Help for farmers: Rubber 13 billion baht, rice US$1 billion
Rubber farmers asked for 1,250 baht per rai, govt gave them 1,500. Last week US$1 billion to help rice farmers approved by govt.
Rubber farmers asked for 1,250 baht per rai, govt gave them 1,500. Last week US$1 billion to help rice farmers approved by govt.
AGRICULTURE
Govt OKs B13bn in subsidies for rubber farmers
3/11/2015
Reuters News agency
The cabinet on Tuesday approved measures worth 13 billion baht to help rubber farmers and support falling prices...
The government said it would pay a direct subsidy of 1,500 baht per rai for up to 15 rai per household, for about 850,000 households.
The government subsidy is actually higher than the 1,250 baht per rai requested by rubber farmers.
...the government would take loans from the state owned Bank of Agriculture and Agricultural Cooperatives (BAAC) and start paying farmers in December.
Documents outlining the new rubber measures were issued on Tuesday by the government. The measures will cover production, education and living expenses for rubber tappers.
FALLING RUBBER PRICES FROM CHINA SLOWDOWN
Rubber prices have weakened as demand in China, the world's biggest consumer of the commodity, remains lacklustre due to China's economic slowdown.
Thailand is the world's top producer and exporter of rubber.
Rubber farmer groups demanded last week that the government approve aid measures to support higher living costs and lower prices of the commodity. But some said Tuesday the new subsidies would not be enough to take the sting out of falling prices.
"These measures aren't enough," northeastern rubber farmer Samai Sribang, 58, told Reuters. "I would rather see the government help raise rubber prices nationwide."
RICE SUBSIDIES OF $1 BILLION LAST WEEK
Approval comes after the cabinet last week approved measures worth about US$1 billion to help rice farmers, including grants and an interest rate reduction for farmers from state banks.
The farm subsidies come after much resistance from the military-led government which had vowed upon taking power last year they would end the country's populist subsidies.
But growing criticism from rice and rubber farmers, who have seen their incomes fall following the end of subsidy schemes introduced by the previous government, has forced the junta to make a U-turn.
http://www.bangkokpost.com/business/news/753076/cabinet-oks-b13bn-in-subsidies-for-rubber-farmers-source
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