3,4 million farmers receive support

The government [read: junta] will play Sinterklaas: 1,8 million farming families with less than 15 rai of land will receive a shower of 1.000 baht per rai and families with more than 15 rai (1,6 million) will receive 15.000 baht per family. The cash injection of 40 billion baht is "crucial" to stimulate the economy, says Deputy Prime Minister Pridiyathorn Devakula (Economic Affairs).

Pridiyathorn does not call it a populist measure, a reproach the previous government received because of the mortgage system for rice, the subsidies for the purchase of a first car and home and the tablets for students. 'We are not looking for popularity with the farmers. We want to help those who really need help.'

Rice farmers are currently struggling. A ton of rice yields 8.000 baht, a price that will probably drop when the new rice crop comes on the market in November. The economic indicators of recent months also bode poorly for a sluggish global economy.

Prime Minister Prayut says the government is doing its best to solve the country's problems systematically. “We are tackling problems that no government has dared to touch. And if that comes back to us, so be it. Our problems are deeply rooted. We are trying to find a sustainable solution for it.'

In addition to the shower for farmers, the government wants to stimulate the economy by accelerating investments and carrying out overdue works, such as repair work on schools, hospitals and roads damaged during the major floods in 2011, as well as dredging work. The money (299 billion baht) is taken from three different sources; there is even an amount of 24,9 billion baht left over from budgets since 2005.

The purpose of these works is to create jobs, thereby increasing the purchasing power of the population, especially in rural areas. Due to all the measures, according to Pridiyathorn, economic growth will increase into next year. He expects a growth of 4 to 5 percent for next year.

(Source: Bangkok Post, October 2, 2014)