Farmers get more assistance from Thai government

[webfact]

Farmers get more assistance from government



BANGKOK: -- The government yesterday endorsed several measures designed to help improve farmers' livelihood and salvage them from debts.

One of the measures is for the the Bank of Agriculture and Cooperatives to delay collection of capital on loans for at least two years.

Besides, the government also endorsed a reduction of interest rates by 3% and providing support production factors of 1,000 baht per rai for farmer.

According to Mr Aphisak Tantiworawong, the Finance Minister, the measures endorsed by the cabinet were meant to aid farmers who have lost earnings as a result of the country’s drought crisis and sustained two-year drop in rice prices.

Production factor support has been agreed upon where monetary aid of 1,000 baht per rai but not exceeding 10 rai per farmer family will be provided.

According to the Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives, there are altogether 3.7 million farmers who are in need of support.

This will require a total budget of 37.8 billion baht in financial assistance.

On top of this, he said the Bank of Agriculture and Cooperatives was ordered to hold off on capital collection on loans taken out by these farmers for a period of two years.

The bank was also ordered to reduce interest rates from 7% to 4% for farmers who have taken out loans not exceeding 500,000 baht per person.

In all, it is estimated that around two million farmers will benefit from this program and the total budget for the two-year program will amount to 5.4 billion baht which will be shouldered equally between the government and the Bank of Agriculture and Cooperatives.

Source: http://englishnews.thaipbs.or.th/farmers-get-assistance-government/


-- Thai PBS 2016-06-22

[Winniedapu]

"The bank was also ordered to reduce interest rates from 7% to 4% for farmers who have taken out loans not exceeding 500,000 baht per person."

Ooh, that's gonna hurt, if the bank obeys. Which it probably won't.

W

[robblok]

The production support of 1000 baht per rai not exceeding 10 rai is great this way it will benefit only the small farmers. Unlike the rice program it will go to the right people because the rice program did not help the real poor and small farmers much and had much more room for corruption.

This is a measure that could really work aimed at only the small farmers and less room for corruption. Sounds better thought out.

[maoro2013]

Any qualifying famer would get this regardless of total raise being farmed but the support would be limited to 10 rai. That is if it works like the rubber subsidy.

[maoro2013]

I don't think this is aimed at small farmers c at all. The amount of support is limited that's all.

[HasipHasip5]

The production support of 1000 baht per rai not exceeding 10 rai is great this way it will benefit only the small farmers. Unlike the rice program it will go to the right people because the rice program did not help the real poor and small farmers much and had much more room for corruption.

This is a measure that could really work aimed at only the small farmers and less room for corruption. Sounds better thought out.

Come on man. Get real. The small farms will see very little of this money. These programs always have conditions that disqualify the majority of small farmers.

[Srikcir]

37.8 billion baht in financial assistance

Just another form of welfare.

I don't have a problem with that kind of low income assistance but it should be extended to a wider base of low income people than just farmers who own crops. Unfortunately, Thai taxpayers will shoulder the cost as with all the agricultural aid extended by the Prayut government this year will be in the form of more deficit government spending.

[orange31]

Might have to look into this. We have some land. Could take 500,000 loan at 4% and just pay it off the mortgage which is at a higher rate. Great!

[Bosse137]

As allways,I guess,meant only for farmers who has the right papers on their land.Also the people who are workers and do the work,never seas any of these money.

[noosard]

The nieghbour came today for photocopying of required paperwork

Land title. blue book and id card (2x)

From that I would say the little people will collect their 1k / rai

As for the bank reducing interest rates that is enough story

[robblok]

The production support of 1000 baht per rai not exceeding 10 rai is great this way it will benefit only the small farmers. Unlike the rice program it will go to the right people because the rice program did not help the real poor and small farmers much and had much more room for corruption.

This is a measure that could really work aimed at only the small farmers and less room for corruption. Sounds better thought out.

Come on man. Get real. The small farms will see very little of this money. These programs always have conditions that disqualify the majority of small farmers.

How is something aimed at small farmers (10 rai and less) going to exclude small farmers. This is to exclude large farms. Do come up with some arguments instead of hot air.

Only thing I can see is if the land is rented. But this is still 1000x better as the corrupt rice scam that really did exclude the small farmers because they only ate their own rice. So nothing to sell.

[rickudon]

This is similar to last years 1000 baht a rai scheme. F-in-L got that last year so expect he will this year - it helps as will pay him more than his state pension does. We never have had enough rice left over to sell, it all gets eaten by family. I agree it is a reasonable scheme as most should go to small farmers.

[DTRACKER300]

A last dash run before elections