Analysis: Negative income tax hopes to succeed where other social aid schemes have failed Developing countries by definition face a constant struggle against the problems of poverty and income inequality. Thailand is no exception. Over the past few decades, despite steady economic growth and industrialisation, inequality has remained a persistent and divisive factor within Thai […]
Academics have stressed the importance of planning and research – possibly for another year – on the proposed government water-management programme, along with the setting up of a special body to oversee the projects. Speaking at a seminar yesterday organised by the Thailand Development Research Institute (TDRI), Sucharit Koontanakulvong, a professor in the department of […]
Patsara Jikkham NCPO urged to let public provide input Experts have warned the National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO) to carefully handle water management plans, fearing they could be disorganised, redundant and lacking a clear direction. They raised their concerns after the NCPO told state agencies to propose ideas for dealing with water-related problems […]
A final decision on measures to help farmers has been put off, with the rice-related working panels asking for more time to prepare information. As scheduled, the first meeting of the rice administration and management policy committee yesterday chaired by junta chief Gen Prayuth Chan-ocha was due to give the nod to short-term measures that […]
A conclusion on how much of a subsidy each rice farming household will receive has not been settled, but an academic warns the junta it should focus on the quality of fertiliser if it decides to subsidise the product. Bang Palasan (in orange shirt), a farmer in Khon Kaen, shows the 100,000 baht she was […]
Phusadee Arunmas Plan will limit crop production costs Measures to address low paddy prices and spiralling production costs are likely to be finalised tomorrow, but some farmers may feel a bit disappointed as neither cash handouts nor any other sort of compensation will be involved. The meeting between Gen Chatchai Sarikalya, deputy head of economic […]
Wichit Chantanusornsiri & Sriwipa Siripunyawit Details and budgets still subject to revision The first-year investment budget for the 2.4-trillion-baht infrastructure plan to be proposed today by the transport strategy committee is expected to reach 100 billion baht. The infrastructure plan will be forwarded to ACM Prajin Juntong, head of the economic team at the National […]
Phusadee Arunmas Ceilings ‘warping market mechanisms’ Authorities are being urged to stop asking for cooperation from businesses to cap product prices, as such practices distort market forces. “In the long term, it is imperative to stop capping product prices,” said Pornsil Patcharintanakul, deputy vice-chairman of the Thai Chamber of Commerce (TCC). “State subsidies should be […]
Keanchai Rungfapaisarn COUNTRY SHOULD REDUCE PRODUCTION AND FOCUS ON HIGHER QUALITY, SOME SUGGEST THE RICE-PRODUCTION Sector needs a major revamp to sustain itself amid high costs and heavy competition in export markets, a roundtable has heard. According to some participants, the Kingdom should abandon its strategy of massive production and low prices and move toward […]
THE NATIONAL COUNCIL for Peace and Order should replace the country’s subsidy system, including the rice-pledging policy, with a welfare system that would cover all people and the poor in particular, Nipon Poapongsakorn, a distinguished fellow at the Thailand Research Development Institute, said yesterday. An administrative system should be set up to run the social […]
PHUSADEE ARUNMAS Market intervention should be last resort Academics and rice experts have repeated their calls for a major overhaul of farmers’ assistance and subsidy programme, saying market intervention should be the last resort to be applied by the government. “We don’t object to farmers’ assistance measures or any subsidies, as long as the […]
Two farm economists offer rational solutions to helping rice farmers earn a living wage. By Sriwipa Siripunyawit After six months of political drama and negative economic reports, the recent bulletin about rice farmers being paid for their pledged rice was a rare bit of good news. Smiles from poor rice farmers gave many in the […]
