Thai army helps to farmers

UBON RATCHATHANI, Nov 5 (TNA) - Various army commands are set to provide assistance to rice farmers by providing free services on rice harvesting, milling, and processing, as farmers continue to face low rice prices. Commander of the 22nd Military Circle Maj. Gen. Achichat Rojanapirom has mobilised his troops to provide free service at the rice mill located within the Sappasitthi Prasong Military Camp in Warinchamrab district of Ubon Ratchathani province. The move is aimed to help local rice farmers lower their production costs. The medium-size rice mill has a capacity to mill around 1 tonne of rice daily, prompting farmers to queue up for the free milling service throughout the month. Col. Akkaraj Intharak, Head of Army Mobile Development Unit 56 under the Development Works Office 5, together with the administrative office of Det Udom district and Det Udom Kaset Paiboon Rice Mill have joined hands to provide free rice milling services for local farmers as well, a bid to lower the burden on farmer during the low rice price crisis. Meanwhile, Chief of Staff of the 26th Military Circle of the Somdej Chao Phraya Mahakasatsuek Military Camp in Buriram province, Col. Witthaya Pornchanya has led more than 30 soldiers to mobilise flat-bottom and dredging boats to help farmers in Muang district harvest their rice, as over 8 acres of paddy fields have been inundated under one metre water. At the same time, Village Chief in the Samed subdistrict, Mr. Surapat Gorum said over 80 acres of rice field located in the irrigation area have been flooded, prompting him to get into contact with the military unit to help harvest before they were all ruined.