Thai Govt's Agricultural Price-Pledging Policy Has Failed

[Ricardo]

The Commerce Minister stated that the program has effectively raised local rice price to 11,000 baht per ton, while the average global rice price now stands at 678 US dollars per ton, which is already higher than last year’s price of 500 dollars a ton.

If the local rice price is 11,000B per ton, and the government was paying 15,000B/ton (for normal rice) or 20,000B/ton (for Hom Mali rice), I wonder what happened to the other 4,000B per ton ?

[Buchholz]

The Commerce Minister stated that the program has effectively raised local rice price to 11,000 baht per ton, while the average global rice price now stands at 678 US dollars per ton, which is already higher than last year’s price of 500 dollars a ton.

If the local rice price is 11,000B per ton, and the government was paying 15,000B/ton (for normal rice) or 20,000B/ton (for Hom Mali rice), I wonder what happened to the other 4,000B per ton ?

that's not supposed to be mentioned...

but it does give us understanding of why the Commerce Ministry calls the scam a "success"

.

[Buchholz]

Government's Agricultural Price-Pledging Policy Has Failed

Government declared success in rice-pledging scheme

and then there's.....

Probe reveals cheating in pledging scheme

The Commerce Ministry has found cases of cheating under the government's pledging program for both rice and cassava.

Commerce Minister Boonsong Teriyapirom said yesterday that a ministry official had reported 15 cases of illegal practices under the paddy rice-pledging scheme, mainly in the Central region, including Suphan Buri, Kamphaeng Phet, Phitsanulok, Nakhon Sawan, Singburi, Prachinburi, and other provinces like Chaiyaphum, Buri Ram, Phetchburi, Phatthalung, Prachuab Khiri Khan and Nakhon Si Thammarat. Most of the illegal practices involved rights circumvention, deductions for contamination and the loss of pledging list.

The ministry is conducting an investigation and some cases will be sent to the Department of Special Investigation.

In addition, cassava growers in Nakhon Ratchasima and Buri Ram have complained against cassava field operators that they did not get any farmer certification for price-pledging programme worth Bt13 million. Two operators were caught while three others escaped. Some stocks were found to have disappeared from the warehouse and cassava fields had not delivered their production to the central warehouse.

Boonsong said the ministry is drawing up the terms of reference for the rice-bidding practice to facilitate release of government stock.

-- The Nation 2012-08-19

Edited August 18, 2012 by Buchholz

[Buchholz]

If the Government don´t stop this madness Thailand will soon be the "Greece" of Asia.

UTCC: Farmers in 100,000-baht debt on average

BANGKOK, 17 August 2012 (NNT) - A survey by the University of Thai Chamber of Commerce (UTCC) has indicated that Thai farmers on average are in 103,000 baht debt, the highest since it has conducted the survey.

http://thainews.prd....id=255508170007

Farmers move to Bangkok demanding government help

PRACHUAB KHIRI KHAN, Sept 4 -- Farmers in the coastal provinces of Prachuab Khiri Khan and Chumphon southeast of the capital have moved to Bangkok to demand government intervention to support the prices they receive as their agricultural produce less income due to declining prices.

Prachuab Khiri Khan Deputy Governor Sommit Silprasert met rubber, palm and coconut growers who gathered at Bang Saphan Noi district to receive their petition.

The farmers called for the government to support the falling prices of their agriculture products as measures from the authorities failed to help them maintain their incomes.

The majority of farmers received no benefit from the government measures, the petition said, but only a selected group of farmers received benefit from the government assistance.

Prachuab Khiri Khan Farmer Network Leader Nanthapreecha Khamthong says his group submitted its petition to the government via the governor, but received no clear answer from the government on how to address the problem.

Consequently, he said, his group has opted to move to Bangkok to await a response from the government as the cabinet holds its weekly meeting today.

-- TNA 2012-09-04

[OzMick]

" Farmers in the coastal provinces of Prachuab Khiri Khan and Chumphon southeast of the capital......." have got Buckley's chance as they didn't vote PTP. No vote, no benefits.

