Govt to implement assistance measures to rice farmers

BANGKOK, 20 June 2010 (NNT) – The government is preparing to formulate assistance measures to help farmers due to a delay of the sowing of in-season rice in the wake of the lack of water supplies, according to Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva.

Speaking on his weekly talk show on Sunday, “Confidence in Thailand with PM Abhisit”, the Prime Minister stated that the government closely monitored the prevailing drought crisis and learned that the water supplies for consumption and in major dams have started to improve. He noted that the shortage of rainfall and substantial declines resulted in the postponement of the sowing of in-season rice until July.

PM Abhisit elaborated that the government has assigned Deputy Prime Minister Sanan Kachornprasart to observe the drought situation on a daily basis. He added that the Ministry of the Agriculture and Agricutural Co-operatives was in the process of surveying the number of agriculturalists who needed to delay their sowing of in-season rice as well as those planning to conduct out-of-season rice before assistance measures are taken.