Thai govt will resolve rice price issue on sustainable basis: government spokesman

[webfact]

Government will resolve rice price issue on sustainable basis: government spokesman

 

 

BANGKOK: -- The government is trying to resolve the rice price problem on a sustainable basis and will not just hand out money to help the farmers because that is not the right way to solve the problem but, besides, it will hurt the economy as a whole, government spokesman Lt-Gen Sansern Kaewkamnerd told the media on Sunday.

 

He said that the government had explained to the farmers that Thailand is not the only rice producing country and there are several countries that export rice in competition with Thailand, hence, rice price cannot be dictated by Thailand or any other countries but by market mechanism.

 

In order to cushion the impacts of rice price slump, he said farmers should not depend on rice farming alone to make a living, but should engage in mixed agriculture by cultivating other cash crops which consume less water or to raise cattle or poultry.

 

“All sectors are fully aware that when the harvest season arrives, there will be a lot of rice and the price will drop,” said the spokesman, adding that the government has meted out several measures to help farmers to stock up their newly-harvested crops so that not all the rice crops are simultaneously dumped into the market, sending rice price to plunge downward.

 

Full story: http://englishnews.thaipbs.or.th/government-will-resolve-rice-price-issue-on-sustainable-basis-government-spokesman/

 

-- © Copyright Thai PBS 2016-10-31

[tbthailand]

46 minutes ago, webfact said:

The government is trying to resolve the rice price problem on a sustainable basis and will not just hand out money to help the farmers because that is not the right way to solve the problem but, besides, it will hurt the economy as a whole, government spokesman Lt-Gen Sansern Kaewkamnerd told the media on Sunday.

 

but just handing out money to generals will help them, is the right way to solve their problems and it helps the economy as a whole... 

 

Morons... 

[jerojero]

Army men trying to be Economists. Doomed to failure.

[waldroj]

"... rice price cannot be dictated by Thailand...but by market mechanism..." !!!

 

The harsh reality is that we live in a cruel world (http://boardofwisdom.com/togo/Quotes/ShowQuote?msgid=424645)

 

 

Plot source: http://www.indexmundi.com/commodities/?commodity=rice&months=120

 

 

 

[tbthailand]

1 hour ago, webfact said:

In order to cushion the impacts of rice price slump, he said farmers should not depend on rice farming alone to make a living, but should engage in mixed agriculture by cultivating other cash crops which consume less water or to raise cattle or poultry.

 

To be honest, I don't know of any rice farmer who doesn't already have some diversity into other crops/animals.

 

But that doesn't mean that other crops / animals are going to bring in any more money than rice... 

[StefanBBK]

Actually these is a quite accurate statement. 

Fact is  that Rice farming, as it is done now, is no longer sustainable. 

Either become more efficient, or really increase quality to demand higher prices. Otherwise there is only one thing left, to give up rice farming. 

Of course government subsidies are an option, but may conflict with WTO rules. 

Also, how fair is it to sucidize rice farming and not other farming or industries or small businesses? 

I am fully aware that rice farming is major in Thailand and that massive amounts of people realy on it, therefore special considerations must be taken. However fact remains , in the long run it is not sustainable and no longer a viable business. 

[fruitman]

But at least the Thai farmers have a big new pickuptruck....

[kennw]

3 hours ago, jerojero said:

Army men trying to be Economists. Doomed to failure.

How about trying to make a constructive comment, and contribute to this forum in a positive way.  

[Emster23]

"...the government had explained to the farmers that Thailand is not the only rice producing country..."

 Why didn't you tell us that before? Jeez, that changes things..... ok..... never mind

[Srikcir]

5 hours ago, webfact said:

the government has meted out several measures to help farmers to stock up their newly-harvested crops so that not all the rice crops are simultaneously dumped into the market, sending rice price to plunge downward.

Ummmm ... Unless Prayut has export agreements with four of the five world's top rice exporters*, Thailand will have little control over global rice prices.

* 2015

India: US$6.4 billion (30.1% of total rice exports)

Thailand: $4.5 billion (21.4%)

United States: $2.1 billion (9.7%)

Pakistan: $1.9 billion (9.1%)

Vietnam: $1.6 billion (7.5%)

http://www.worldstopexports.com/rice-exports-country/

[bark]

56 minutes ago, kennw said:

How about trying to make a constructive comment, and contribute to this forum in a positive way.  

I agree, but do you really think that anything that is said on Thai Visa Forum; would be used by any Government to solve any of their problems.

Comments that are funny get the most likes on this forum.

When it's 9 am and he has a beer in his hand( maybe 2-3 beer of the day, already) do you think that this person

could make a good suggestion ?

Sad but true.

Let go for a cold one now.

[Enoon]

1 hour ago, kennw said:

How about trying to make a constructive comment, and contribute to this forum in a positive way.  

 

If the guiding powers in Thailand had the foresight to see what was going to happen (when the population stood at only 20 million 65 years ago).

 

If they had been open to learn from the Industrialisation of the West with it's population growth/de-population of rural areas (and sought to re-structure their social/economic system accordingly).

 

If, above all, they had been able and willing to imagine, and then actually create, some sort of plan other than the one which they stuck with (which was fundamentally intended to keep people in "their place").

 

It's a bit late to make "constructive" comments.  It really is.

 

 

[Brer Fox]

1 hour ago, kennw said:

How about trying to make a constructive comment, and contribute to this forum in a positive way.  

