Party eyes farmers, vows fix for prices
The Bhumjaithai Party is offering a range of policies to woo voters, from crop price guarantees to a debt moratorium.
Bhumjaithai leader Anutin Charnvirakul launched the policies, many targeting farmers, during his party’s recent campaign trail in Nong Khai.
Mr Anutin, also deputy prime minister and public health minister, said the party hoped to build on its success managing ministries under its quota.
The party has decriminalised cannabis, offered a free kidney dialysis service under the gold card universal insurance scheme and improved the transport network.
He said the party has designed the policy to improve farmer incomes through a contract-farming system.
“Farmers need income security. They must know in advance how much will they get for their produce before they grow the crops and they must be paid before selling the crops,” he said.
The crops will also be insured so farmers will receive compensation in the event of damage to the farm.
Mr Anutin said his party planned to create a futures contract where farmers can sell their crops to the government at a fixed price.
For example, rice may be sold at a price of 12,000 baht per tonne, jasmine rice at 18,000 baht per tonne, latex at 62 baht a kilogramme, rubber sheets at 65 baht/kg and cassava at 4 baht/kg.
Mr Anutin said the election promises are practical and vowed to back his promises with action should the party get a chance to help govern.
“The more MP seats our party can win at the next elections, the greater the chance of turning the promises into action,” he said.
Mr Anutin was speaking at Bhumjaithai’s campaign rally on the banks of the Mekong River in tambon Phon Phisai of Phon Phisai district in Nong Khai on Nov 4-5.
The party also introduced its potential candidates standing in the three constituencies of the province: Sathian Phaniboot, Dr Jidapa Sunthornthanakul and Kritpol Lawongsa. The rally attracted a large turnout.
As the party supervising the Transport Ministry, it has approved a high-speed train project which will involve construction of a new Thai-Lao bridge crossing the river. The government will pay for feasibility and design of the project with work set to begin soon.
The mid-section of the bridge will be set aside for rail tracks and road lanes occupying either side. The party had pushed for the project even though the province has no MPs from Bhumjaithai.