Thai PM:Government continues supporting agriculturists

BANGKOK, January 3 (TNA) - As unaffected people are celebrating the New Year Festival, the government is worried over the critical flooding situation in the Thai South and the chilly weather in the Thai North and Northeast and has ordered concerned state agencies to provide speedy assistance to those affected. Thai Prime Minister General Prayut Chan-ocha expressed the concerns and informed the public of his government's responsive measures during his weekly address on Friday night. Prime Minister General Prayut said, apart from the undesirable natural disasters having affected people in those areas, his government is also concerned over declining prices of local agricultural products, namely natural rubber. Thanking unaffected people for assisting the society, the prime minister pointed out that a project called "Pook Pinto Khao", which he first mentioned last October, is certainly a positive initiative, as it offers a genuine happiness to local rice farmers. The prime minister elaborated that the programme is inspired by His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej's advice on the Sufficiency Economy Principle, aimed at strengthening local communities, devoting and offering generosity to others. The prime minister acknowledged that the programme can reach every Thai who wants to promote Thai rice to maintain its status as the world's top grains in terms of good quality, clean and safe for global consumption. According to the prime minister, the programme, in which local farmers are supported to widely grow organice Thai rice for people in other sectors, is also a mechanism to help boost relations between the organic rice growers and urban families. The prime minister noted that organic rice has been steadily gaining popularity among consumers and cooperation by corporates, restaurants, hotels, schools and government agencies is needed to further promote the healthy Thai grains. Besides, there are several other Thai agricultural products which should be promoted, including locally-grown orchids, with several strains having been newly-developed and some of them named after members of the Royal Family. The prime minister stated he has ordered concerned ministers to offer assistance to the local orchid growers, including plans to open an “orchid and flower market around Bangkok's Government House or at other appropriate places on weekends and to organise a “week of Thai orchids and flowers” in the future, aimed at widening the market and creating a goodwill among Thais and overseas buyers who will then help boost exports of the Thai flowers. Suggesting that local farmers switch to “organic agriculture”, the Thai prime minister stressed on needed cooperation from all parties concerned, including educated or experienced agriculturists and community people, in order to materialise the proposed move. (TNA)