Govt takes steps to help drought-affected farmers

BANGKOK, 8 January 2016 (NNT) – Agricultural Extension Department Director General Olarn Phitak confirmed the government has taken measures to assist drought-affected farmers nationwide.

For instance, the government has approved over 900 million baht in funding to help 385,000 farmers of 22 provinces in Chao Phraya River's basins. With the grant money, they were strongly suggested to grow plants which will not need much water and to raise small farm animals such as ducks and chicken.

Besides, Agriculture and Cooperatives Minister Chatchai Sarikalya visited Pitsanulok province to inspect projects primarily aiming to help drought-affected farmers and provide them seedlings of alternative plants.


-- NNT 2016-01-08

Teach a man to fish.

Too bad it took a drought to get the government to look at alternatives to rice. Better late than never I guess.

If successive administrations including this one had paid more attention to this important problem instead of just meaningless talk and other grandiose programmes, the government wouldn't be taking these steps and farmers could grow what and when they liked , you have to wonder because of this shortage of water just how much it will affect the Thai economy over the next decade , any proper planning will take at least a decade to see any results...............................

No mention of any water supply infrastrure improvements such as reservoirs, ground water basins and conveyance systems. Nor of any comprehensive national water management plan. To date what the government has done is drill thousands of wells and aerial rainmaking.

Also there is no mention of a national water conservation plan to balance urban use with food production. Farmers are expected to change or supplement their income with alternative crops while no expectations of urban populations to alter their usage.

Until the government treats all Thais as equals, there will be no practical change in its agricultural industry practices.

For instance, the government has approved over 900 million baht in funding to help 385,000 farmers of 22 provinces in Chao Phraya River's basins. With the grant money, they were strongly suggested to grow plants which will not need much water and to raise small farm animals such as ducks and chicken.

besides the humour of the self-appointed government telling farmers to raise small animals like chickens, which every farmer and almost every non-farmer I know already does.... besides the fact that that is ROFL funny/stupid advise, a bit of fast math shows that this "government" feels that less than 2,400 B per farmer is going to move the needle on their problems...

For instance, the government has approved over 900 million baht in funding to help 385,000 farmers of 22 provinces in Chao Phraya River's basins. With the grant money, they were strongly suggested to grow plants which will not need much water and to raise small farm animals such as ducks and chicken.

besides the humour of the self-appointed government telling farmers to raise small animals like chickens, which every farmer and almost every non-farmer I know already does.... besides the fact that that is ROFL funny/stupid advise, a bit of fast math shows that this "government" feels that less than 2,400 B per farmer is going to move the needle on their problems...

Absolutely!

Now if only the previous government hadn't squandered away 500++ billion Baht for short term gains for their own party ... ...

And there are automatically available processors, markets and customers for all the alternative crops and small animals? And village farmers have requisite knowledge of how to do large scale alternative crops or chicken farming? Just go do it, is the Government's directive with a pittance of financial help and no educational help. Wonderful plan.

Edited January 9, 201610 yr by jerojero