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Published on April 5, 2008

Shortages are expected to be severe in the Central region and along the Eastern Seaboard, where farmers are racing to grow more rice and other farm products in response to a sharp rise in the price of key farm products, BAAC president Thiraphong Tangthirasunan said yesterday.

Farmers in the Central region are prepared to grow another round of rice crops, but water supply is at a critically low level. Fruit planters in the eastern provinces have to buy water for farming, he said.

The BAAC will also support farmers in the Northeast wanting to dig ponds or wells to keep water, he said.

Thirapong also said the BAAC would train farmers who are eligible for a debt moratorium for two years. There are 340,395 farmers who will be allowed to pay no interest for two years on combined debts worth Bt18.1 billion.

The Cabinet on Tuesday agreed to pay an interest subsidy to the BAAC worth Bt2.7 billion. The government also agreed to subsidise Bt1.39 billion for training projects.

Wichit Chaitong

The Nation