Young People See Farming Work As A Dead End: Thai Editorial

[brit1984]

The only Thai farming family we know are very wealthy. Like most jobs, farming is not "dead end" per se, but (like most jobs) you need to be smart, determined and politically astute (and maybe also lucky) if you want to be successful.

Sent from iPhone; please forgive any typos or violations of forum rules

[BigJohnnyBKK]

Sorry you obviously don't live in Bangkok - the place is full of slums! Look around!

There are certainly many millions living in Bangkok whose housing doesn't meet developed countries' standards, but that's also true for every major metro area in the richest country on earth.

However that problem here and in the US doesn't begin to compare with that of other even less developed countries. And much of that is due to the fact that the rural home infrastructure of these ex-peasants is still intact - they only need to live in the city while they have decent work - which most of them do, and if things go pear-shaped many can head back to the villages.

If Thailand allows the viability of those village support structures to collapse then yes, the time will come where they do have much worse urban problems, but right now it's a pretty good balance.

What per cent of people farm in US to produce food only to feed its domestic needs? Very little

And not just the US but the world would be a much better place if more people did.

The King here is not wrong to advocate simplicity and self-sufficiency, better for not only the earth but the happiness of humans.

[bangkokbruce]

It would be nice if whoever wrote this went up to Isaan and spent a couple of years working on a farm. Faces to the mud - backs to the sky. Wonder how long he'd last?

Exacty, todays younger generation would rather go to Pattaya and Bangkok and lay on they're backs spreading they're legs to get the latest cell phone and fashion clothes than take over the farm....so they're parents have to hire laotians and cambodians to do the work...just a shame...thats ok...karma baby...karma

[Arkady]

Arkady, Your reply was a little lengthy and not really answering the point I made, You said-" do you have a work permit" weather he has or not why put in print ???? No one cares a hoot how much land you have, tongue in cheek or not it was NOT cricket to ask on TV whether Bhakta had a permit. This was more than nosey, If you only think it it would be in bad taste. sweet mouthing your way out of it was poor, better not reply at all. Sorry again Mr. nosey. We expats have enough problems here, without anyone bringing the attention of Thai authorities,(we do not know who reads here)

I am sorry to hear that you have problems as an expat in Thailand but you are not forced to stay, if you don't like it here.

Since you make an issue of it, it was Bhakta himself who disclosed that he is apparently performing agricultural work, not me. I have no idea who he is and I can't imagine that any DoE or Immigration officials are so diligent that they would trawl through TV looking for evidence that anonymous farangs are working as farmers without WPs and then conduct a raid on TV under the Computer Crimes Act citing national security concerns in order to obtain their IP addresses. They are so lazy that they rely almost exclusively on complaints.

Anyway TV members should be aware that the definition of work that requires a WP under the 2008 Working of Aliens Act is extremely broad. The definition is ""Working' means working through physical strength or knowledge whether or not it is intended for wages or similar benefits." Occupations that are reserved for Thai citizens are listed in the annex to the 1978 Working of Aliens Act and that annex remains in force since it has not been updated under the 2008 Act. Manual labour and work in agriculture, animal husbandry, forestry or fishery excluding specialized work in each particular branch or farm of supervision are listed separately in the annex as reserved occupations. These particular restrictions were never intended to be used against farangs but in fact date back to the pre-Second World War period when large number of Chinese coolies, who were regarded as much more hard working than Thai labourers, were being imported into the Kingdom. Now that the Chinese coolies are no longer a threat to the jobs of Thai day labourers and in view of the shortage of Thai agricultural labour, perhaps the annex will be amended to allow Thai farmers to benefit from low cost agricultural workers from neighbouring countries, as well as from Europe.

[bangkokbruce]

When the red shirts get their way, every Thai will be a farmer and it will be the cities that are empty.

Is this why TS is snuggling up to Hun Sen in Cambodia? To get lessons from him and his Pol Pot buddies? Don't worry though, the red shirts will still need the prostitutes, ladyboys, and katoeys in Patpong, Nana Plaza, Soi Cowboy and all the hostess bars to keep them satisfied and their daughters and sons employed while the parents work the farm because their kids are too lazy and more interested in playing games on the pc's and cell phones, and updating their facebook and going to the malls. Bangkok is already "The killing fields" thanks to the red shirts and their greedy selfish paid off followers, top police brass, and top military brass. After all, why would they want to share anything as long as they have it all like fancy overtaxed cars, and fancy homes, and spoiled rotten kids. Welcome to thailand.