Farmers seek help on debts
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The Farmers' Debt Network of Thailand yesterday demanded that the government tackle farmers' debt problems the way it handled financial institutions' debt crisis back in 1997.
A petition from the network called for the setting up of a central organisation with the direct duty of handling farmers’ debts, which are estimated at around Bt300 billion, including those from unsuccessful government projects.
“In 1997, the government set up the Financial Sector Restructuring Authority for the financial institutes’ debt crisis,” the network’s representative Boonsom Samrej said, “So, it should take a similar step to help 4.58 million farmers’ families. The move is also crucial in maintaining the country’s food-manufacturing base”.
He said farmers’ debt problems, after all, stemmed partly from ineffective government policies. Boonsom submitted the petition to PM Prayut Chan-o-cha via Rayong Governor Thanee Samartgit.
