Concerned Thai officials will continue monitoring whether
foreigners have violated the law by buying or renting farmland to engage in
agricultural activities in the kingdom, although initial investigations have
found that such practices do not exist, Deputy Commerce Minister Alongkorn
Ponlaboot said last week.
Alongkorn said an investigation had been conducted in 20 provinces nationwide by
Commerce Ministry Business Development Department officials and it was found
that no foreigners had either bought or rented farmland over the limit set by
law to perform farming practices in Thailand.
However, the ministry will continue monitoring the sector and seek cooperation
from owners of agricultural land, and members of the Thai Farmers Association
(TFA) for help in monitoring the activities of foreigners who may have entered
into the business, he said.
Farming as an occupation is reserved for Thais only and the probe was conducted
following an outcry by some farmers that foreigners have bought numerous plots
of farmland here and hired farmers to provide the labour.
This week, the ministry was due to ask the Department of Special Investigation
to continue probing whether foreigners had bought or rented farmland through
business registration or through a joint investment with Thais, said Alongkorn.
The ministry will also cooperate with TFA president Prasit Boonchuey in
investigating the matter, he said. (TNA)
