PM appeals to farmers to suspend second crop farming due to water shortage

[Lite Beer]

PM appeals to farmers to suspend second crop farming due to water shortage

BANGKOK: -- Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha announced Friday night that he would not tolerate if the economic stimulus package that his government is to deliver for the benefit of the needy is skimmed or siphoned off by others who are not supposed to receive.

“There has always been a saying in every era that whenever money was injected to stimulate the economy it is like handing out sweets and it, mostly like, the sweets will not reach the people or just partially. In the end, the people will receive the scrap. But this time around, I will absolutely not let anyone to open the box and eat the sweets before they are received by the people,” he said in his weekly address to the people.

The stimulus package, said the prime minister, will be the main engine to drive the economy during the rest of the year as exports are out of the question. He cited figures from the Commerce Ministry which show exports for August shrank 7 percent compared to the same period last year.

General Prayuth said he had instructed authorities concerned to speed up spending of budget which was supposed to be used to help stimulate the economy. If the spending can be accelerated, he noted that over 160 billion baht would be injected into the economy which will help create many jobs.

Although the amount of stimulus package in support of projects in the rural areas may not be substantial, it will benefit people in the rural areas, he added.

Touching on anticipated drought problem and shortage of water for rice farming, the prime minister appealed to farmers not to plant the second and third crops this and next year pointing out that there are less water reserves at the country’s main dams and if water is discharged from the dams, it will result to water shortage, sea water invasion into the heart land causing environmental damages.

He said that the government would not be able to help if farmers ignore his proposal that farmers should stop cultivating the second and third crops.

Source: http://englishnews.thaipbs.or.th/pm-appeals-farmers-suspend-second-crop-farming-due-water-shortage/

-- Thai PBS 2014-10-04

[chainarong]

People can and do go overseas to get better paid work , unfortunately Thai's would need to come up to speed on the requirements of a degree holder and also a lead weight around the neck is the old chestnut of taking jobs off nationals of those countries, especially in a time of high unemployment, just as OZ is now experiencing, as for our farmers the prospect is not great if you only have to survive on one crop, it is all very well asking for the farmers to stop second or third crops , but has the government got any plans to compensate , doubtful.

[FangFerang]

Last week was supposed to be the last weekly address. I guess last week is this week and this week is next week so we can talk about it this week before next week comes.

[FangFerang]

I particularly love the message in the picture that is not commented on in the text "If you continue to develop yourself, you may be able to eventually make more money by going abroad." The old school is completely unwilling to invest in their own country, as the South Koreans did, simply because they fear new players and do not speak the language of the twenty-first century. Thailand is tourism, rice and foreign companies building factories. Anything else is a risky unknown, so...Issan girls are destined for Pattaya and dissent is destined for water boarding.

They do not realize the horrid condemnation of the Thai economy that this represents. That's the Filipino model -- FWO -- Filipino workers overseas.

Then future's so bright, I gotta wear shades. I gotta wear shades. (Song quote not important enough to research).

[FangFerang]

He said that the government would not be able to help if farmers ignore his proposal that farmers should stop cultivating the second and third crops.

In short, starve from no crops or starve from dead crops--we can't help you. And this, accidentally, keeps the price of rice up.....so middle men and the abstract economy can thrive.

[DrTuner]

I read the subtitles in the screen capture as "flee while you still can".

[ramrod711]

I particularly love the message in the picture that is not commented on in the text "If you continue to develop yourself, you may be able to eventually make more money by going abroad." The old school is completely unwilling to invest in their own country, as the South Koreans did, simply because they fear new players and do not speak the language of the twenty-first century. Thailand is tourism, rice and foreign companies building factories. Anything else is a risky unknown, so...Issan girls are destined for Pattaya and dissent is destined for water boarding.

They do not realize the horrid condemnation of the Thai economy that this represents. That's the Filipino model -- FWO -- Filipino workers overseas.

Then future's so bright, I gotta wear shades. I gotta wear shades. (Song quote not important enough to research).

I agree that sending people overseas to earn money is short sighted, as was the suggestion by a PTP minister to Thai women "If you want to have a good life, marry a farang". Seems like Thai governments of every stripe have no plan for the betterment of their constituents.

[billd766]

He said that the government would not be able to help if farmers ignore his proposal that farmers should stop cultivating the second and third crops.

In short, starve from no crops or starve from dead crops--we can't help you. And this, accidentally, keeps the price of rice up.....so middle men and the abstract economy can thrive.

But not every rice farm CAN grow 2 or perhaps 3 crops per year. The Bhumibol dam north of Tak is down to about 45% of capacity and next year will have a worse drought than this year.

[halloween]

He said that the government would not be able to help if farmers ignore his proposal that farmers should stop cultivating the second and third crops.

In short, starve from no crops or starve from dead crops--we can't help you. And this, accidentally, keeps the price of rice up.....so middle men and the abstract economy can thrive.

What he should have said is "There is a drought. Water will not be released from dams for the second and third crops. If you are stupid enough to plant rice without irrigation water, up to you."

