The cabinet has allocated 1.03 billion baht to promote beef cattle and goat farming in Sa Kaeo province over six years, targeting 6,377 farmers on 103,823 rai of land.
Government spokesman Sansern Kaewkamnerd said on Wednesday the Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives proposed the project because the number of beef cattle farmers had declined, hit by high costs and long breakeven periods, despite local and international demand.
The government hoped to persuade rice farmers in drought-prone areas in Sa Kaeo to turn to beef or goat raising.
Sa Kaeo was chosen because it was a special economic zone near Cambodia and Vietnam and had potential for industrial development and Asean-oriented exports, Lt Gen Sansern said.
The project targets 6,377 farmers in 103,823 rai in Aranyaprathet, Khok Sung and Watthana Nakhon districts. Promotion will include the construction of slaughterhouses and cattle and goat feed plants.