Govt pushes forward modern agriculture project to reduce costs and increase productivity for farmers

[rooster59]

Govt pushes forward modern agriculture project to reduce costs and increase productivity for farmers

supawadee wangsri

BANGKOK, 9 July 2016 (NNT) - The government has implemented a mega farm project and modern agriculture to reduce costs and increase productivity for farmers.

In his weekly televised address, Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha said that the government has implemented the mega farm project and modern agriculture to allow small farmers to jointly produce agricultural goods.

That will allow the farmers to reduce costs and improve productivity and competitiveness in the market under support of government agencies, the private sector and fellow farmers, he said.

There are currently a total of 580 plots of farmland in an area of over 1.34 million rai of land with 85,000 farmer households participating in the project.

-- NNT 2016-07-10

[worgeordie]

Definatantly reduce costs, but increasing production will

only lead to an oversupply and a reduction in prices,they

need to balance to two,but not easy as farmers don't really

listen to advice,

regards worgeordie

[xineohp]

The principal hurdle to overcome when talking changes to agricultural practices in any underdeveloped agrarian society is the farmer himself. He is a product of his parents and community and the way he does things is the way his forebears have done them for generations (machinery excepted). Farmers listen politely to anyone from the Department of Agriculture but will then do exactly as they have always done. Sure there are exceptions but they are few and far between.

[Srikcir]

According to Prayut in February 2016 (Government pushes out long-term rice strategy), rice consumption in Thailand has fallen from 190 kilogrames per person a year to 106 kilogrammes per person a year over the past 10 years. That's a 44% drop.

Consolidation of Thai farms to reduce productions costs will only be effective if mechanization is used on a wide scale to reduce labor costs and the number of farmers are reduced to produce an appropriate amount of crop that can sustain profitable prices.

If domestic demand continues to drop, Thailand's agriculture revenues will be held hostage to international exporters unless Thailand can negotiate many more trade agreements and significantly expand its current ones. International politics may also become a factor by trade blocks such as the EU boycotting Thai products in protest to the current government.