They are even being denied a railway upgrade, formerly planned to double-track to Pedang Besar, now stopping at Hua Hin.

[Buchholz]

Relative to previous post, breaking news in the other paper has more than 3,000 farmers protesting at Government House today. Hundreds of coconuts have spewed over the road there.

The rubber farmers are insisting on 120 baht per kilogram for their product while the accompanying coconut farmers are wanting 21 baht a kilogram for dry coconut and 12 baht each for fresh coconut. The coconut farmers are also demanding that the government stop importing coconuts.

Deputy Agriculture Minister and Indicted Red Shirt Leader Natthawut said the government was aware of their plight and that they are working on it.

.

[OzMick]

Thailand imports coconuts?

[Buchholz]

Thailand imports coconuts?

That was a new one on me, too.

According to this U.N. report, I note that Thailand is consistently the sixth largest producer of coconuts in the world and when all coconut products are included, the fourth largest.... and yet, now it's importing them?

http://www.unctad.info/en/Infocomm/AACP-Products/COMMODITY-PROFILE---Coconut2/

[Buchholz]

the aforementioned protest has expanded to more groups than the farmers...

Protesters lines up outside Government House

Many groups of protesters gathered at the Government House on Tuesday, with several of them occupying Rajdamnoen Road and causing traffic congestion.

The first group, comprising some 1,000 protesters from the National Municipal League of Thailand and Subdistrict Administration Organisation Association of Thailand arrived at 8.30am and gathered near the Government House on Rajdamnoen Road.

They wanted to submit a petition to the premier, demanding that the government help raise their salaries to the level of government officials with bachelor degrees.

They said they should be paid Bt15,000, the same as those with bachelor degrees, and Bt9,000 for those with education levels below bachelor degree.

-- The Nation 2012-09-04

[Thai at Heart]

Thailand imports coconuts?

That was a new one on me, too.

According to this U.N. report, I note that Thailand is consistently the sixth largest producer of coconuts in the world and when all coconut products are included, the fourth largest.... and yet, now it's importing them?

http://www.unctad.in...ILE---Coconut2/

Oooh, this one is out of the bag.

The main exporters and producers in Thailand, have been availing themselves of the world market to screw the local farmer for donkeys years. I personally know of one fruit exporter up North who regularly imports perishable fruit from China to re-export after a bit of a wash marked as Thai product.

These exporters are protected from foreign competition within the domestic market, but the moment supply gets tight or the prices rise against their favour they simply import from overseas, and leave the Thai farmers hanging in the wind.

[Buchholz]

Above article has been expanded to include:

PM's Office Minister Worawat Uaepinyakul assigned a representative from Agriculture and Cooperatives Ministry to receive the farmer's petition. The farmers were angry at learning they had been ignored and emptied coconuts from their pickup onto the road.

They threatened to stay overnight unless Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra came out to receive the petition herself.

Moreover, about 20 representatives of relatives and families of victims of the 1992 May Uprising submitted a petition to Interior Minister Yongyuth Wichaidith via Prasith Chaiwirat, PM's Deputy Secretary General, asking the government to help them in the same way as it has victims of the 2010 political violence.

At the Gate 4 opposite National Anti-Corruption Commission office, 30 taxi drivers gathered to oppose Transportation Ministry's proposal to amend ministerial regulations for cars with engines under 1,500-cc to be registered as taxis and to extend the duration of a taxi's life from nine to 12 years.

Prasith came to receive their petition.

The Nation

[Buchholz]

So let's see... at Government House we're having protests by government workers, rubber farmers, coconut farmers, conflict survivors, and taxi drivers.

Please form an orderly queue for the Prime Minister to respond.

.

[Buchholz]

If the Government don´t stop this madness Thailand will soon be the "Greece" of Asia.

