Budget Fails To Target Living Costs, Poverty: Abhisit

[webfact]

BUDGET DEBATE

Budget fails to target living costs, poverty: Abhisit

The Nation

Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra talks with Finance Minister Kittirat Na Ranong during the 2013 Budget Bill debate in Parliament yesterday.

BANGKOK: -- Opposition leader Abhisit Vejjajiva yesterday assailed the government-sponsored Budget Bill for fiscal 2013, saying that it failed to address concerns about living conditions and poverty.

Abhisit also said the estimated economic growth of 5.5 to 6.5 per cent in fiscal 2013, which starts on October 1, was based on "an illusion of many economic figures". He said the expected high growth was mainly propelled by a surge in consumption and investment as part of a recovery following last year's flood crisis. "The growth does not point to improved well-being.

"The government's budget law fails to answer questions on how people's lives will be improved and how the problem of social inequality will be tackled," said Abhisit, who is also the Democrat Party leader.

Speaking during the House of Representatives' debate on the Budget Bill, the ex-premier said the planned deficit of Bt300 billion in the Bt2.4-trillion budget was made to look like the government was trying to maintain stability in public debt. But he said the government had borrowed Bt400 billion.

"Having been in power for less than a year, the government has created almost Bt1 trillion in public debt due to borrowings and policy mistakes."

Abhisit said the government planned to spend as much as Bt300 billion on its price-pledging policy for farm produce. He added that the project would lead to a loss of Bt100 billion of state funds within a year, as farm commodities were bought at rates higher than market prices. He said his government spent less than Bt40 billion on its subsidy project that covered a large number of farmers.

If the government insisted there was no problem of high prices of food and consumer products, he said it should not have allocated Bt1.45 billion to tackle the problem. He also did not think the fund to help ensure cheaper products could be distributed effectively to different areas. "It will be a waste of taxpayers' money."

In regard to the government's estimate that Bt2.1 trillion in revenue would be collected for the budget, Abhisit expressed concern that the administration might increase taxes. He noted that certain government figures had floated the idea of raising VAT, the value added tax, which he said would increase living costs.

He said while Bt2 billion was allocated for its project to provide tablet computers for first-grade pupils, it had decreased budgets for agencies such as the Thailand Research Fund.

-- The Nation 2012-05-22

[webfact]

Spending plan is balanced, Kittiratt says, not 'wasteful'

The Nation

BANGKOK: -- Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Kittiratt Na-Ranong yesterday defended the government's spending plan, saying that it would not lead to a hike in taxes, even though the opposition has been expressing concerns about the administration's huge off-budget borrowing plan.

The opposition has also been attacking the government over the rising price of consumer goods.

"The government should not need to increase taxes if it is able to meet its revenue target of Bt1.98 trillion for the current fiscal year and Bt2.1 trillion for 2013 fiscal year," Kittiratt said at yesterday's budget debate in Parliament.

He was responding to opposition and Democrat Party leader Abhisit Vejjajiva, who said the government might not be able to meet its planned revenue target of Bt2.1 trillion, leading to an increase in value-added tax.

Kittiratt, however, insisted that the budget would be reasonably balanced and assured of fiscal discipline. He also defended the government's spending plan for flood prevention, as it has to restore confidence and boost exports.

The government plans to set its annual expenditure for the 2013 fiscal year at Bt2.4 trillion with a deficit of Bt300 billion.

Democrat MP Sansern Samalapa echoed Abhisit's concerns about the government's borrowing plan, saying that the budget deficit of Bt300 billion appeared to be a small amount, yet the government's off-budget borrowing seemed to be a lot larger.

"The off-budget borrowing is estimated at Bt1.5 trillion, as the government has to implement many schemes including rice and energy subsidy as well as flood-prevention measures," Sansern said.

It is understandable that the government needs to borrow Bt400 billion to finance its flood-prevention projects, but it also plans to waste the taxpayer's funds on unnecessary rice and energy subsidies, he said.

Sansern also blamed the rising cost of living on flawed policies, particularly its daily wage hike. He argued that the government had given very little in compensation to firms affected by the wage increase, and that this was pushing up the production costs. He also blamed the rising cost of production and logistics on the government's wrong energy policy.

The hike in wages has also increased the cost of agricultural goods by 30 per cent, he said.

Deputy Prime Minister Chalerm Yoobamrung admitted the government was not able to tackle the rising price of goods yet, but said this issue would be looked into promptly.

Meanwhile, Deputy Finance Minister Tanusak Lekuthai said the revenue had exceeded the target at the end of April.

