Plan to create ‘smart farmers’

THE government has been pursuing a goal of creating “smart farmers”, who are ready to work smart and earn more income. 

“We are going to upgrade our farmers into small-scale entrepreneurs just like farmers in Japan, South Korea and Taiwan,” Deputy Prime Minister Somkid Jatusripitak said during a work trip to Nakhon Sawan province yesterday. 

Also on the trip were Prime Minister General Prayut Chan-o-cha, Interior Minister General Anupong Paochinda, Agriculture and Cooperatives Minister General Chatchai Sarikalya, and Natural Resources and Environment Minister General Surasak Kanjanarat. 

Somkid spoke as drought and falling crop prices have seriously threatened farmers’ livelihoods across the country. 

According to Somkid, the Bank for Agriculture and Agricultural Cooperatives and the Government Savings Bank will soon launch One Tambon One SME packages to spur the agricultural industry. 

“We seek to identify community leaders who know how to add value to products, via branding, better packaging, etc, find overseas markets for these products and help other locals,” he said. 

Somkid said the government was now investing in the know-how to ensure every community or village has adequate technologies to conduct e-commerce. And the government would provide other forms of support in a bid to strengthen farmers. 

“For example, the village funds should be used to boost locals’ strengths.” 

He noted that a community of rice farmers, for example, should have their own rice mill and barn. 

Interior Minister General Anupong Paochinda said his ministry has also been working hard in implementing the Bt5 million-per-tambon project. 

“Moreover, the government and the prime minister have already asked privately-owned convenience stores to help by purchasing agricultural crops,” Somkid said. 

During the same trip, Prayut got close to locals in Nakhon Sawan and checked measures that relevant authorities have used to fight drought. 

An 85-year-old woman was among locals waiting to welcome Prayut and his team at the Ratrart-anusorn School in Tambon Beung Patoo in Nakhon Sawan’s Banphot Phisai district. 

“You are the first prime minister to visit my hometown,” the elderly grandmother said happily, “You are also more handsome than on TV.” 

Prayut replied: “Oh, you are making me blush.” 

After greeting her warmly, he voiced moral support for farmers now battling water shortage. 

Farmers have tried to used water more efficiently and grow crops that use less water than rice.

During the trip, Prayut also had a meeting on anti-drought measures. Proposed at the meeting was a plan to prepare 90,000 water wells for the dry season. Officially, Thailand’s dry season begins in November and ends in April. 

Later in the day, Prayut led his team to inspect a water-retention well rehabilitation project in Chainat province. The project covers 400 rai in Ban Nong Du in Nong Mamong district.