BTW assistance is being offered.

Edited October 4, 2014 by halloween

[Scully]

While in another thread there is a warning for severe weather for the Eastern region. You can't predict the weather and farmers have used their generations of experience to do the job. I can't for the life of me understand why any leader would ask its farmers to stop growing, unless they have too much already. Doh.

[Basil B]

Reading this story I can not stop thinking of King Canute sitting on the beach...

[rickirs]

After only four months since the coup, General Prayuth's self-installed leadership and his House of Cards appears to be falling slowly apart with a continuing sluggish economy (Gen. Prayuth admits exports will not revive the economy!). This does not bode well for citizens of Thailand who might hope for a loosening of human right restrictions.

Dictatorships tend to rule by personal ideology and, when faced with a miscalculation and/or deterioration of perceived popular support (dictators really want to be loved), they will enact with more urgent and extreme measures to reset and maintain their positions of absolute power. "Asking" and "advising" the people becomes "directing" and "requesting" the people. "Let's talk" becomes "Do as I say." "Warnings" becomes the message of the day. There are no political sensitivities to counterbalance a single-mindness of action.

[tbthailand]

so farmers are supposed to not plant rice.

what do they eat, then?

where do they get the money to support their families?

the government hand-out of 1000B per rai goes to farmers who own their land. The poorest farmers lease their land.

So the dear General's prescription is: don't make money, don't get money.

I have to think that a lot of people will be planting as much as they can.

[Mosha]

They can plant behind our house. Cheesed off with the rain.

[whybother]

so farmers are supposed to not plant rice.

what do they eat, then?

where do they get the money to support their families?

the government hand-out of 1000B per rai goes to farmers who own their land. The poorest farmers lease their land.

So the dear General's prescription is: don't make money, don't get money.

I have to think that a lot of people will be planting as much as they can.

If they plant rice and it doesn't grow, what do they eat then? Where do they get the money to support their families? They have even less because they spent their money and used their rice to try to grow another crop.

[halloween]

so farmers are supposed to not plant rice.

what do they eat, then?

where do they get the money to support their families?

the government hand-out of 1000B per rai goes to farmers who own their land. The poorest farmers lease their land.

So the dear General's prescription is: don't make money, don't get money.

I have to think that a lot of people will be planting as much as they can.

Which part of "drought' don't you understand?

[tbthailand]

so farmers are supposed to not plant rice.

what do they eat, then?

where do they get the money to support their families?

the government hand-out of 1000B per rai goes to farmers who own their land. The poorest farmers lease their land.

So the dear General's prescription is: don't make money, don't get money.

I have to think that a lot of people will be planting as much as they can.

Which part of "drought' don't you understand?

Stupid comment.

People are going to plan and hope for the best. They have no choice.

Don't plant, don't eat - that is what many people will be facing.

The 'PM' shows his military heritage by not understanding what will happen and just issuing orders.

[whybother]

so farmers are supposed to not plant rice.

what do they eat, then?

where do they get the money to support their families?

the government hand-out of 1000B per rai goes to farmers who own their land. The poorest farmers lease their land.

So the dear General's prescription is: don't make money, don't get money.

I have to think that a lot of people will be planting as much as they can.

Which part of "drought' don't you understand?

Stupid comment.

People are going to plan and hope for the best. They have no choice.

Don't plant, don't eat - that is what many people will be facing.

The 'PM' shows his military heritage by not understanding what will happen and just issuing orders.

And when their crops fail and they have less than what they had before, what do they do then?

[tbthailand]

so farmers are supposed to not plant rice.

what do they eat, then?

where do they get the money to support their families?

the government hand-out of 1000B per rai goes to farmers who own their land. The poorest farmers lease their land.

So the dear General's prescription is: don't make money, don't get money.

I have to think that a lot of people will be planting as much as they can.

Which part of "drought' don't you understand?

Stupid comment.

People are going to plan and hope for the best. They have no choice.

Don't plant, don't eat - that is what many people will be facing.

The 'PM' shows his military heritage by not understanding what will happen and just issuing orders.

And when their crops fail and they have less than what they had before, what do they do then?

they're gonna be screwed.

But that doesn't mean that they won't plant.

PS: just to make it really clear - if they don't plant, they KNOW what will happen.

Edited October 4, 2014 by tbthailand

[Suriya4]

Just give the order.

Done.

[billsmart]

My Thai wife and I live in an area of Thailand where 2 crops are the norm: an early year crop of paddy rice when water is scarce and a late year crop of jasmine rice when the water is plentiful. Our crop of jasmine rice is doing well with plenty of water available and will be ready for harvest in November.

For many years I've advised my wife to plant an alternate, complimentary crop like beans, instead of the paddy rice. So far I she has not taken my advice. She just can't stand to see the rice land go unplanted. Our paddy rice crop earlier this year however did not do well. This coming year if there are continued warnings of a draught I'll try again to encourage a bean crop. I've told her we don't even have to harvest it. Just plant it, let it grow the best it can and plow it under when the plants flower. It will return a lot of needed nitrogen to the soil and make our subsequent jasmine rice crop that much better.