-- The Nation 2012-05-22

[Moruya]

Every Thai knows that income should be at least equal to expense in order to avoid debt.

Kittirat seems to think the government can spend, spend, spend without increasing the national debt or increasing taxes.

The only possible reason for this is that the government policy is to get Thaksin his amnesty, raid the coffers and leave a massive problem for the next administration.

[WhizBang]

The only possible reason for this is that the government policy is to get Thaksin his amnesty, raid the coffers and leave a massive problem for the next administration.

But, if everything goes to plan, would the next administration not also be Phua Thai/Thaksin?

Oh right, Thais are incapable of planning for tomorrow.

[birdpooguava]

Does this "address concerns about living conditions & poverty" AV?

http://asiapacific.anu.edu.au/newmandala/wp-content/uploads/2010/09/Military-GDP-Thailand.jpg

[Buchholz]

Does this "address concerns about living conditions & poverty" AV?

http://asiapacific.a...DP-Thailand.jpg

In proper context...

2010 ASEAN countries military expenditure as a percent of GDP

?.? (unreported) Myanmar

4.1 Singapore

3.9 Brunei

2.4 Vietnam

2.0 Malaysia

1.5 Thailand

1.1 Cambodia

1.0 Indonesia

0.8 Philippines

0.4 Laos

ASEAN average (not counting unreported Myanmar) = 1.9

On a world scale of military expenditure as a percent of GDP, Thailand ranks # 89.

Actually when putting in the updated figures for 2011, Thailand has dropped several places in comparison to their neighbors and is now even further below the average expenditures than they were before:

2011 ASEAN countries military expenditure as a percent of GDP

4.9 Singapore

4.5 Brunei

3.0 Cambodia

3.0 Indonesia

2.5 Vietnam

2.1 Burma

2.0 Malaysia

1.8 Thailand

0.9 Philippines

0.5 Laos

ASEAN average = 2.5

On a world scale of military expenditure as a percent of GDP, Thailand ranks # 85.

http://en.wikipedia....ry_expenditures

[Thai at Heart]

Not meaning to be obtuse, but didn't the minimum wage just get increased by quite a whopping margin?

I know he is talking about the fiscal budget of the country, but on the basis that no one has messed around with the tax rates in Thailand for ages, I suppose the only thing they can harp on about is government borrowing. If the taxman took what he was meant to get out of the Thai economy, they would have an enormous surplus.

[Thai at Heart]

http://www.nationmultimedia.com/politics/Ministries-asked-to-counter-profiteering-on-30182435.html

SALES OF FRUIT, VEGIES

Ministries asked to counter profiteering on

Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra has ordered the Commerce and Agriculture ministries to control the price of farm produce and ensure traders do not reap profits of more than 50 per cent, government spokesman Anusorn Iamsa-ard said yesterday.

The PM organised surveys of food prices in markets and found that wholesale and retail traders had made "excessive" profits from sales of fruit and vegetables. They were found to make more than 50 per cent from sales of some fruit and vegetables, which was "unfair" for farmers and consumers.

The PM has ordered the two ministries to come up with a structure of fair and suitable prices for all agricultural produce to ensure both retail and wholesale traders' profits do not exceed 50 per cent of outlays. She also instructed the two ministries to provide market information to farmers so they can generate suitable amounts of produce to prevent problems of over- and under-supply of goods.

The PM asked the Agriculture Ministry to also analyse the problem of falling fruit prices in the lower central region. Palm mellow, for instance, is a fruit grown in Nakhon Pathom, Samut Songkhram and Samut Sakhon. She suggested that the ministry use technology to develop production of palm mellow and initiate agriculture zones for local fruit.

Meanwhile, the Cabinet has approved Bt33.1 billion in funds for 203 projects for eight lower central provinces, which include road construction, irrigation projects (in Ratchaburi) and an information technology project for food and health stability in Suphan Buri. Each province would be get Bt100 million for development projects.

On June 18-19, the Cabinet will visit eastern provinces such as Chon Buri, Rayong, Chanthaburi and Trat. Culture Minister Kusumol Khunplume will chair the meeting and present problems and analyses on solutions to the Cabinet a week before the meeting is held.

And finally they get somewhere near the nub of the problem. Now how to "limit" profit??????????????

[Buchholz]

Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra has ordered the Commerce and Agriculture ministries to control the price of farm produce and ensure traders do not reap profits of more than 50 per cent

The PM organised surveys of food prices in markets and found that wholesale and retail traders had made "excessive" profits from sales of fruit and vegetables. They were found to make more than 50 per cent from sales of some fruit and vegetables, which was "unfair" for farmers and consumers.

