Investor held for buying farm reform land

[Lite Beer]

Investor held for buying farm reform land
Wattana Khamchu
Jakkapong Rawiwan
The Nation

KALASIN: -- An investor in the northeastern province of Kalasin has been arrested for buying agricultural-reform land plots from farmers.

Samarn Dissalung, 50, confessed to having acquired 1,768 rai (283 hectares] of Sor Por Kor land from 97 farmers participating in the Agricultural Land Reform Office scheme but maintained he did not own the land.

The office has allocated Sor Por Kor plots to landless farmers on the condition they use the plots for farming. They are not allowed to sell the land.

"I didn't pay money for land ownership. I have just asked for the right to do farming on these plots," Samarn said.

He said he grew eucalyptus on the plots and he was willing to return the land to the farmers if they handed back the money.

Meanwhile, relevant ministers yesterday met to discuss problems linked to water management, land use and garbage.

In attendance were Interior Minister Anupong Paochinda, Natural Resources and Environment Minister Dapong Rattanasuwan and Agriculture and Cooperatives Minister Peetipong Phuengbun na Ayutthaya.

The Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives asked the Interior Ministry to help its campaign on responsible water usage.

The dry season starts on November 1.

Somjai Taewwong, who has 500 rai of paddy fields in Pathum Thani, said that if there were to be a drought she would not grow rice this dry season.

Farmers have been warned to be cautious about growing rice in the dry season.

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/national/Investor-held-for-buying-farm-reform-land-30244721.html

-- The Nation 2014-10-04

[CUNJU]

If He didn't buy the land how can expect the farmers to return Money? duh

[IMA_FARANG]

Just another stinking Capitalist parasite feeding of the poor.

[ezzra]

Just another stinking Capitalist parasite feeding of the poor.

While the current and past governments are handing money and land hands over fists to those

so called " poor farmers " and only thing that is poor about them is their chance to ever become

self sustained chasing money without actually bettering their lives one bit...

[halloween]

It seems 97 poor farmers were quite happy to take a handout but a quick calculation of the annual return from farming the land led to the inevitable conclusion that doing so would keep them poor indefinitely. If the blocks are contiguous, 283ha might even be a viable small farm.

Must be top quality dirt if the buyer thought the best thing to grow was gum trees. Perhaps he was going to farm koalas. They'd be considered a delicacy in China.

[Anthony5]

"I didn't pay money for land ownership.

and he was willing to return the land to the farmers if they handed back the money.

My comments will follow as soon as I get my head around this statement. Don't hold your breath until then.

[Robby nz]

It seems 97 poor farmers were quite happy to take a handout but a quick calculation of the annual return from farming the land led to the inevitable conclusion that doing so would keep them poor indefinitely. If the blocks are contiguous, 283ha might even be a viable small farm.

Must be top quality dirt if the buyer thought the best thing to grow was gum trees. Perhaps he was going to farm koalas. They'd be considered a delicacy in China.

Gum trees are quite a valuable in demand crop, have you never seen the props that hold up most of the building work that goes on ? Except the big multi story buildings that is, where they usually use real scaffolding.

That aside, if the farmers sold him the land that they weren't supposed to sell then surly they must be guilty of something as well.

Unless of course there was some sort of coercion, like him lending (loan sharking) money to the farmers then taking the land as payment for the debt.

That may account for him saying if they give him the money back (that he lent them at high interest, plus the interest) he would give the land back.

Would also account for him saying he didn't buy the land as he took it as payment for debt.

[tingtong]

Actually, for one, I would like to see those 97 landless -formerly, and recently again - farmers who voluntarily sold their land what they know they not suppose to sell in the first place!

They are as much part of the crime as the buyer is!

As for the PM, his not to farm in the coming dry season suggestions...I think he just find the rope to hang himself...like many politicians before him.

[williamw921]

maybe he was renting the land from the farmers

[FangFerang]

I have not bought the land that could not be sold, I purchased the right to grow crops there, which are not mine. And If I ever did something that was not illegal, which of course I didn't, I never undid what I never did to begin with because I was never guilty of what never happened. In short, there was nothing that occurred that was not not nothing, and therefore, of course, i cannot be held accountable for it.

Nonetheless, I do want to state that if what never happened was a burden to those it never happened to, I am happy to return what was never mine to those who never sold it if they refund my money. Otherwise, I am obligated to retain ownership over what I never purchased so I can harvest what was never planted.

[trogers]

maybe he was renting the land from the farmers

A businessman would not rent so much land for no cohesive purpose of production.

[daboyz1]

maybe he was renting the land from the farmers

I wonder if he had the SPGs in his possession? If he did, then I would say he purchased the land. Or at least he thought he was purchasing it. SPG land can only be handed down to family members. That said, I know it gets bought and sold all the time. I also know that folks borrow money against that land on a regular basis. I myself had to pay 200k to get the SPG back because my sister in law borrowed money using it as collateral. After getting the SPG back, we went straight to the PAO to get the land transferred in to my wife's name so that wont happen again.