Thai government nods for five-year agricultural strategy

BANGKOK, March 30 (TNA) - The Thai government has approved a five-year agricultural structure strategy to be implemented from 2015-2020. Agriculture and Cooperatives Minister Pitipong Pungboon Na Ayudhaya told journalists on Monday that the 35-billion-baht strategy was endorsed at a meeting of economic ministers earlier in the day, aimed at boosting productivity of local farmers. Under the strategy, Pitipong said, the government will downsize rubber plantations to reduce rubber supply in order to shore up natural rubber prices eventually, while BAAC will provide financial support to rubber growers to grow other economic plants instead, such as oil palm trees. According to the minister, the economic ministers' meeting, chaired by Prime Minister General Prayut Chan-ocha, also ordered the Ministries of Interior, Finance and Agriculture Cooperatives to register all income earners nationwide and to finish the task within the next three months so that the government will better plan its assistance for financially troubled people. (TNA)