On June 18-19, the Cabinet will visit eastern provinces such as Chon Buri, Rayong, Chanthaburi and Trat. Culture Minister Kusumol Khunplume will chair the meeting and present problems and analyses on solutions to the Cabinet a week before the meeting is held there in less than 4 weeks.

And finally they get somewhere near the nub of the problem. Now how to "limit" profit??????????????

It'll be an interesting reception in Chantaburi and Trat, where just last week, the television news had video news of disgruntled farmers there who dumped their truckloads of rambutan on the street rather than accept the paltry 4 baht/kilo that they were being offered for their produce by the traders.

Yesterday, bought rambutan at the local market for 16 baht/kilo, which is obviously a mark-up much more than Yingluck's "not more than 50%" goal.

The news showed quite agitated farmers, who were justifiably angry by being offered less than the cost of production for their fruit and were content to just throw the whole lot away as a dramatic protest.

I look forward to the Cabinet's reception there if the situation has not been significantly rectified in the meantime before the meeting is held in less than 4 weeks.

.

Edited May 22, 2012 by Buchholz

[Buchholz]

"Budget Fails To Target Living Costs" for these rambutan farmers.

Thai Rath

[Thai at Heart]

Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra has ordered the Commerce and Agriculture ministries to control the price of farm produce and ensure traders do not reap profits of more than 50 per cent

The PM organised surveys of food prices in markets and found that wholesale and retail traders had made "excessive" profits from sales of fruit and vegetables. They were found to make more than 50 per cent from sales of some fruit and vegetables, which was "unfair" for farmers and consumers.

On June 18-19, the Cabinet will visit eastern provinces such as Chon Buri, Rayong, Chanthaburi and Trat. Culture Minister Kusumol Khunplume will chair the meeting and present problems and analyses on solutions to the Cabinet a week before the meeting is held there in less than 4 weeks.

And finally they get somewhere near the nub of the problem. Now how to "limit" profit??????????????

It'll be an interesting reception in Chantaburi and Trat, where just last week, the television news had video news of disgruntled farmers there who dumped their truckloads of rambutan on the street rather than accept the paltry 4 baht/kilo that they were being offered for their produce by the traders.

Yesterday, bought rambutan at the local market for 16 baht/kilo, which is obviously a mark-up much more than Yingluck's "not more than 50%" goal.

The news showed quite agitated farmers, who were justifiably angry by being offered less than the cost of production for their fruit and were content to just throw the whole lot away as a dramatic protest.

I look forward to the Cabinet's reception there if the situation has not been significantly rectified in the meantime before the meeting is held in less than 4 weeks.

.

This has been the issue for ever in Thailand. The traders make extraordinary margins for essentially doing very little.

There was a TV show on a few years ago showing the process of various food stuffs from farm/forest to shop in Bangkok. Pick the fruit, transport it to factory for washing and sorting with 20 labourers, stick it in a pack. 10 baht a kilo at the farm magically becomes 85 baht a kilo at the shop front. Everyone has to make a clip of course, but the clip in the middle is far to much to the detriment of the farmer.

[Buchholz]

Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra has ordered the Commerce and Agriculture ministries to control the price of farm produce and ensure traders do not reap profits of more than 50 per cent

The PM organised surveys of food prices in markets and found that wholesale and retail traders had made "excessive" profits from sales of fruit and vegetables. They were found to make more than 50 per cent from sales of some fruit and vegetables, which was "unfair" for farmers and consumers.

On June 18-19, the Cabinet will visit eastern provinces such as Chon Buri, Rayong, Chanthaburi and Trat. Culture Minister Kusumol Khunplume will chair the meeting and present problems and analyses on solutions to the Cabinet a week before the meeting is held there in less than 4 weeks.

And finally they get somewhere near the nub of the problem. Now how to "limit" profit??????????????

It'll be an interesting reception in Chantaburi and Trat, where just last week, the television news had video news of disgruntled farmers there who dumped their truckloads of rambutan on the street rather than accept the paltry 4 baht/kilo that they were being offered for their produce by the traders.

Yesterday, bought rambutan at the local market for 16 baht/kilo, which is obviously a mark-up much more than Yingluck's "not more than 50%" goal.

The news showed quite agitated farmers, who were justifiably angry by being offered less than the cost of production for their fruit and were content to just throw the whole lot away as a dramatic protest.

