BANGKOK, 9 October 2013 – According to the Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives, the number of para-rubber farmers applying for the Government’s compensation program has surpassed the target figure by 100,000.
Mr. Chavalit Chukajon, Permanent Secretary for Agriculture and Cooperatives, quoting the number from the Department of Agricultural Extension, said that currently 1.09 million farmers have applied for the compensation, compared to the projected number of around 990,000.
The figure is 9-10% more than that anticipated by the ministry, he said, adding that 580,000 have been recorded into the registration system. Only 110,000 households have their farmland inspected.
The Bank for Agriculture and Agricultural Cooperatives has so far paid compensations worth 74 million baht for 29,000 rai of rubber plantations.
The deadline for the program’s registration is scheduled for October 15th, after which officials would accelerate the farmland inspection in order to quickly hand out the assistance fund to rubber growers.
