PM Yingluck: Rice pledge scheme a boon to economy, farmers

[rubl]

If only the figures were not state secrets. I'm sure if people knew all details on how the THB 352 billion of the 2011/2012 period has been spread around they would immediately signup for Pheu Thai membership and start gatherings to praise this benevolent government. Allegedly that is :-)

[OzMick]

She talks such a load of crap.

If they wanted to help the farmers, scrap the scheme and simply split the 260 Billion between the farmers. That would have benefitted them far more.

You mean cash handouts like the Democrats did?

For doing nothing? - oops.... of course it was to secure the support of civil servants who already have good salaries and benefits most regular Thai folk can only dream about.

260 billion Baht for a country like Thailand is nothing - just take it out of the armed forces "secret budgets" and cut it off CAT (corruption added tax) the percentage they add on to every government contract and from politicians and civil servants - and give it to the farmers - at least they work hard for their money and it brings buying power to the country side - for the first time to the people who deserve it most - the people who work hard to make sure we are fed every day.

We have become so accustomed to buying things for money that we have forgotten where the things we eat come from - if you don't believe me - well just try a little money on your dinner plate tomorrow - and try to squeeze some juice out of it for a drink.

All my neighbors are farmers - simple hard working people who have been taken advantage of since forever by middle man. They deserve a break - the vicious cycle of neverending debt to plant the next crop might be broken for the first time - as they tell me for the first time they can save up some money in decades and not just struggle to survive.

Tax money - and a large part of it - has always been lost in this country to corruption under every government. Now at least some of it goes to the people who really deserve it.

Would be interesting to know of course what is going on in warehouses and rice mills - these crooks always find a way to steal. After all "educated few" have centuries of experience ripping of poor farmers.

If B260 billion is nothing, why did they bother to steal it? If rice production is so important, why are we eating cambodian rice?

Land owners doubled rent, while farmers show little increase in income. A simple piece of legislation could have overcome that, and made the policy more effective. No need to ask why it wasn't done, just look at who owns the land.

[GentlemanJim]

The Dems need to keep quiet and watch the show. Regardless of promises, if you finally realise that you have porked it then you take remedial measures.

[Puwa]

Thaipublica.org estimates the losses of the scheme at 393 billion baht.

http://thaipublica.org/2013/06/rice-pledged-thaksin-to-yingluck/

[GentlemanJim]

Thaipublica.org estimates the losses of the scheme at 393 billion baht.

http://thaipublica.org/2013/06/rice-pledged-thaksin-to-yingluck/

Scary!

[Tatsujin]

She talks such a load of crap.

If they wanted to help the farmers, scrap the scheme and simply split the 260 Billion between the farmers. That would have benefitted them far more.

You mean cash handouts like the Democrats did?

Well, it wouldn't be any worse than the crap they are doing now and at least some of that money then gets into the right pockets.

Problem is, as soon as the farmers got this "extra" money, their rent was put up . . . so they don't gain much of anything unless they own the land . . . and we all know who owns a lot of the land here, those self-same people who are screwing this country left, right and sideways.

[allan michaud]

She talks such a load of crap.

If they wanted to help the farmers, scrap the scheme and simply split the 260 Billion between the farmers. That would have benefitted them far more.

Not sure how many rice farmers there are in the scam but your right. 5 million poor Thais could have been given over Baht50,000 each

[Robby nz]

The farmers who have worked their ass off putting extra land into production and used extra fertilisor to boost production in order to take advantage of the scheme are sure going to be pleased about the 20% drop in price.

How about all pollies of the PT party also accepting a 20% drop in income to show the farmers that its not a problem.

[apetley]

 

She talks such a load of crap.

 

If they wanted to help the farmers, scrap the scheme and simply split the 260 Billion between the farmers. That would have benefitted them far more.

 

You mean cash handouts like the Democrats did?

 

Well, it wouldn't be any worse than the crap they are doing now and at least some of that money then gets into the right pockets.

 

Problem is, as soon as the farmers got this "extra" money, their rent was put up . . . so they don't gain much of anything unless they own the land . . . and we all know who owns a lot of the land here, those self-same people who are screwing this country left, right and sideways.

In our village the rent for rice paddy has gone from 800-1000 bht per rai two years ago to 2000 bht since late last year.

The guy who rents my wifes paddy says that he is no better off than a couple of years ago.

Sent from my GT-I9003 using Thaivisa Connect Thailand mobile app

[Ulic]

Seems to me the 260 B Baht is the loss figure that makes the most sense. That is the loss so far.

How much bigger it gets and how it will be spun is the real mystery.

[Skywalker69]

I really think she believes what she is saying when she reads the speeches laid down in front of her. She does not have a frakking clue about what is going on.

The question is if she understands the speeches laid down in front of her.

[Roadman]

She talks such a load of crap.

If they wanted to help the farmers, scrap the scheme and simply split the 260 Billion between the farmers. That would have benefitted them far more.

Not sure how many rice farmers there are in the scam but your right. 5 million poor Thais could have been given over Baht50,000 each

When put as simple as that it is scary what has been foolishly wasted to middle men by this Shinawatra stupidity.

[GeorgeO]

Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra insisted today that the government's rice pledging scheme, though suffering heavy losses, "has stimulated Thailand’s gross domestic product"

Really? That's not what the IMF and Moody's are suggesting....!

[waza]

Thaipublica.org estimates the losses of the scheme at 393 billion baht.

http://thaipublica.org/2013/06/rice-pledged-thaksin-to-yingluck/

Scary!

Whats scary is the losses will continue, don't be surprised at a 90% loss, or about 500 billion baht

[GentlemanJim]

Thaipublica.org estimates the losses of the scheme at 393 billion baht.

http://thaipublica.org/2013/06/rice-pledged-thaksin-to-yingluck/

Scary!

Whats scary is the losses will continue, don't be surprised at a 90% loss, or about 500 billion baht

You're completely correct and I for one won't!

[Thai at Heart]

Thaipublica.org estimates the losses of the scheme at 393 billion baht.

http://thaipublica.org/2013/06/rice-pledged-thaksin-to-yingluck/

Scary!

Whats scary is the losses will continue, don't be surprised at a 90% loss, or about 500 billion baht

Well it's close to 50% now, just because of the prices they paid. Let it sit in the warehouses another year and you may be right.

It all costs money having this stuff sitting around. Add in damage and quality losses.

The figures will be horrible.