I look forward to the Cabinet's reception there if the situation has not been significantly rectified in the meantime before the meeting is held in less than 4 weeks.

This has been the issue for ever in Thailand. The traders make extraordinary margins for essentially doing very little.

There was a TV show on a few years ago showing the process of various food stuffs from farm/forest to shop in Bangkok. Pick the fruit, transport it to factory for washing and sorting with 20 labourers, stick it in a pack. 10 baht a kilo at the farm magically becomes 85 baht a kilo at the shop front. Everyone has to make a clip of course, but the clip in the middle is far to much to the detriment of the farmer.

Dateline: January 6, 1986

But I anticipate any day now the current prime minister will give the obligatory absurd timeline declaration,

"I will solve the low produce prices in 4 weeks."

.

[hellodolly]

Not meaning to be obtuse, but didn't the minimum wage just get increased by quite a whopping margin?

I know he is talking about the fiscal budget of the country, but on the basis that no one has messed around with the tax rates in Thailand for ages, I suppose the only thing they can harp on about is government borrowing. If the taxman took what he was meant to get out of the Thai economy, they would have an enormous surplus.

Not sure of my figures but were they not going to give the big businesses a roughly 25% cut in their taxes. I would call that messing around with their tax rate.

[hellodolly]

http://www.nationmul...n-30182435.html

SALES OF FRUIT, VEGIES

Ministries asked to counter profiteering on

Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra has ordered the Commerce and Agriculture ministries to control the price of farm produce and ensure traders do not reap profits of more than 50 per cent, government spokesman Anusorn Iamsa-ard said yesterday.

The PM organised surveys of food prices in markets and found that wholesale and retail traders had made "excessive" profits from sales of fruit and vegetables. They were found to make more than 50 per cent from sales of some fruit and vegetables, which was "unfair" for farmers and consumers.

The PM has ordered the two ministries to come up with a structure of fair and suitable prices for all agricultural produce to ensure both retail and wholesale traders' profits do not exceed 50 per cent of outlays. She also instructed the two ministries to provide market information to farmers so they can generate suitable amounts of produce to prevent problems of over- and under-supply of goods.

The PM asked the Agriculture Ministry to also analyse the problem of falling fruit prices in the lower central region. Palm mellow, for instance, is a fruit grown in Nakhon Pathom, Samut Songkhram and Samut Sakhon. She suggested that the ministry use technology to develop production of palm mellow and initiate agriculture zones for local fruit.

Meanwhile, the Cabinet has approved Bt33.1 billion in funds for 203 projects for eight lower central provinces, which include road construction, irrigation projects (in Ratchaburi) and an information technology project for food and health stability in Suphan Buri. Each province would be get Bt100 million for development projects.

On June 18-19, the Cabinet will visit eastern provinces such as Chon Buri, Rayong, Chanthaburi and Trat. Culture Minister Kusumol Khunplume will chair the meeting and present problems and analyses on solutions to the Cabinet a week before the meeting is held.

And finally they get somewhere near the nub of the problem. Now how to "limit" profit??????????????

And the prices will still continue to rise or fall depending on supply and demand.

[birdpooguava]

Does this "address concerns about living conditions & poverty" AV?

http://asiapacific.a...DP-Thailand.jpg

In proper context...

2010 ASEAN countries military expenditure as a percent of GDP

?.? (unreported) Myanmar

4.1 Singapore

3.9 Brunei

2.4 Vietnam

2.0 Malaysia

1.5 Thailand

1.1 Cambodia

1.0 Indonesia

0.8 Philippines

0.4 Laos

ASEAN average (not counting unreported Myanmar) = 1.9

On a world scale of military expenditure as a percent of GDP, Thailand ranks # 89.

Actually when putting in the updated figures for 2011, Thailand has dropped several places in comparison to their neighbors and is now even further below the average expenditures than they were before:

2011 ASEAN countries military expenditure as a percent of GDP

4.9 Singapore

4.5 Brunei

3.0 Cambodia

3.0 Indonesia

2.5 Vietnam

2.1 Burma

2.0 Malaysia

1.8 Thailand

0.9 Philippines

0.5 Laos

ASEAN average = 2.5

On a world scale of military expenditure as a percent of GDP, Thailand ranks # 85.

http://en.wikipedia....ry_expenditures

It's about the trends Butch.

[belg]

one question: if the farmes get so little for their rice crops, what is holding them to change to some more lucrative plantation ???

[Buchholz]

In proper context...

