Thailand promotes communal paddy fields

BANGKOK, February 5 (TNA) - The Thai government, through the Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives, plans to promote communal paddy fields in 300 communities where dwellers will be advised on crop and production improvement, cost reduction and marketing among others. Thai Agriculture and Cooperatives Minister General Chatchai Sarikulya told journalists on February 4 that communal paddy fields should allow farmers to reduce costs and increase produce and quality and, thus, become independent with secure income. General Chatchai explained that the idea would be implemented in 300 communities, each of which would have a combined paddy field covering 1,000-3,000 rais and the communal paddies should span altogether on more than 690,000 rais (2.5 rais = 1 acre), involving nearly 60,000 households of farmers nationwide. To support the plan, General Chatchai noted that his ministry will provide participating farmers with soft loans, seeds, cultivation machines, instruments to improve seed quality and measure paddy moisture, as well as quality certification service. Besides, his ministry will organise training on better cultivation, farmers' teamwork, fertilizer production and machine use for farmers. According to the minister, concerned officials have been assigned to look for suitable areas for the communal paddy fields, survey farmers' demand and explain the project to the farmers. During the 2016/2017 crop year, Thailand demands 25 million tons of rice and the Agriculture and Cooperatives Ministry plans the production of 27 million tons of grains, including 7.30 million tons of Hom Mali rice and 7.11 million tons of glutinous rice. (TNA)