Farmers hanker for pledging handouts

AGRICULTURE

Published: 9 Mar 2013 at 00.00
Newspaper section: Business

Rice farmers are threatening to hold a rally to put pressure on the government to step up the launch of the rice pledging scheme for the second crop, saying they are facing difficulties keeping their output stored.

Prasit Boonchoey, chairman of the Thai Farmers Association, said affluent production millers are now reluctant to offer warehousing space for the harvest for fear of the grains' deterioration and possible loss.

"The National Rice Policy Committee (NRPC) should hold its meeting and approve the launch of pledging for the second crop so farmers can get money as soon as possible from the scheme," said Mr Prasit.

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jacksprat
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Discussion 7 : 10 Mar 2013 at 19.337
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"Where is the next rice crop going to be stored?" How about the "Soon Ratchagarn" at Jaeng Wattana? Plenty of empty in those big government buildings.
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Ian
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Discussion 6 : 10 Mar 2013 at 09.566
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It's all about 'face' and the more powerful the person the bigger the face. Because this issue is constantly in the news it cannot be corrected without loss of face. Stop talking about it, drop the issue, then someone will discretely correct it without loss of face to its originators.
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Renaissance
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Discussion 5 : 09 Mar 2013 at 22.155
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I think that Thaksin will keep the rice scheme until he has been whitewashed and is back in the country. Then he'll change it as he won't need his Red Shirt army anymore. They are only there to help him get whitewashed, but they cannot see this.
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thegabster
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Discussion 4 : 09 Mar 2013 at 21.354
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Where is the next rice crop going to be stored?
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wantmyony
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Discussion 3 : 09 Mar 2013 at 20.193
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Looks like farmers are holding PT government hostage with rice pledge scheme. Thaksin made a mistake and this will bankdrupt the country with terrible consequence, he should replace this silly scheme with something that is more affordable, sustainable. Its unfair that only rice farmers benefit while other crops farmers have to go broke, a more equitable scheme would be subsidy through sale like what the US and EU are doing now.
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The Dark Side
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Discussion 2 : 09 Mar 2013 at 20.092
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This is truly hilarious. PT bought these people, paid their relatives 500b per day to protest and burn, gave them a big free lunch with the Rice Pawning Scheme and now they are calling for more from the buffet or else they will send their red shirt relatives back to Bangkok to burn some more buildings. HEY DUBAI remember this, as any farmer on this planet knows, Your Reap What You Sow. What an ignorant fool.
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boons
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Discussion 1 : 09 Mar 2013 at 03.351
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If you're paying 40% over market prices, why not just cut to the chase and hand out free money in exchange for votes? The pretense isn't necessary when what you're doing is so completely transparent.
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Farmers hanker for pledging handouts | Bangkok Post: business