avoid tax everywhere.

 

The Thai middle class are following the US model, no free medicine, meagre security benefits  and weakest to the wall versus the success of Scandinavia and Germany where social cohesion has been achieved by income distribution and free health care paid or by all.

 

An ageing population in the villages will become an increasing problem, as the young migrate everywhere to the cities for work, excitement and "mingling". The fact the poor have a vote is a real issue in real democracies.

 

Edited March 22, 20224 yr by RubbaJohnny