Yingluck admits rice subsidies need revamp if reintroduced
Caretaker Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra has blamed the House dissolution for disrupting payments to farmers under the rice pledging scheme but brushed aside criticism of the programme's failure.
Regarding widespread protests by farmers who are demanding overdue payments for the rice they have sold under the scheme, she asked for sympathy for the agencies in charge of assisting farmers and said the law bans a caretaker government from financial engagement that could pose a burden to the new government.
She told reporters that it would take more time to help farmers given the restrictions the caretaker government has encountered and that the Finance Ministry was looking for financial sources to pay farmers.
“The rice scheme is pending an investigation by the National AntiCorruption Commission. We have to wait for the commission (before taking further action),” she said.
She said the ruling Pheu Thai Party, if reelected, may adjust the rice scheme in the wake of public criticism.
On its Facebook page yesterday, the Pheu Thai Party said the rice scheme was aimed at improving farmers’ living conditions and the threeyear programme has been beneficial to 3.26 million farming families.
“It’s not a populist policy. The government will hold to its principle to help Thai farmers. We hope financial institutes are aware of farmers’ plight,” the party said.
