MOAC reveals certain measures to help farmers cope with drought

BANGKOK, 17 October 2014 (NNT) – The Ministry of Agriculture and Agricultural Cooperatives (MOAC) has been instructed to help farmers cope with the dry season, which is expected to exacerbate next year.

Farmers in 26 provinces have been told not to grow any rice during summer, as water levels remain critically low. The intermittent rains forecasted in 2015 will not be adequate for farming and the amount of water across major reservoirs will be 5.3 million cubic meters lower than last year.

As an alternative, the farmers will be employed over a period of 4 months to dredge up canals instead of harvesting rice to supplement their incomes with a wage of 300 baht per day. Over 7 million rais of rice paddies will go without crops next year.

For this, the MOAC has laid out a few measures and regulations to help rice farmers and prevent water shortage.

Among these measures, the government will also promote career development for farmers and other types of farming that does not require the use of much water. Farmers will also not be entitled to any help, if they ignore the ministry’s advice by engaging in double crop farming activities, as it requires tremendous use of water.


-- NNT 2014-10-17

I hope it works!

"As an alternative, the farmers will be employed over a period of 4 months to dredge up canals instead of harvesting rice to supplement their incomes with a wage of 300 baht per day. Over 7 million rais of rice paddies will go without crops next year."

Nice try Charlie but NO canals in my area. How about building some reservoirs with the money the government wast.

now if the farmers actually abide by this I will be surprised as they usually totally ignore any good advice. The 300 baht a day will save them a lot of worry about cash and probably give them more than they can make off the crop anyway, just hope they dont p*ss it all up against the wall like they usually do then complain they have nothing. This can give them enough to survive and not have to borrow from the loan sharks too. Will be interesting to see what actually happens

...Is this an attempt by the government to remove competition of sales from their large stockpiles of rice. I do agree with the govt. in that rice grown under irrigation, particularly Thai style with over flooded paddies is totally ridiculous particularly with the world price of rice so depressed.

Interesting program.

It combines Yingluck Administration’s minimum daily wage with a US President Theodore Roosevelt style work-relief program that used unemployed citizens (including many farmers) to build bridges, roads, public parks, etc. at a set monthly wage. While the program was slightly more costly than direct relief payments (somewhat like today's unemployment benefits), it supposedly gave workers more self-esteem than not working for pay.

I’m not sure if Thai rice farmers would enthusiastically work to clear canals, or whatever, for a minimum wage; or whether they would be too concerned about their self-esteem to be paid for just not farming rice.

But I endorse such programs that regulate instead of eradicate citizens opportunity to earn a survivable income. The same kind of program needs to be extended to the unemployed beach workers, street food vendors, and other business sectors where unskilled labor has lost means of income through government enforcement and/or new regulations. To do so defuses the program as a populist program that only targets rice farmers who are known for their large public protests against unfavorable government programs.

"...unemployed beach workers, street food vendors, and other business sectors where unskilled labor has lost means of income through government enforcement and/or new regulations."

Where has this occurred at to what extent?

Interesting program.

It combines Yingluck Administrations minimum daily wage with a US President Theodore Roosevelt style work-relief program that used unemployed citizens (including many farmers) to build bridges, roads, public parks, etc. at a set monthly wage. While the program was slightly more costly than direct relief payments (somewhat like today's unemployment benefits), it supposedly gave workers more self-esteem than not working for pay.

Im not sure if Thai rice farmers would enthusiastically work to clear canals, or whatever, for a minimum wage; or whether they would be too concerned about their self-esteem to be paid for just not farming rice.

But I endorse such programs that regulate instead of eradicate citizens opportunity to earn a survivable income. The same kind of program needs to be extended to the unemployed beach workers, street food vendors, and other business sectors where unskilled labor has lost means of income through government enforcement and/or new regulations. To do so defuses the program as a populist program that only targets rice farmers who are known for their large public protests against unfavorable government programs.

Rick your comparisons with the USA (the great depression) are spot on. But wouldn't we rather have people working for a living rather than lining up at the welfare office/unemployment office to get on the dole a better option? Folks on the dole often leave the work pool whereas those earning a living through govt. programs are still active and engaged in earning a living, and just maybe looking for better employment?