Bt17-billion to be allocated for crop-guarantee schemes

A Bt17-billion budget would be allocated for crop-guarantee schemes this year, Agriculture Minister Chalermchai Sri-on said on Monday (August 5).
The funds for major crops such as palm, rice and rubber will be mobilised from any leftover budget of various departments under the ministry if the amount to be allocated by the new government in the coming fiscal budget does not become available, he added.
The price for rice should be Bt10,000 per tonne, Bt4 per kilogram for palm, and Bt65 per kilogram of rubber, he said, adding the duration and other conditions of the scheme would be discussed among relevant agencies and made public when finalised.
The minister issued a four-point policy for his ministry: advance planning for nationwide water management; stabilising prices of major crops; tackling illegal activities in the fishery industry, and prevention and elimination of cassavas' and other crop diseases.
To boost the price of rubber, Chalermchai said his ministry would soon sign memorandums of understanding with the Transport Ministry on road construction projects which would involve bedding of bottom road tiers with rubber products.