Thai govt to set up 'agricultural zoning'

[webfact]

Govt to set up ‘agricultural zoning’
By Digital Content



BANGKOK, Oct 7 -- The interim government of Prime Minister Gen Prayut Chan-o-cha will set up ‘agricultural zoning’ for growing rice, rubber and other agricultural products to persuade growers to use less land area and water but which offers higher yields.

Gen Prayut told journalists after chairing a National Rice Policy Committee meeting Monday that the Interior Ministry has been assigned to establish a joint committee with other government agencies to specify ‘agricultural zones’ as well as finding ways to persuade people around the world to consume more rice, which would help boost sales of Thai rice.

He said the Agriculture and Cooperatives Ministry was also ordered to prepare a clearer list of agriculturists, within and outside irrigation zones, buyers and to also find agricultural land for low-income farmers.

Re-emphasising that his government is determined to assist poor farmers, as it had paid money to farmers who had sold rice to the previous, toppled government under its rice-pledging programme, Gen Prayut said his government would one year from now continue to helping farmers.

Money to be handed out by the government to poor rice farmers at Bt1,000 per rai is “not a populist programme,'" he said, "but rather on solving problems urgently.”

The cabinet last week gave the green light to inject Bt40 billion in cash for rice farmers, insisting that it was aimed at stimulating local economy.

Gen Prayut said the Tourism and Sports Ministry has also been assigned to promote eco-tourism by asking farmers to offer home stay services to foreign tourists so that they would be enable to learn rural lifestyles. (MCOT online news)

-- TNA 2014-10-07

[Yme]

>>as well as finding ways to persuade people around the world to consume more rice<< In the same way that they have made all Thais happy?

Disliking rice will not be tolerated. Thoughts of potatoes, pasta or other starches is forbidden. Perhaps the general will write a song about the benefits of eating rice and pen a list of attributes to be recited daily?

[alant]

>>as well as finding ways to persuade people around the world to consume more rice<< In the same way that they have made all Thais happy?

Disliking rice will not be tolerated. Thoughts of potatoes, pasta or other starches is forbidden. Perhaps the general will write a song about the benefits of eating rice and pen a list of attributes to be recited daily?

How about a campaign for rice pudding, Thailand the hub of rice puddings

[BSJ]

Is anyone researching what rice can be used for? There maybe new areas to explore. Making enviro friendly plastic bags, into thread that can be woven into cloth to make blankets for the poor.

I am not a chemist so I will leave it up to the wise owls on TVF to ponder what can be done.

[Chris Lawrence]

'Money to be handed out by the government to poor rice farmers at Bt1,000 per rai is “not a populist programme,'" he said, "but rather on solving problems urgently.”'

Rice programs have been around for many years in Thailand, and when the cash is received it is popular with the recipients.

Populist programme is more associated with the T's; solving problems urgently is a phrase now associated with the General.

So how is agricultural zoning going to be carried out?

[rickirs]

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Is anyone researching what rice can be used for? There maybe new areas to explore. Making enviro friendly plastic bags, into thread that can be woven into cloth to make blankets for the poor.

I am not a chemist so I will leave it up to the wise owls on TVF to ponder what can be done. alt=rolleyes.gif>

Maybe Thailand can use Jasmine rice to make an Ebola vaccine?

[taony]

Hopefully city zoning comes next. Maybe a tiny plan for development?

[halloween]

Is anyone researching what rice can be used for? There maybe new areas to explore. Making enviro friendly plastic bags, into thread that can be woven into cloth to make blankets for the poor.

I am not a chemist so I will leave it up to the wise owls on TVF to ponder what can be done.

If your mobile phone gets wet, put it in a container of rice. Overnight, little Asians will sneak in and repair it.

[rickirs]

“government is determined to assist poor farmers”

But not ALL poor Thai farmers, just rice farmers. That is called a policy directed to benefit a specific group of people – Populism. The speed at which a policy is implemented has no relevance as to a policy’s purpose. Holding absolute power over the government, Gen. Prayuth and the NCPO can simply dictate whatever policies desired unimpeded by debate and challenges one would find in a democratic government.

“Money to be handed out by the government to poor rice farmers at Bt1,000 per rai is “not a populist programme,”

Note that there is no stated income litmus test mentioned with this handout that would actually limit the subsidy to “poor” rice farmers. A majority of the rice crop is grown by wealthy families who hold comparatively much larger tracts of land. If the subsidy is not specifically limited to a gross revenue (not net because of tax planning can virtually eliminate taxable income, ieg., by wealthy farmers), wealthy farmers will also benefit at the public trough.

The regime continues to misunderstand populist policies, perhaps biased by its dislike of the Thaksin regime that introduced populism into Thai society.

