Rice pledging sows trouble for our future

COMMENTARY

Rice pledging sows trouble for our future

Published: 13 Dec 2012 at 00.00
Newspaper section: News

There is no need to cite any polls or indices. But the censure debate that did little more than cause the government to shrug its shoulders is further evidence that Thai democracy has not made much progress.

In the no-confidence motion late last month, the government was charged with accusations that its rice pledging scheme is plagued with corruption.

The pledging scheme is the ruling Pheu Thai Party's most controversial election campaign promise. Others include the minimum wage hike, tax rebates for first-time car buyers and various entrepreneurial funds.

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AirCheck24
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Discussion 12 : 13 Dec 2012 at 22.1312
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Quite interesting article, thanks for the insights!
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howell
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Discussion 11 : 13 Dec 2012 at 18.4011
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@ringmaster. Farmers were told about 2 options but not which party suggested them. The majority voted for the Dem's idea.
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whatajoke
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Discussion 10 : 13 Dec 2012 at 15.5310
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Ringmaster, a group of expert academics were asked before the election to compare the policies of the two parties to see which would have the greatest overall benefits and be most viable, and the Democrats policies came out tops. Their rice policy was far more economically sustainable and realistic. Of course, in this political climate it seems necessary for one party to completely abandoned any previous policies and introduce their own versions, even if they are inferior, probably because the two have different motives. Puea Thai generally seek quick results and worry about the financial implications later.
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ringmaster
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Discussion 9 : 13 Dec 2012 at 12.059
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D7 Perhaps the Dem's plan wasn't all that good then.
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joninnak
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Discussion 8 : 13 Dec 2012 at 10.088
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Ringmaster. I believe that the Dems did have a better plan but it was halted when PTP won the election
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pjt
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Discussion 7 : 13 Dec 2012 at 09.457
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'I hope that when the rice pledging scheme comes to an end, the government will come up with a policy that will strengthen the position of farmers ...' But the rice pledging scheme was supposed to be all about strengthening farmers. We have wasted time and money with an ill directed scheme instead of working at the root of yield improvement, crop diversification and cost reduction (inc land reform) all of which are the real route to farm income improvement. I agree also with D5 that PT has got Thailand on a treadmill which they are going to find it hard to get off and still retain their core rural voter support
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jwatch
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Discussion 6 : 13 Dec 2012 at 09.416
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The government should just address these concerns sensibly and clear any doubts once and for all, after all, us tax payers are funding it.
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oldexp
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Discussion 5 : 13 Dec 2012 at 07.405
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".. when the rice pledging scheme comes to an end, the government will come up with a policy that will strengthen the position of farmers, and at the same time make Thai rice competitive again in the world market"

By then the Thai rice will have out-priced (overpriced) itself so much that nobody buys it anymore.
PTP will have to start their "rice subsidizing scheme" that then will bring the necessary votes to win the next elections.
(Perpetuum mobile Thai style)
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ringmaster
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Discussion 4 : 13 Dec 2012 at 07.244
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I agree with the author. Thailand is divided and any plan that helps narrow the economic gap between the urban and rural communities has merit. Certainly this rice subsidy plan has flaws but what is really disappointing is the opposition Dems have not come up with a better plan. Despite having two economic gurus from Oxford as leaders, all the Dems can do is whine and make allegations of corruption. They should try putting effort into a plan which competes with PT in helping people. Accepting democracy instead of fighting it. Maybe they'll even win an election someday.
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Renaissance
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Discussion 3 : 13 Dec 2012 at 07.233
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The health consequences are indeed worrying. Fewer nutrients in the soil means fewer nutrients in the rice. More chemical sprays means more chemicals in the rice. Thailand still uses dangerous cocktails of chemicals in rice production. GMO rice seeds are being introduced around the rice-growing areas. Perhaps one day the middle classes will buy their rice from neighbouring countries and only eat Thai organic rice that is guaranteed to not be grown with GMO seeds. There will be consequences for Thai rice in the future because of this scheme. But the current crop of politicians only think of immediate personal benefits.
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Rice pledging sows trouble for our future | Bangkok Post: opinion