UTCC: Farmers in 100,000-baht debt on average

BANGKOK, 17 August 2012 (NNT) - A survey by the University of Thai Chamber of Commerce (UTCC) has indicated that Thai farmers on average are in 103,000 baht debt, the highest since it has conducted the survey.

http://thainews.prd....id=255508170007

Farmers move to Bangkok demanding government help

PRACHUAB KHIRI KHAN, Sept 4 -- Farmers in the coastal provinces of Prachuab Khiri Khan and Chumphon southeast of the capital have moved to Bangkok to demand government intervention to support the prices they receive as their agricultural produce less income due to declining prices.

Prachuab Khiri Khan Deputy Governor Sommit Silprasert met rubber, palm and coconut growers who gathered at Bang Saphan Noi district to receive their petition.

The farmers called for the government to support the falling prices of their agriculture products as measures from the authorities failed to help them maintain their incomes.

The majority of farmers received no benefit from the government measures, the petition said, but only a selected group of farmers received benefit from the government assistance.

Prachuab Khiri Khan Farmer Network Leader Nanthapreecha Khamthong says his group submitted its petition to the government via the governor, but received no clear answer from the government on how to address the problem.

Consequently, he said, his group has opted to move to Bangkok to await a response from the government as the cabinet holds its weekly meeting today.

From the Mid-South we move to the North-East of Nakhon Phanom today with more farmer problems, where the rubber price scheme has been suspended.

The head of the government center stopped buying rubber because he was finding many traders were posing as farmers in order to sell their rubber. He said that they had already successfully sold over 6 million baht worth of rubber by this fraudulent method.

He attributed the problem to the very slow method that farmers were getting paid for their crop. With the long delays, farmers in need of cash were selling their product to traders, at a lower price, of course.

Not being cash-strapped, the traders, in turn, could wait until the government goes to buy rubber and deceptively sell the rubber at the higher government price by pretending to be farmers.

[Buchholz]

meanwhile, Red Shirt Leader and Deputy Agriculture Minister Natthawut's take on rubber....

Agriculture Ministry confident in continued improvement of Thai rubber industry

BANGKOK, 16 September 2012 (NNT) – The Deputy Agriculture Minister has expressed confidence in the continued improvement of the Thai rubber sector.

During this week’s “Yingluck Government Meets the People” program, Deputy Agriculture Minister Nattawut Saikuar said that signs of positive global economic development has pushed the domestic price of local natural rubber sheet no. 3 higher to 83.85 baht per kilogram, while its price in the futures market also went up to 98.92 baht per kilogram.

Looking at other positive signals from all markets, Nattawut is confident that the rubber prices will only rise further.

He added that the government will continue the implementation of both ad-hoc and long-term measures in order to find more added-value to the Thai produce.

Nattawut stated that a group of researchers and related agencies have been teamed up to perform more studies to develop the rubber industry and they will soon be meeting with the Prime Minister to discuss the issues.

-- NNT 2012-09-16

[Mosha]

Wasn't Nattawut the one who made a deal with China to sell rubber at 100 baht/kg?

[Nickymaster]

meanwhile, Red Shirt Leader and Deputy Agriculture Minister Natthawut's take on rubber....

Agriculture Ministry confident in continued improvement of Thai rubber industry

BANGKOK, 16 September 2012 (NNT) – The Deputy Agriculture Minister has expressed confidence in the continued improvement of the Thai rubber sector.

During this week’s “Yingluck Government Meets the People” program, Deputy Agriculture Minister Nattawut Saikuar said that signs of positive global economic development has pushed the domestic price of local natural rubber sheet no. 3 higher to 83.85 baht per kilogram, while its price in the futures market also went up to 98.92 baht per kilogram.

Looking at other positive signals from all markets, Nattawut is confident that the rubber prices will only rise further.

He added that the government will continue the implementation of both ad-hoc and long-term measures in order to find more added-value to the Thai produce.

Nattawut stated that a group of researchers and related agencies have been teamed up to perform more studies to develop the rubber industry and they will soon be meeting with the Prime Minister to discuss the issues.

-- NNT 2012-09-16

Natthawut's take on rubber....

Natthawut's take on democracy

[ggold]

look at this link, jump to Thailand

http://en.wikipedia....es_and_colleges

Just one agricultural college in Thailand, now look at other countries, say Indonesia.

