PM instructs state agencies to seek solution to farmers' debts
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Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha yesterday instructed his deputy MR Pridiyathorn Devakula to lead three related ministries to address the problem of farmers burdened with high-interest loans, especially those who stand to lose their field to loan sharks,
The Cabinet meeting was told that 149,000 farmers owed about Bt21 billion to loan sharks, while another 140,000 farmers owed Bt360 billion to financial institutes, Sansern said. He said the premier had called on several agencies, including Justice Ministry, Agriculture and Cooperatives Ministry and the Finance Ministry to provide urgent aid to some 90,000 farmers, who were facing lawsuits for taking off-system loans worth a total of Bt13 billion. The Justice Ministry has been instructed to ensure these farmers’ land does not fall into the hands of the loan sharks, while other agencies could see if they can take over the farmers’ debts, he said. The source added that Pridiyathorn had been assigned to study this problem and report back to the Cabinet soon.
