Govt Plans Major Agriculture Reform

Govt plans major agriculture reform

BANGKOK: -- Thaiiland’s Agriculture and Cooperatives Ministry plans a major reform of the country’s farm sector to help stabilise the prices of agricultural produce and improve the standard of living for Thai farmers.

The ministry plans to draft a strategy to stabilise both the production and price of farm products, especially rice, chicken, shrimp, tapioca, and rubber, Khun Ying Sudarat Keyuraphan, told reporters.

The reform plans, which cover farm production, water and land use, have already been passed to Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, according to the minister.

Agricultural institutes and government agencies will train farmers to help them develop strategic approaches to agricultural production, she said.

Once the plan is approved in principle, a work plan will be developed.

The current surge in agricultural prices was largely due to the increased cost of oil, the minister said.

The ministry would solve the problem by finding ways to reduce the cost of production and develop new crops with higher yields, she added.

--TNA 2005-06-26