Thailand to implement first master plan on agricultural development

BANGKOK, March 14 (TNA) - The National Farmers' Council is formulating Thailand's first master plan on agricultural development, focused on human resources development, empowerment, price stabilization and solutions to farmers' debts. The council held a meeting of about 2,000 representatives of nationwide farmers in Muang Thong Thani on the outskirts of Bangkok on Monday to gather their opinions for the first master plan, set to be implemented during 2017-2021. The plan is aimed to improve human resources, empower agricultural organizations, protect farm products, stabilize their prices, enhance productivity, solve farmers' debts and improve the management of agricultural funds. Thai Agriculture and Cooperatives Minister General Chatchai Sarikalya told the meeting that Thai farmers need to cope with changes with fiercer competition resulting from global economic conditions, including technological application to increase the value of their farm products. The minister acknowledged that income of Thai farmers remains low and most of them are now 50 years old and over. According to the minister, the Thai government plans to restructure the Thai agricultural sector and relevant tasks, including its zoning and water management. Under the national farm restructural plan, irrigated farming areas in Thailand will be increased to 40 million rais (2.5 rais = 1 acre) over the next decade, from only 20 million rais out of a total of about 130 million rais of nationwide farmlands now. (TNA)