Bangkok, 10th September 2018 – The Agriculture and Cooperatives Ministry is encouraging rice farmers to turn away from off-season rice farming and plant alternative crops.
Minister of Agriculture and Cooperatives Grissada Boonrach has reiterated that the agriculturalists would make more income from farming alternative crops that are in line with market demand than persisting with off-season rice farming.
He said the government is providing assistance to farmers who wish to participate in the campaign by offering low-interest loans and helping the producers sow alternative crops at reasonable prices.
According to the minister, the government is educating the farmers about gauging market demand to guide agricultural production as well as enabling local cooperatives to manage upstream, midstream, and downstream activities.
Since September 3, 415 farmers in Uttaradit and Phitsanulok have joined the campaign, planting maize in 5,800 rai of rice fields.
The minister also touched on the low-interest loan scheme, explaining that agricultural cooperatives are offering loans of 3,000 baht per rai with 1% interest. He hopes the campaign will draw farmers’ attention away from off-season rice farming.
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