Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha went to Nakhon Sawan and Chai Nat provinces in Central Thailand on Friday to see the drought situation firsthand and discuss measures to support farmers.
The premier flew out of Bangkok around 7.30am to Nakhon Sawan, where he chaired a meeting to follow up on the implementation of the government’s measures to relieve the drought, including education of farmers, expansion of debt repayment periods and improving water use efficiency.
The prime minister visited a knowledge centre for production efficiency of farm products in Banphot Phisai district and an exhibition featuring cultivation of alternative crops to second-crop rice. He also chaired a meeting of the joint public and private committee for provinces in the lower North.
Speaking at the centre, Gen Prayut said farmers needed to understand the government’s policies and adjust and match their crops to local conditions and to market needs.
The government was ready to help all farmers improve the quality of their lives, but to be successful the required the cooperation of all parties under the Pracha Rat (People’s State) initiatives.
Assistance would be given through state mechanisms such as the Bank for Agriculture and Agricultural Cooperatives, the Government Saving Bank and other funds.
Gen Prayut asked farmers who greeted him to help spread the message to other farmers.
In the afternoon he was due to visit a water reservoir being restored in Ban Nong Du of Chai Nat and be briefed on the drought situation there.
