Agriculture Ministry brushes aside plan to give senior farmers extra money

BANGKOK, 5 March 2015 (NNT) – The Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives has denied rumors that it is going to offer money to senior farmers in its second phase of economic stimulus plan.

In response to the hearsay, Agriculture and Cooperatives Minister Pitipong Phuengbun Na Ayutthaya confirmed that the ministry had no plan to provide 15,000 baht to farmers aged above 60 in a bid to boost spending as some people might believe.

The Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives has prepared plans to assist financially troubled farmers but it must await the outcome of the study of farmers’ spending and income first before executing the plans, which Mr. Pitipong reaffirms consist of no cash distribution.

said t According to him, the Ministry prefers sustainable solutions as they will enable farmers to stand on their own feet, such as promotion of the use of locally-made products to lower reliance on export, or negotiation with the Ministry of Finance for cancellation of debt repayment for farmers.


-- NNT 2015-03-05

"reaffirmes there will be no cash disbursement" --

I understand the reasoning but do not agree with it. Elderly farmers need money, or food, or paid electric for a few months, or anything....promoting other industries in the name of it helping the poor is moving a pile of money from one friend to another friend and calling it progress.