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

[whybother]

"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?

Aren't they spending 40 billion baht on rice farmers?

[fab4]

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.

At the risk of running the gauntlet of the "Off Topic" brigade (you know who you are) I cannot let your reference to Sunai Julphongsathorn's tounge in cheek comment go down in history as official PTP policy - as you are obviously trying to do through suggestion.

This part of his speech was vilified by some commentators in the media, although it was taken out of context; his tongue in cheek, demonstrative remark, was interpreted as literal, firm advice. What Sunai was in fact emphasising was the absence of a safety net for the poor and the lack of opportunities for poorly educated, unskilled Thai women. Without such an enterprise as a social welfare system perhaps they would be better choosing a western dish from their paltry menu of life.

He went on:

“Some get a good husband, some get a drunken one and some lucky ones even get a farang husband! And they are getting scolded about why they would get [a farang husband]. I used to scold these Thai women too! But ever since I became a red shirt, I know everything about their problems – having traveled all across Europe, I’ve found the truth that: they are really better off marrying a farang! If you ask why – well, it’s because their lives have no future. The poor people in Isaan, the poor people in the north – they don’t have a future at all! And the women have it harder than the men!”

http://www.chiangmaicitynews.com/news.php?id=767

[tbthailand]

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.

no, I am saying that many people will not see that they have any choice. I thought that was obvious.

[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.

no, I am saying that many people will not see that they have any choice. I thought that was obvious.

so it's only you.

[trogers]

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.

Starve from no crop is better. No loss of investment.

[Chris Lawrence]

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!

Makes sense Bill. Unfortunately you are not Thai, even marriage does not give the right to make comment on a potential advantage that the others in the village are not doing. The practice of growing beans may indicate too much effort for unknown reward?

The only thing to do is do it yourself.

And I do wish you and your wife luck.

Edited October 5, 2014 by Chris Lawrence