Thai farmers satisfied with military helps

BANGKOK, November 15 (TNA) - Thai farmers are satisfied with assistance from the military in various forms, ranging from buying rice from them to helping them harvesting and milling rice free of charges. National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO) Deputy Spokeswoman Colonel Sirichan Nga-thong told journalists of the information on Tuesday, noting that the move helps local farmers cut their costs of production while they are affected by a drop in rice prices. The deputy spokeswoman said last week, the Thai military, through the Peace and Order Maintaining Command (POMC) and the Internal Security Operations Command (ISOC) have fully supported local farmers and have purchased 18,991 tonnes of rice in total at appropriate prices, opened five mills of military cooperatives for them in the Northeast to mill 69 tonnes of grains. Besides, soldiers have been deployed to help local farmers harvest about 1,100 acres of paddies in 44 Thai provinces and currently, the military units are gathering information and conducting survey on rice buying processes at 1,068 millers in 45 provinces to solve problems related to a slump in rice prices. According to the deputy spokeswoman, the Royal Thai Army’s border units have been assigned to also intercept crop smuggling from neighboring countries to prevent any impact on Thai farmers. (TNA)