About 900,000 farmers are expected to benefit from a governmentsponsored debt relief programme.
The programme aims to ease the farmers' burden in the face of ongoing drought.
Currently, the government has asked farmers to delay the start of their planting out of concern the rainy season will come late. Without adequate water, plants were likely to wither.
Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva yesterday said his government would have to allocate between Bt200million and Bt300million for the programme, which would exempt the farmers from interest charges for oneandahalf months. The farmers will also be allowed to delay principal payments for one month.
Eligible farmers are those owing less than Bt50,000 to the Bank for Agriculture and Agricultural Cooperatives (BAAC).