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350677
Tue, 12/09/2014 - 13:22
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Thai PM asserts government trying to solve low rubber price problem

BANGKOK, Dec 9 -- Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-c-ha has said that his government is trying to quickly solve the low rubber price problem and said it is not to be blamed for failing to help farmers suffering from the slump in the price. General Prayut told the press after Tuesday’s cabinet meeting that the government was trying to increase the rubber price raised to 50-60 baht per kilogram as soon as possible. He said the government had passed three measures to help shore up the rubber price but they could not be implemented at once due to bureaucratic procedure. The three measures are to let the Co-operatives and Rubber Estate Organisation buy rubber from farmers, the 1,000-baht-per-rai subsidy for rubber farmers, and forming a joint committee to work out sustainable solutions, according to the prime minister. “Solutions also rely on cooperation from the private sector to buy rubber in the market to raise its price to 60 baht per kilogram because the government cannot afford to subsidize the price,” he said. General Prayut said the government was not to be blamed for the slump in the rubber price and for failing to help local rubber farmers. The rubber price fell as the oil price declined and all countries faced the same problem, he said. General Prayuth stressed that he would speed up the implementation of the three measures. Regarding proposals for the government to issue bonds and increase the subsidy, he said that might affect the limited contingency budget of the state. (TNA)

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