Thai Farmers Prepared For Regional Trade Liberalisation

BANGKOK, April 25 (TNA) - As part of the Thai government’s strategic plans to enhance Thai rice exports in preparation for a regional integration through the establishment of the ASEAN Economic Community (AEC) by 2015, new technologies and research findings have been intensively introduced to local farmers so that they can cope with the growing competition and challenges. Thailand’s Strategic Studies Centre (SSC) of the National Defence Studies Institute on Tuesday held a seminar focusing on regional food security, aimed at promoting greater opportunities and stable income for Thai rice farmers. Challenges and developments in the Thai rice industry were also discusses at the seminar among the participants, comprising those from both government and private agencies, to uphold Thailand's long-time status as the world's largest rice exporter. A key speaker at the seminar, Dr. Laddawan Kunnoot from Thailand’s Rice Department, acknowledged that her department has set alternative ways to meet growing challenges of global rice production to ensure stable and regular income for Thai farmers, after the AEC is formed. One of the development strategies, according to Dr Laddawan, is the introduction of comprehensive technologies to safe costs of production for local farmers, namely those of land, manpower and agro-chemicals. The Thai farmers are also encouraged to focus on growing premium-grade grains and on processing organic rice for more value-added food and beverage products to provide more choices for consumers. Dr. Laddawan also encouraged Thai educational institutes to follow up their studies on the further improvement of Thai rice genetically and the development of relevant Thai food products; while Thai farmers are suggested to kick start organic practices to provide global customers with more premium choices of rice in the future. (TNA)