Ministry says 1.6m farmers bearing Bt388 bn in debt
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More than 1.6 million farmers are in debt to the tune of Bt388 billion, according to the Interior Ministry.
On average, each farmer has a debt burden of about Bt230,000.
The ministry has instructed provincial governors and relevant officials to help farmers negotiate their debts, and ask for the help of agencies such as the Bank for Agriculture and Agricultural Cooperatives, the Agriculture Ministry, and the Justice Ministry.
The move follows Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha’s order that a coordinating centre on farmers’ debts under the Interior Ministry extend assistance to farmers.
The prolonged drought, which means no water for farmlands in the Chao Phraya River Basin, looks set to push farmers deeper into debt.
Meanwhile, the Office of the Permanent Secretary of the PM’s Office reported that a total of 36,347 complaints had been filed through its channels between April and June.
The office said it had solved 16.27 per cent of these complaints.
According to the office, the National Police Office attracted the highest number of complaints for its alleged failure to prevent public nuisances, gambling dens, drug crime, and loan-sharking.
