Critics flay govt rice policy
By PRATCH RUJIVANAROM, 
PETCHANET PRATRUANGKRAI 
THE NATION

 

 

Amid raft of measures to stop paddy prices from falling, academics warn they will not help farmers

 

BANGKOK: -- THE GOVERNMENT’S rescue package with its “granary-pledging scheme” will not help rice farmers or substantially lift rice prices, academics have warned.

Authorities have said they would also implement additional measures to boost rice trade in the domestic and international markets.

The criticism from agricultural economics experts followed the Rice Policy Management Committee’s announcement of the subsidy in response to low paddy prices. 

 

The government has allocated Bt55.9 billion to pay Hom Mali, or jasmine, paddy farmers up to Bt13,000 per tonne to encourage them to store paddy during the harvest season and prevent oversupply in the market. 

 

Full story: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/news/national/30299015

 

-- © Copyright The Nation 2016-11-03

Well it just did not sink in when the critics of supporting the rice farmers were told the economy would struggle without the purchasing power of such a large percentage of the population. Let us not forget the contribution of indirect taxes from the agricultural sector, the employment within, and in the peripheral business serviced  by agriculture.

Good the government has taken this brave action

 

Of course a longer term plan must be considered, this will not happen overnight, perhaps will be integrated into the 20 year plan, even enhanced and made more feasible by improved infrastructure in the pipeline.

 

Oh and as for the critics of the farmer storing rice, in the region where my family live, the BAAC has been successfully operating this system with one crop farmers for years.

Long term plan needed. Proper international marketing of the product to increase demand is also needed long term instead of relying so heavily on government to government deals.

Quote

The government has allocated Bt55.9 billion to pay Hom Mali, or jasmine, paddy farmers up to Bt13,000 per tonne to encourage them to store paddy during the harvest season and prevent oversupply in the market. 
The Faculty of Economics dean at Rangsit University, Anusorn Tamajai, said the subsidy scheme had many weaknesses, including that it would be hard to inspect, it would be vulnerable to corruption, and many farmers did not have granaries.

 

Once Prayut is being forced out of power he will receive a nice trial ending in a bill of 55.9 billion baht.

Hope he starts saving up soon for that.

Edited November 3, 20169 yr by Bob12345

there should be a long drought, so there would be a shortage

 

supply & demand, but it does not apply in this country

 

let's buy some votes & happiness

11 minutes ago, Bob12345 said:

 

Once Prayut is being forced out of power he will receive a nice trial ending in a bill of 55.9 billion baht.

Hope he starts saving up soon for that.

 

Just the tip of the iceberg. This subsidy just for Hom Mali. Just wait for the other paddy rice farmers to start making their voices heard now that the government has relented. What about other crops. Farmers all round are suffering from low prices for all soft commodities. Mr Junta will be reeling from these demands. He should have stick to being a general. This job being PM is totally out of his skill set.  

16 minutes ago, Bob12345 said:

Once Prayut is being forced out of power he will receive a nice trial ending in a bill of 55.9 billion baht.

No, the NCPO has idemnity for all its actions up to the point of its dissolution.

In the Full Story link:

"Meanwhile, former prime minister Abhisit Vejjajiva suggested that the government should learn from the past and implement a rice price insurance policy instead .... I understand that the government has to come out with this policy because it is an urgent matter. I think the price insurance policy should be easier to implement, because the farmers will get a profit commensurate with their capital and the government will not have to manage the rice stocks,” Abhisit said."

Already done Abhisit!

 

In June 2016 the cabinet endorsed a plan to provide insurance for agricultural produce for the 2016/2017 production year. Under the plan, an insurance premium of 100 baht will be paid for each rai of farm land. Farmers will not be required to pay this as the Bank of Agriculture and Cooperatives will shoulder every 40 Baht while the government will take up the remaining 60 baht.

http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/926753-thai-farmers-to-get-back-their-mortgaged-lands/

 

In addition the government agreed to allow the Land Bank Administration Institute (Public Organization) to manage a 690 million baht budget to buy back land that have been seized from farmers who have forfeited on their mortgages. These lands will be handed back to their original owners under the provision that they pay rents and be given the right to buy back the property in future should they choose.  (ditto same link)

 

 

28 minutes ago, Bob12345 said:

 

Once Prayut is being forced out of power he will receive a nice trial ending in a bill of 55.9 billion baht.

Hope he starts saving up soon for that.

 

Add to that the $20-$30 billion dollar cost to the country of the last coup (the Economist magazine's estimate for GDP shock for 2014-16).

 

However, I suspect a legitimate government - should there ever be one - would not penalise its opponents, because that's what would make it legitimate.

Academics living in their insular world of academia land have about as much knowledge of rice growing and rice marketing as military officers which is just about zero. The value of their opinions on matters relating to the real world come with with a very cheap price tag.

. . . and didn't I read somewhere that there's a clause in the new charter protecting the coup makers from laws to which the rest of us are subject?

Grow bananas the price is getting to be ridiculous. They are getting priced as if they were an imported product. 

how can the farmers who have borrowed heavily to plant their rice afford to now store it? They HAVE to sell in order to repay their loans. Is this the result of NOT guaranteeing a price to farmers?

3 hours ago, Srikcir said:

No, the NCPO has idemnity for all its actions up to the point of its dissolution.

Presumable such indemnity can be revoked?

12 minutes ago, hugh2121 said:

Presumable such indemnity can be revoked?

11 minutes ago, hugh2121 said:

 

No. Its idemnity is specified under the current NCPO-written 2016 Provisional Constitution.

 

22 minutes ago, hugh2121 said:

Presumable such indemnity can be revoked?

 

Even retrospectively reversed. Now that would be an interesting situation!

1 minute ago, Reigntax said:

 

Even retrospectively reversed. Now that would be an interesting situation!

Only possible if the military supports revoking its idemnity ... interesting but a fantasy.

 

Under the Referendum approved 2016 draft Constitution the military can legally overthrow an elected government, apart from its control of the Senate, Ministry of Defense, Senate oversight of Constitutional Organizations and no doubt military membership in the elected House to prevent any adverse action against the military leadership. And if worse comes to worse, the military can always revoke the standing Constitution and give itself amnesty from prosecution - a la 2014 coup.

27 minutes ago, Srikcir said:

Only possible if the military supports revoking its idemnity ... interesting but a fantasy.

 

Under the Referendum approved 2016 draft Constitution the military can legally overthrow an elected government, apart from its control of the Senate, Ministry of Defense, Senate oversight of Constitutional Organizations and no doubt military membership in the elected House to prevent any adverse action against the military leadership. And if worse comes to worse, the military can always revoke the standing Constitution and give itself amnesty from prosecution - a la 2014 coup.

 

And if revoked by a higher power?

 

Interesting times ahead when old foes, new relationships and new powers take control.

Edited November 3, 20169 yr by Reigntax
typo

1 hour ago, hugh2121 said:

Presumable such indemnity can be revoked?

 

Yes,  certainly can be revoked by pitchforks. 

 

 

 

1 hour ago, Reigntax said:

 

And if revoked by a higher power?

 

Interesting times ahead when old foes, new relationships and new powers take control.

Hopefully a very well armed higher power, for their own sake

2 hours ago, Reigntax said:

 

And if revoked by a higher power?

 

Interesting times ahead when old foes, new relationships and new powers take control.

"Interesting times ahead when old foes, new relationships and new powers take control."

Never truer words.