Help the poor to help themselves
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Thaksin says, and I agree with him, that "farmers are poor. Let them have a chance to survive in this world, to live a better life". But if his goal is really to help farmers live a better life - not just one night out on the town - Thaksin should learn f
Thus, instead of a subsidy, whose benefits are gone the moment the farmer spends it, PM Yingluck should use the same money to give farmers sustainable benefits. She could boost rice yields from a very low 22nd place in the world – below everyone except Cambodia and Nigeria (source: US Department of Agriculture).
Not only are our farmers not being taught how to fish, the fish they’re being given is very costly: Thaksin said Thailand’s fiscal deficit may expand to more than 2 per cent of gross domestic product next fiscal year, up from 1 per cent, because of the rice scheme. Commerce Minister Boonsong Teriyapirom claims the government has signed rice contracts with Indonesia and the Philippines. However, not only will he not divulge details, including price, but both countries deny his claim, with the head of Indonesia’s rice-buying agency saying Jakarta prefers to buy from Vietnam and India. So we won’t have the revenue from those alleged sales to reduce the loss we’re making on the handouts.
Thaksin and Yingluck, teach our farmers how to fish. Don’t give them fish.
Burin Kantabutra
Bangkok