Populist policies are more commonly used abusively by the Elite and wealthy classes whose minority members 1) hold control of political power over the majority of the people or “masses,” and 2) keep society from revolting against their dictatorial control. As an institution, populism is used by the elite and wealthy class to mediate between traditional elites and the "people" in general. In appealing to the masses of poor people prior to gaining power, populists may promise widely-demanded food, housing, employment, basic social services, and income redistribution.

Economic populism measures (or “promises”) are directed towards obtaining support from “the people” with the goal of (1) mobilizing support from organized labor and lower-middle-class groups; (2) obtaining backing from domestically oriented business; and (3) politically isolating the rural oligarchy Ie., wealthy plantation owners), foreign enterprises, and large-scale industrial elites.” Constitutional Monarchies are an extreme case of an oligarch regime.

Populism can co-exist with a variety of liberal reforms that may enhance economic austerity through economic liberalizations, free trade, open markets, privatization, deregulation, and enhancing the role of the private sector in modern society. Populist policies can establish in times of economic depression a stable, domestic demand-driven economy that is less vulnerable to external shocks of an export dependent economy. As such, the political representation of popular domestic sectors can fortify, rather than undermine, democratic practices if such democratic society existed.

[halloween]

“government is determined to assist poor farmers”

But not ALL poor Thai farmers, just rice farmers. That is called a policy directed to benefit a specific group of people – Populism. The speed at which a policy is implemented has no relevance as to a policy’s purpose. Holding absolute power over the government, Gen. Prayuth and the NCPO can simply dictate whatever policies desired unimpeded by debate and challenges one would find in a democratic government.

“Money to be handed out by the government to poor rice farmers at Bt1,000 per rai is “not a populist programme,”

Note that there is no stated income litmus test mentioned with this handout that would actually limit the subsidy to “poor” rice farmers. A majority of the rice crop is grown by wealthy families who hold comparatively much larger tracts of land. If the subsidy is not specifically limited to a gross revenue (not net because of tax planning can virtually eliminate taxable income, ieg., by wealthy farmers), wealthy farmers will also benefit at the public trough.

The regime continues to misunderstand populist policies, perhaps biased by its dislike of the Thaksin regime that introduced populism into Thai society.

Populist policies are more commonly used abusively by the Elite and wealthy classes whose minority members 1) hold control of political power over the majority of the people or “masses,” and 2) keep society from revolting against their dictatorial control. As an institution, populism is used by the elite and wealthy class to mediate between traditional elites and the "people" in general. In appealing to the masses of poor people prior to gaining power, populists may promise widely-demanded food, housing, employment, basic social services, and income redistribution.

Economic populism measures (or “promises”) are directed towards obtaining support from “the people” with the goal of (1) mobilizing support from organized labor and lower-middle-class groups; (2) obtaining backing from domestically oriented business; and (3) politically isolating the rural oligarchy Ie., wealthy plantation owners), foreign enterprises, and large-scale industrial elites.” Constitutional Monarchies are an extreme case of an oligarch regime.

Populism can co-exist with a variety of liberal reforms that may enhance economic austerity through economic liberalizations, free trade, open markets, privatization, deregulation, and enhancing the role of the private sector in modern society. Populist policies can establish in times of economic depression a stable, domestic demand-driven economy that is less vulnerable to external shocks of an export dependent economy. As such, the political representation of popular domestic sectors can fortify, rather than undermine, democratic practices if such democratic society existed.

So it's got nothing to do with drought, or that RICE farmers are being advised not to plant more than 1 crop this year?

[SiggiCM]

Gen Prayut said the Tourism and Sports Ministry has also been assigned to promote eco-tourism by asking farmers to offer home stay services to foreign tourists so that they would be enable to learn rural lifestyles.

yes show the foreign tourists the newest iphone in a farmers house with no bath or toilet in house and a brand new pick up bought with 200 monthly payments, their daughters dont have to go to Pty to work anymore, they can meet the tourists straigth away in theit village

and dont forget to show the foreign tourists who are 99% green minded people how many tons of pestizides you use per rai ricefild

Edited October 8, 2014 by SiggiCM

[WitawatWatawit]

"Gen Prayut said the Tourism and Sports Ministry has also been assigned to promote eco-tourism by asking farmers to offer home stay services to foreign tourists so that they would be enable to learn rural lifestyles."

Once again, the illogical. General, there are farms which already offer this service. But not many because it's not wildly popular, and it's a real stretch of the imagination to think this kind of facility has any significant tourism potential. Tourism is no answer to rural problems. Proper agricultural policies are. General, you don't need to try to find an answer to everything - you make dents in your credibility when you do. A good leader knows to pick the best people to help him - think about it.

[finnomick]

I can't comment on other areas of Thailand, but here in Buriram Province the maximum area of land per rice farmer that will receive any benefit is 15 rai. So if a wealthy family farms 100 rai of rice they'll only qualify up to the 15 rai limit. The F.I.Law has three areas of land which total 50 rai. He submitted his paperwork today and was told the maximum he'd get was 15,000 baht