• 
• 

Published on April 11, 2008

Soaring crop prices, especially for rice, are attracting young workers in the capital back to their villages.

"Parents upcountry will call their sons, daughters and relatives to come home to help tend the land. They have all learned that they have more bargaining power now to get high prices," Commerce Minister Mingkwan Sangsuwan said yesterday.

The elders will teach the young generation to farm the right way.

About 11 million rural people have moved to greater Bangkok seeking mainly factory jobs and a better life. Those left to plough the paddy fields number about 20 million.

For years, the migration to the city has been steadily increasing due to low prices for agricultural commodities, low living standards and heavy debts. Without any government incentives and development, Thailand can experience a farmer shortage in 15 years, as labourers are absorbed by the industrial sector.

Farmers still working the fields average 55 years of age. By 2013, the agricultural workforce will have shrunk by 37 per cent.

Thai jasmine rice for export is being quoted at over US$1,000 or Bt31,500-36,000 per tonne, while white rice is fetching US$851 or Bt27,000-33,000.

Petchanet Pratruangkrai

The Nation