Government helps farmers affected from Tham Luang draining operation

BANGKOK, July 9 (TNA) -- The Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives is making preparations to help farmers who had sacrificed their farms and crops to allow water from the Tham Luang caverns to be pumped out in the rescue of the Mu Pa Academy young footballers. Agriculture and Cooperatives Minister Kritsada Boonrat confirmed that once the rescue is completed and water in the farms dissipate the Chiang Rai Land Development Department will begin work to restore farms to their former condition. The Chaing Rai branch of the Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives meanwhile will handle pest and vermin curing to prepare for the planting of new crops. The Chiang Rai Rice Research Centre meanwhile will support the provision of seedlings for both regular rice and sticky rice while the Chiang Rai Horticultural Research Centre is preparing to distribute vegetable seedlings as alternative crops to either supplement farm income. Provincial branches of the ministry is coordinating with the Bank for Agriculture and Agricultural Cooperatives (BAAC) to prepare compensation as well as providing low interest emergency loans. Furthermore, late fees on outstanding loan payments will be exempted to allow farms to get back on their feet as quickly as possible. Similarly, local agricultural cooperatives have been ordered to provide similar compensation for farms under its care as well. Minister Kritsada confirmed that monetary compensations will comply with the Ministry of Finance's guidelines but in the event of shortfalls the Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperative can get its hands on a further 50 million budget allocated to it to quickly return farms back to their original condition. (TNA)