Hmmm, the Asian Institute of Technology in Bangkok.

Wikipedia seems to have missed our local Mae-Jo University, for one, perhaps there are also other agricultural colleges here too ?

Actually most provinces have rice research centers, where they test new methods for growing and different strains of rice.

Sent from my GT-P6200 using Thaivisa Connect App

[Buchholz]

meanwhile, Red Shirt Leader and Deputy Agriculture Minister Natthawut's take on rubber....

Agriculture Ministry confident in continued improvement of Thai rubber industry

BANGKOK, 16 September 2012 (NNT) – The Deputy Agriculture Minister has expressed confidence in the continued improvement of the Thai rubber sector.

Looking at other positive signals from all markets, Nattawut is confident that the rubber prices will only rise further.

Nattawut stated that a group of researchers and related agencies have been teamed up to perform more studies to develop the rubber industry and they will soon be meeting with the Prime Minister to discuss the issues.

More on rubber ideas from the Red Shirt Leader and Deputy Agriculture Minister Natthawut...

Agriculture Ministry ordered to make progress with rubber-paved road project

BANGKOK, 20 September 2012 (NNT) – The government has instructed the Agriculture Ministry to make progress with the initiative to pave road with rubber.

Deputy Agriculture Minister Nattawut Saikuar said on Wednesday that during the joint meeting between the government, representatives from the state enterprises, and the private sector to discuss the country’s rubber business, it was agreed that the state-initiated rubber-paved road project in southern Nakhon Si Thammarat must be executed.

The initiative, intended to find added value to the rubber product by replacing tarmac with rubber on a 19-kilometer strip, is estimated to cost 85 million baht to complete.

Nattawut said that the meeting believes that the project will be essential in boosting Thai rubber prices and helping turn rubber producers into processors while promoting the rubber industry domestically.

According to the Deputy Agriculture Minister, Thailand’s rubber production stands at 3.5 million tons a year, with 86 percent of the output allocated for exports.

He added that the rubber-paved road project will help attract more foreign investors, who will be invited to witness the launch, expected within 3-4 months after the work begins.

Nattawut went on to say that, while the Prime Minister has instructed the Board of Investment of Thailand (BOI) to find ways to promote Thai rubber, she has also ordered the Agriculture Ministry to start overseas road shows to publicize the rubber-paved road project and the rubber industry.

-- NNT 2012-09-20

[dcutman]

meanwhile, Red Shirt Leader and Deputy Agriculture Minister Natthawut's take on rubber....

Agriculture Ministry confident in continued improvement of Thai rubber industry

BANGKOK, 16 September 2012 (NNT) – The Deputy Agriculture Minister has expressed confidence in the continued improvement of the Thai rubber sector.

Looking at other positive signals from all markets, Nattawut is confident that the rubber prices will only rise further.

Nattawut stated that a group of researchers and related agencies have been teamed up to perform more studies to develop the rubber industry and they will soon be meeting with the Prime Minister to discuss the issues.

More on rubber ideas from the Red Shirt Leader and Deputy Agriculture Minister Natthawut...

Agriculture Ministry ordered to make progress with rubber-paved road project

BANGKOK, 20 September 2012 (NNT) – The government has instructed the Agriculture Ministry to make progress with the initiative to pave road with rubber.

Deputy Agriculture Minister Nattawut Saikuar said on Wednesday that during the joint meeting between the government, representatives from the state enterprises, and the private sector to discuss the country’s rubber business, it was agreed that the state-initiated rubber-paved road project in southern Nakhon Si Thammarat must be executed.

The initiative, intended to find added value to the rubber product by replacing tarmac with rubber on a 19-kilometer strip, is estimated to cost 85 million baht to complete.

Nattawut said that the meeting believes that the project will be essential in boosting Thai rubber prices and helping turn rubber producers into processors while promoting the rubber industry domestically.

According to the Deputy Agriculture Minister, Thailand’s rubber production stands at 3.5 million tons a year, with 86 percent of the output allocated for exports.

He added that the rubber-paved road project will help attract more foreign investors, who will be invited to witness the launch, expected within 3-4 months after the work begins.