But...we'll just have to wait and see what happens. Wish us luck!

[bongoz]

NOT A CLUE!!!

From OP "The stimulus package, said the prime minister, will be the main engine to drive the economy during the rest of the year as exports are out of the question. He cited figures from the Commerce Ministry which show exports for August shrank 7 percent compared to the same period last year."

"BANGKOK: -- Rice exports in the first eight months of the year grew significantly, by almost 60 per cent year on year, to 6.59 million tonnes, thanks to strong demand in many markets and a high supply from government stocks, according to the Thai Rice Exporters Association.

The association reported that the value of rice exports also increased by 22.4 per cent year on year to Bt105.83 billion. - http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/765638-rice-export-volumes-soar-in-first-8-months/"

[whybother]

NOT A CLUE!!!

From OP "The stimulus package, said the prime minister, will be the main engine to drive the economy during the rest of the year as exports are out of the question. He cited figures from the Commerce Ministry which show exports for August shrank 7 percent compared to the same period last year."

"BANGKOK: -- Rice exports in the first eight months of the year grew significantly, by almost 60 per cent year on year, to 6.59 million tonnes, thanks to strong demand in many markets and a high supply from government stocks, according to the Thai Rice Exporters Association.

The association reported that the value of rice exports also increased by 22.4 per cent year on year to Bt105.83 billion. - http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/765638-rice-export-volumes-soar-in-first-8-months/"

Manufactured goods make up 80% of exports. Food (rice being just a part of that) is less than 10%.

So a large increase in rice exports could easily be wiped out by a small decrease in other exports.

[fobuff]

well great leader waive your wand and fix it....

[bangon04]

I particularly love the message in the picture that is not commented on in the text "If you continue to develop yourself, you may be able to eventually make more money by going abroad." The old school is completely unwilling to invest in their own country, as the South Koreans did, simply because they fear new players and do not speak the language of the twenty-first century. Thailand is tourism, rice and foreign companies building factories. Anything else is a risky unknown, so...Issan girls are destined for Pattaya and dissent is destined for water boarding.

They do not realize the horrid condemnation of the Thai economy that this represents. That's the Filipino model -- FWO -- Filipino workers overseas.

Then future's so bright, I gotta wear shades. I gotta wear shades. (Song quote not important enough to research).

I agree that sending people overseas to earn money is short sighted, as was the suggestion by a PTP minister to Thai women "If you want to have a good life, marry a farang". Seems like Thai governments of every stripe have no plan for the betterment of their constituents.

as in the aforementioned Filipino model, where the OFWs provide 20 per cent of the Fil. economy in remittances, so the ruling families have little incentive to make a lot of progress for the poorer people.

Edited October 4, 2014 by bangon04

[tullynagardy]

"Please don`t plant anymore rice that gives you the money you need to feed your family. Multi millionaires like me fully understand the situation and don`t need you peasants making our lives difficult"

[halloween]

Which part of "drought' don't you understand?

Stupid comment.

People are going to plan and hope for the best. They have no choice.

Don't plant, don't eat - that is what many people will be facing.

The 'PM' shows his military heritage by not understanding what will happen and just issuing orders.

So you are saying rice farmers are also too stupid to understand "drought"? Or to plant a crop with lower water demand? Or to seek other employment?

The PM has shown his understanding by offering assistance.

[robblok]

He said that the government would not be able to help if farmers ignore his proposal that farmers should stop cultivating the second and third crops.

In short, starve from no crops or starve from dead crops--we can't help you. And this, accidentally, keeps the price of rice up.....so middle men and the abstract economy can thrive.

But not every rice farm CAN grow 2 or perhaps 3 crops per year. The Bhumibol dam north of Tak is down to about 45% of capacity and next year will have a worse drought than this year.

Yes and why should farmers be allowed to take all the water, i would say normal people first then farmers. Greedy farmers all over the world taking water for free and leaving others to safe water.

[Cake Monster]

Please stop growing your rice, as we have too much already and have to sell on the worlds markets at a very depressed price to get rid of it.

If we sell the rice now, that will help get the deficit of 11.5 % for 2014 tax receipts down, and increase the future prices of rice we export.

[rickirs]

"He said that the government would not be able to help if farmers ignore his proposal that farmers should stop cultivating the second and third crops."

In other news:

The province of Ubon Ratchathani has just extended more than 15 billion baht worth of loans to rubber tapper cooperatives. The loan is intended for them to buy rubber from farmers and put it into the processing system, in order to help shore up the prices of natural rubber.

Why is the government now so down on rice farmers? Rubber farmers demanded favorable government treatment like the rice farmers, now the rice farmers in turn want the same treatment as rubber farmers. Does the term "spiralling out of control" come to mind when it comes to the future of the Thai agricultural economy?