Opposition MP claims that the government did not allocate enough cash to deal with the severe flooding.
PUBLISHED: 22 Jun 2024 at 04: 00
Agriculture and Cooperatives Minister Thamanat Prompow said on Friday that the funds allocated for the 2025 fiscal time is insufficient to address the issues affecting the agricultural industry.
He made the remarks during a budget bill discussion in the legislature.
He claimed that more than 30 million farmers are cared for by the government with a 125.8 billion ringgit budget, or 3, 386 ringgit per person.
‘ ‘ But considering the current financial situation, this number is not enough. We have to say the funds allocated is not in line with the agency’s jobs, especially those involving land and water control,” Capt Thamanat said.
He insisted that the ministry may make the most of its constrained budget to give farmers greater access to their crops through different marketing tactics and innovations.
The tasks at hand include lowering production costs and urging crops for animal feed, as well as halting off-season wheat farming in places with water shortages and stimulating farmers to increase soybeans rather, he said. ‘ These steps are intended to triple farmers ‘ revenue by 2027, as planned by the state”, he said.
Minister of Agriculture and Cooperatives, Thamanat Prompow. ( Photo: Chanat Katanyu )
More than 70 % of the agency’s resources will be used for investment projects, according to deputy secretary Atthakorn Srilatthayakorn, but this amount is still insufficient to address the sector’s issues.
Jetsada Dontreesanoa, a Move Forward Party MP for Pathum Thani, criticised the agency’s budget planning, saying the state has failed to allocate sufficient money to deal with heavy flood as a result of the La Nina sensation, which is predicted to occur in the latter half of the time.