Nattawut went on to say that, while the Prime Minister has instructed the Board of Investment of Thailand (BOI) to find ways to promote Thai rubber, she has also ordered the Agriculture Ministry to start overseas road shows to publicize the rubber-paved road project and the rubber industry.

-- NNT 2012-09-20

It sounds as if they are actually going to try and resurface a road made of only rubber. Unless Thailand invented some new technology using only rubber(unlikely) this is old technology. The state of Arizona has been doing this for over 40 years. The rubber used in this is not 100% natural rubber. It is made of used tires ground in to a course powder. they use this because a tire compound is so durable and for recycling purposes. The mixture is 15 to 22% rubber to regular asphalt.

I would not doubt Thai's will try their own method, go against proven technology, and get disastrous results.

[Buchholz]

meanwhile, Red Shirt Leader and Deputy Agriculture Minister Natthawut's take on rubber....

Agriculture Ministry confident in continued improvement of Thai rubber industry

BANGKOK, 16 September 2012 (NNT) – The Deputy Agriculture Minister has expressed confidence in the continued improvement of the Thai rubber sector.

Looking at other positive signals from all markets, Nattawut is confident that the rubber prices will only rise further.

Nattawut stated that a group of researchers and related agencies have been teamed up to perform more studies to develop the rubber industry and they will soon be meeting with the Prime Minister to discuss the issues.

More on rubber ideas from the Red Shirt Leader and Deputy Agriculture Minister Natthawut...

Agriculture Ministry ordered to make progress with rubber-paved road project

BANGKOK, 20 September 2012 (NNT) – The government has instructed the Agriculture Ministry to make progress with the initiative to pave road with rubber.

Deputy Agriculture Minister Nattawut Saikuar said on Wednesday that during the joint meeting between the government, representatives from the state enterprises, and the private sector to discuss the country’s rubber business, it was agreed that the state-initiated rubber-paved road project in southern Nakhon Si Thammarat must be executed.

The initiative, intended to find added value to the rubber product by replacing tarmac with rubber on a 19-kilometer strip, is estimated to cost 85 million baht to complete.

Nattawut said that the meeting believes that the project will be essential in boosting Thai rubber prices and helping turn rubber producers into processors while promoting the rubber industry domestically.

According to the Deputy Agriculture Minister, Thailand’s rubber production stands at 3.5 million tons a year, with 86 percent of the output allocated for exports.

He added that the rubber-paved road project will help attract more foreign investors, who will be invited to witness the launch, expected within 3-4 months after the work begins.

Nattawut went on to say that, while the Prime Minister has instructed the Board of Investment of Thailand (BOI) to find ways to promote Thai rubber, she has also ordered the Agriculture Ministry to start overseas road shows to publicize the rubber-paved road project and the rubber industry.

-- NNT 2012-09-20

It sounds as if they are actually going to try and resurface a road made of only rubber. Unless Thailand invented some new technology using only rubber(unlikely) this is old technology. The state of Arizona has been doing this for over 40 years. The rubber used in this is not 100% natural rubber. It is made of used tires ground in to a course powder. they use this because a tire compound is so durable and for recycling purposes. The mixture is 15 to 22% rubber to regular asphalt.

I would not doubt Thai's will try their own method, go against proven technology, and get disastrous results.

Sounds like a perfect job for Science Minister Plodprasop.

.

[Thai at Heart]

meanwhile, Red Shirt Leader and Deputy Agriculture Minister Natthawut's take on rubber....

Agriculture Ministry confident in continued improvement of Thai rubber industry

BANGKOK, 16 September 2012 (NNT) – The Deputy Agriculture Minister has expressed confidence in the continued improvement of the Thai rubber sector.

Looking at other positive signals from all markets, Nattawut is confident that the rubber prices will only rise further.

Nattawut stated that a group of researchers and related agencies have been teamed up to perform more studies to develop the rubber industry and they will soon be meeting with the Prime Minister to discuss the issues.

More on rubber ideas from the Red Shirt Leader and Deputy Agriculture Minister Natthawut...

