BANGKOK, 8 May 2015 – The Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives has made preparations to host the royal ploughing ceremony on Wednesday. The annual ceremony marks the beginning of the rice growing season in Thailand.
Permanent Secretary of Agriculture and Cooperatives Chavalit Chookajorn will play the role of an astrologer during the ceremony.
Two oxen have been selected by the Department of Livestock Development, named ‘Pra Ko Lert’ and ‘Pra Ko Fah’. The ceremony will use 11 types of rice with a total weight of 260 kilograms.
360,000 packets of rice grains will be handed out to people attending the ceremonial grounds at Sanam Luang. The ploughing ceremony began in ancient times. In 1966, the government declared May 13th of each year to be Farmers’ Day.