2010 ASEAN countries military expenditure as a percent of GDP

?.? (unreported) Myanmar

4.1 Singapore

3.9 Brunei

2.4 Vietnam

2.0 Malaysia

1.5 Thailand

1.1 Cambodia

1.0 Indonesia

0.8 Philippines

0.4 Laos

ASEAN average (not counting unreported Myanmar) = 1.9

On a world scale of military expenditure as a percent of GDP, Thailand ranks # 89.

Actually when putting in the updated figures for 2011, Thailand has dropped several places in comparison to their neighbors and is now even further below the average expenditures than they were before:

2011 ASEAN countries military expenditure as a percent of GDP

4.9 Singapore

4.5 Brunei

3.0 Cambodia

3.0 Indonesia

2.5 Vietnam

2.1 Burma

2.0 Malaysia

1.8 Thailand

0.9 Philippines

0.5 Laos

ASEAN average = 2.5

On a world scale of military expenditure as a percent of GDP, Thailand ranks # 85.

http://en.wikipedia....ry_expenditures

It's about the trends Butch.

Yes, and the trend is:

Thailand has dropped several places in comparison to their neighbors and is now even further below the average expenditures than they were before.

[birdpooguava]

Yes, and the trend is:

Thailand has dropped several places in comparison to their neighbors and is now even further below the average expenditures than they were before.

The trend is there is a drastic upwards spike in military spending after the 2006 coup which continued unabated under the military installed Abhisit regime.

[Buchholz]

Yes, and the trend is:

Thailand has dropped several places in comparison to their neighbors and is now even further below the average expenditures than they were before.

The trend is there is a drastic upwards spike in military spending after the 2006 coup which continued unabated under the military installed Abhisit regime.

1.5% to 1.8% = "drastic upwards spike"

Going from 5th place in the region to 8th place in the region = "drastic upwards spike"

.

[birdpooguava]

Yes, and the trend is:

Thailand has dropped several places in comparison to their neighbors and is now even further below the average expenditures than they were before.

The trend is there is a drastic upwards spike in military spending after the 2006 coup which continued unabated under the military installed Abhisit regime.

1.5% to 1.8% = "drastic upwards spike"

Going from 5th place in the region to 8th place in the region = "drastic upwards spike"

.

You obviously aren't very good at interpreting charts. Can't you see the change from pre to post coup? Go back & have another look without your yellow glasses on. Admit that Abhisit was greasing the hands of those responsible for getting him in power.

[drdoom6996]

Why would it. These people are in this for themselves, not the people. The Red Shirt movement might be considered comunist in many other countries.

[drdoom6996]

Yes, and the trend is:

Thailand has dropped several places in comparison to their neighbors and is now even further below the average expenditures than they were before.

The trend is there is a drastic upwards spike in military spending after the 2006 coup which continued unabated under the military installed Abhisit regime.

I wish I was as smart as you. I think you may have an ID10T error going on the your computer brain of yours.

[Buchholz]

Yes, and the trend is:

Thailand has dropped several places in comparison to their neighbors and is now even further below the average expenditures than they were before.

The trend is there is a drastic upwards spike in military spending after the 2006 coup which continued unabated under the military installed Abhisit regime.

1.5% to 1.8% = "drastic upwards spike"

Going from 5th place in the region to 8th place in the region = "drastic upwards spike"

.

You obviously aren't very good at interpreting charts. Can't you see the change from pre to post coup? Go back & have another look without your yellow glasses on. Admit that Abhisit was greasing the hands of those responsible for getting him in power.

the coup was 6 years ago... the numbers I provided are last year and the year before and put expenditures in context with the region and the world.

This year's budget (the topic of this thread) is a lot more relevant to "my" numbers than "your" numbers.

Your redundant inflammatory retorts are pointless posts and explain why so many of them have been deleted over the past week.

We're done here.

.

Edited May 22, 2012 by Buchholz

[anterian]

I just read a comment, "Every Thai knows that income should be at least equal to expense in order to avoid debt." All I can say is not the Thais that I know.

[Buchholz]

Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra has ordered the Commerce and Agriculture ministries to control the price of farm produce and ensure traders do not reap profits of more than 50 per cent

The PM organised surveys of food prices in markets and found that wholesale and retail traders had made "excessive" profits from sales of fruit and vegetables. They were found to make more than 50 per cent from sales of some fruit and vegetables, which was "unfair" for farmers and consumers.

