Agriculture sector needs reforms, not short-term populism of political parties

[webfact]

 

The agriculture sector has always held an important place in Thailand, even though the country’s agricultural output accounts for less than 10 percent of gross domestic product (GDP).

 

The sector’s importance lies in the fact that it employed 12.2 million people, representing about 30 percent of the country’s labour force as of the fourth quarter of last year.

 

Though the sector has a long history of being wooed by political parties with populist policies to win votes, it has been plagued with multiple problems. For instance, the average age of labourers is 55 and farmers have low incomes compared with workers in the manufacturing and services sectors. These factors have long provided the justification for populist policies.

 

Pursuing short-term gains

 

As the country heads towards a general election in May, political parties are launching campaigns that promise short-term benefits instead of what’s good for the long term.

 

Full story: https://www.thaipbsworld.com/agriculture-sector-needs-reforms-not-short-term-populism-of-political-parties/

 

-- © Copyright Thai PBS 2023-04-29

 

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[hotchilli]

4 hours ago, webfact said:

The sector’s importance lies in the fact that it employed 12.2 million people, representing about 30 percent of the country’s labour force as of the fourth quarter of last year.

They need to keep these farmers employed, so they subsidise where they can.

Spending the money to mechanise the industry and make it more cost effective would see mass unemployment which would cost more in the long run.

[zzaa09]

How about a unique concept - practicing a free, open and independent market.......without government intervention or regulation. 

[bkk_bwana]

4 hours ago, hotchilli said:

They need to keep these farmers employed, so they subsidise where they can.

Spending the money to mechanise the industry and make it more cost effective would see mass unemployment which would cost more in the long run.

They are going to have to do something. Thailand is becoming a super-aged society by 2029. There will not be enough people to do the work anyway.

[djayz]

The sector should have been modernized years ago. Yes, many people will lose their jobs, but they need to be retrained and shown how to be more valuable to the economy/earn more for themselves and their families.