Jerojero was merely pointing out the bleeding obvious.

And your positive contribution to this forum to improve the price and productivity per rai of rice is......???    Whatever it might be will be ignored anyway by the Thais because they know everything but don't let that stop you offering up positive suggestions.

Here's mine. Up until a few years ago Thailand was the largest exporter of rice in the world. Now it is third behind India and Vietnam. That is fact! And it will get further behind while being governed by unqualified military "agriculturalists". 

[pookiki]

Thailand has a long way to go in looking out for the welfare of its farmers and workers. There are a lot of approaches that can be explored and utilized ..........but this government is bound and determined to punish its own people in order to avoid any program that could be labeled 'populist'. Just look at the paltry amount of money paid to Thais in 'old age' benefits. There needs to be a sea change in the way income is distributed - whether it is farmers or the normal run of the mill worker - who the government said would only benefit from a 3% raise in the minimum wage after four years of no increase.

[JAG]

Actually these is a quite accurate statement. 
Fact is  that Rice farming, as it is done now, is no longer sustainable. 
Either become more efficient, or really increase quality to demand higher prices. Otherwise there is only one thing left, to give up rice farming. 
Of course government subsidies are an option, but may conflict with WTO rules. 
Also, how fair is it to sucidize rice farming and not other farming or industries or small businesses? 
I am fully aware that rice farming is major in Thailand and that massive amounts of people realy on it, therefore special considerations must be taken. However fact remains , in the long run it is not sustainable and no longer a viable business. 

Viewing rice farming as a commercial activity you may be right. However, unlike the vast majority of western farmers, whose crops and produce are all sold, to provide the income on which they then live a "consumer lifestyle" very many farmers here are really growing crops primarily to feed their own families. When they do have a surplus that is sold to provide a cash income. The "farms" are little more than smallholdings, fortunately the land and climate make them productive enough to allow such "subsistence farming". This phrase contours up an image of near starvation poverty, scratching a living from the soil. In fact , most of these farmers are if not prosperous, certainly far from destitute.
The cash income for these communities comes largely from casual labouring, working on larger farms, and some part time activities such as running food stalls in the local market.

As an example, my wife and her father farm about 15 rai, mostly rice but also a couple of fishponds. A 1 rai vegetable garden produces (to western eyes) an amazing quantity of vegetables. A small garden fruit and the vital pappaya! They keep chickens. This provides a balanced diet, an annual lump sum at harvest time and a small cash income from selling surplus rice, fish and vegetables. When not farming ( or lying in a hammock ) wife's brother works from time to time as an electrician on local building projects. Even if you take me and my income out of the equation, the family is self sufficient and live in reasonable comfort.

That is how many of the rural farming communities live, certainly in the North and Issan. I don't know about the South. A system of infrastructure, suppliers and specialist banks has evolved to support this. If they were to change to large scale commercial farming, either through co-operatives or as waged workers on large farms, it would be a huge change to their communities, one I doubt they want, and one I doubt would leave them better off.

[bikerbri]

The strength of the Thai Baht makes exporting more expensive. Exporters are determining the price of rice in the hope they can sell more and increase their profits. Thai farmers are at the mercy of exporters and the middle man. Water content is the excuse used by the middle man to deflate the price of rice,and that is before it is even harvested. In Europe farmers have clout and are well organized and Governments are obliged to subsidise them or face riots. The problem with Thai farmers is they are not acting collectively and therefore do not have the power to change the system. We hear all the time that Thai farmers are the back bone of Thailand,but this is just lip service perpepuated by a Government in whose interest it is to keep farmers in their place,poor and in debt to the banks. The agricultural sector in Thailand needs vast amounts of investment. The generals are more interested in toys for the boys than looking after the back bone of Thailand. Once again short term thinking.

[elgordo38]

If you look at mankinds record of solving problems overall

39 minutes ago, bikerbri said:

The strength of the Thai Baht makes exporting more expensive. Exporters are determining the price of rice in the hope they can sell more and increase their profits. Thai farmers are at the mercy of exporters and the middle man. Water content is the excuse used by the middle man to deflate the price of rice,and that is before it is even harvested. In Europe farmers have clout and are well organized and Governments are obliged to subsidise them or face riots. The problem with Thai farmers is they are not acting collectively and therefore do not have the power to change the system. We hear all the time that Thai farmers are the back bone of Thailand,but this is just lip service perpepuated by a Government in whose interest it is to keep farmers in their place,poor and in debt to the banks. The agricultural sector in Thailand needs vast amounts of investment. The generals are more interested in toys for the boys than looking after the back bone of Thailand. Once again short term thinking.

 You deserve a few more likes on this one. Vast amounts of investment are needed everywhere unfortunately the present government only looks at military upgrades and not much else. 

[mettech]

There is no magic way to solve this situation so in our family we directed our view towards fruit, veggies, poultry, fish ,and ducks of course 10 ry of rice  for eating and seeding for next year and if any money left over is to pay bills for chemical and harvesting combine machine

So now focusing into trying to get two crop of fruit and veggies with water saving ways we have two dug out that are full for now.

Next year will show if we made progress or not.

 

[samsensam]

 

too many small, uneducated farmers living a hand to mouth existence. to be profitable farms need to be bigger, able to benefit from economies of scale, managed my farmers who understand business of agriculture. dream on.