On June 18-19, the Cabinet will visit eastern provinces such as Chon Buri, Rayong, Chanthaburi and Trat. Culture Minister Kusumol Khunplume will chair the meeting and present problems and analyses on solutions to the Cabinet a week before the meeting is held there in less than 4 weeks.

And finally they get somewhere near the nub of the problem. Now how to "limit" profit??????????????

It'll be an interesting reception in Chantaburi and Trat, where just last week, the television news had video news of disgruntled farmers there who dumped their truckloads of rambutan on the street rather than accept the paltry 4 baht/kilo that they were being offered for their produce by the traders.

Yesterday, bought rambutan at the local market for 16 baht/kilo, which is obviously a mark-up much more than Yingluck's "not more than 50%" goal.

The news showed quite agitated farmers, who were justifiably angry by being offered less than the cost of production for their fruit and were content to just throw the whole lot away as a dramatic protest.

I look forward to the Cabinet's reception there if the situation has not been significantly rectified in the meantime before the meeting is held in less than 4 weeks.

More farmers in the news. This time in the North.

In Lampang, 500 pineapple growers dumped truckloads of their fruit and blocked traffic on the Lampang-Phayao road in protest.

.

[Skywalker69]

Yes, and the trend is:

Thailand has dropped several places in comparison to their neighbors and is now even further below the average expenditures than they were before.

The trend is there is a drastic upwards spike in military spending after the 2006 coup which continued unabated under the military installed Abhisit regime.

1.5% to 1.8% = "drastic upwards spike"

Going from 5th place in the region to 8th place in the region = "drastic upwards spike"

.

You obviously aren't very good at interpreting charts. Can't you see the change from pre to post coup? Go back & have another look without your yellow glasses on. Admit that Abhisit was greasing the hands of those responsible for getting him in power.

Said the one with his Red glasses on.

[Buchholz]

Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra has ordered the Commerce and Agriculture ministries to control the price of farm produce and ensure traders do not reap profits of more than 50 per cent

The PM organised surveys of food prices in markets and found that wholesale and retail traders had made "excessive" profits from sales of fruit and vegetables. They were found to make more than 50 per cent from sales of some fruit and vegetables, which was "unfair" for farmers and consumers.

On June 18-19, the Cabinet will visit eastern provinces such as Chon Buri, Rayong, Chanthaburi and Trat. Culture Minister Kusumol Khunplume will chair the meeting and present problems and analyses on solutions to the Cabinet a week before the meeting is held there in less than 4 weeks.

And finally they get somewhere near the nub of the problem. Now how to "limit" profit??????????????

It'll be an interesting reception in Chantaburi and Trat, where just last week, the television news had video news of disgruntled farmers there who dumped their truckloads of rambutan on the street rather than accept the paltry 4 baht/kilo that they were being offered for their produce by the traders.

Yesterday, bought rambutan at the local market for 16 baht/kilo, which is obviously a mark-up much more than Yingluck's "not more than 50%" goal.

The news showed quite agitated farmers, who were justifiably angry by being offered less than the cost of production for their fruit and were content to just throw the whole lot away as a dramatic protest.

I look forward to the Cabinet's reception there if the situation has not been significantly rectified in the meantime before the meeting is held in less than 4 weeks.

More farmers in the news. This time in the North.

In Lampang, 500 pineapple growers dumped truckloads of their fruit and blocked traffic on the Lampang-Phayao road in protest.

Cue the durian, longan, mangosteen, papaya, rose apple, mango, watermelon, sala, jackfruit, guava, orange farmers to protest....

Government approves special budget to help pineapple farmers

PRACHUAP KHIRI KHAN, 27 May 2012 (NNT) – The government has approved a special budget to help pineapple farmers, who have been suffering the problem of falling prices.

Prachuap Khiri Khan Governor Weera Sriwathanatrakoon said on Saturday that Prachuap Khiri Khan’s pineapple, which is its major crop, has been battling the problem of plunging prices for some time.

As the problem has not shown any sign of easing, the government has approved a special budget to buy up more than 60,000 tons of pineapples at the price of 4 baht a kilo.

Mr. Weera is confident that the government’s assistance will effectively solve farmers’ plight.

According to the Prachuap Khiri Khan Governor, related state agencies are speedily working on the budget allocation while the supply purchase will likely start next week.

He added that all pineapples that the government has bought up will be sent to the processing plants, which will transform the supply into canned pineapple for sales whenever prices go up again.

Mr. Weera has stressed that crop supplies eligible for the state incentives are to be of the same quality farmers have sold to factories as young pineapples will not be of any use.

-- NNT 2012-05-27