Listen to the advice of experts
The government's goal should be to have projects that are sound in theory and work as planned when implemented. Thus it should look at what academics say before it leaps into a major project, whether it be the rice scheme or Bt2-trillion infrastructure sc
Take, for example, the rice scheme, which The Economist labelled “the government’s worst and most costly policy”. Surely any university’s economics or business administration faculty could have foretold that, by buying at 40 per cent above market, and buying all rice offered, the government would leave the poorest farmers, who consume all the rice they grow, out in the cold.
It would benefit mainly farmers with large landholdings, who don’t need help. And it would turn the government into the country’s largest and almost sole buyer, thus almost wiping out our rice-export industry and giving our leading market position to competitors.
It’s not too late. The prime minister should immediately revamp the rice scheme, basing payments on area planted (as is with rubber), and require feasibility studies for major infrastructure projects.