Agriculture Ministry ordered to make progress with rubber-paved road project

BANGKOK, 20 September 2012 (NNT) – The government has instructed the Agriculture Ministry to make progress with the initiative to pave road with rubber.

Deputy Agriculture Minister Nattawut Saikuar said on Wednesday that during the joint meeting between the government, representatives from the state enterprises, and the private sector to discuss the country’s rubber business, it was agreed that the state-initiated rubber-paved road project in southern Nakhon Si Thammarat must be executed.

The initiative, intended to find added value to the rubber product by replacing tarmac with rubber on a 19-kilometer strip, is estimated to cost 85 million baht to complete.

Nattawut said that the meeting believes that the project will be essential in boosting Thai rubber prices and helping turn rubber producers into processors while promoting the rubber industry domestically.

According to the Deputy Agriculture Minister, Thailand’s rubber production stands at 3.5 million tons a year, with 86 percent of the output allocated for exports.

He added that the rubber-paved road project will help attract more foreign investors, who will be invited to witness the launch, expected within 3-4 months after the work begins.

Nattawut went on to say that, while the Prime Minister has instructed the Board of Investment of Thailand (BOI) to find ways to promote Thai rubber, she has also ordered the Agriculture Ministry to start overseas road shows to publicize the rubber-paved road project and the rubber industry.

-- NNT 2012-09-20

It sounds as if they are actually going to try and resurface a road made of only rubber. Unless Thailand invented some new technology using only rubber(unlikely) this is old technology. The state of Arizona has been doing this for over 40 years. The rubber used in this is not 100% natural rubber. It is made of used tires ground in to a course powder. they use this because a tire compound is so durable and for recycling purposes. The mixture is 15 to 22% rubber to regular asphalt.

I would not doubt Thai's will try their own method, go against proven technology, and get disastrous results.

Sounds like a perfect job for Science Minister Plodprasop.

.

He's busy devoting all his brain power to water pushing.

[Buchholz]

More on rubber ideas from the Red Shirt Leader and Deputy Agriculture Minister Natthawut...

Agriculture Ministry ordered to make progress with rubber-paved road project

BANGKOK, 20 September 2012 (NNT) – The government has instructed the Agriculture Ministry to make progress with the initiative to pave road with rubber.

Deputy Agriculture Minister Nattawut Saikuar said on Wednesday that during the joint meeting between the government, representatives from the state enterprises, and the private sector to discuss the country's rubber business, it was agreed that the state-initiated rubber-paved road project in southern Nakhon Si Thammarat must be executed.

The initiative, intended to find added value to the rubber product by replacing tarmac with rubber on a 19-kilometer strip, is estimated to cost 85 million baht to complete.

Nattawut said that the meeting believes that the project will be essential in boosting Thai rubber prices and helping turn rubber producers into processors while promoting the rubber industry domestically.

According to the Deputy Agriculture Minister, Thailand's rubber production stands at 3.5 million tons a year, with 86 percent of the output allocated for exports.

He added that the rubber-paved road project will help attract more foreign investors, who will be invited to witness the launch, expected within 3-4 months after the work begins.

Nattawut went on to say that, while the Prime Minister has instructed the Board of Investment of Thailand (BOI) to find ways to promote Thai rubber, she has also ordered the Agriculture Ministry to start overseas road shows to publicize the rubber-paved road project and the rubber industry.

-- NNT 2012-09-20

It sounds as if they are actually going to try and resurface a road made of only rubber. Unless Thailand invented some new technology using only rubber(unlikely) this is old technology. The state of Arizona has been doing this for over 40 years. The rubber used in this is not 100% natural rubber. It is made of used tires ground in to a course powder. they use this because a tire compound is so durable and for recycling purposes. The mixture is 15 to 22% rubber to regular asphalt.

I would not doubt Thai's will try their own method, go against proven technology, and get disastrous results.

Sounds like a perfect job for Science Minister Plodprasop.

He's busy devoting all his brain power to water pushing.

water pushing on flooded rubber highways.... a perfect match for him

.