Illustrative image (Photo: Bangkok Post) Bangkok (VNA) – Thailand’s cabinet on February 25 approved a aid package worth 3.12 billion THB (98.3million USD) to support farmers hurt by prolonged drought.
The packagewill benefit more than 530,000 eligible farmers in 19provinces, said deputy government spokeswoman Rachada Dhanadirek.
Sponsored bythe central budget, it covers five projects including a scheme to promotefarmers growing crops that use less water, another to maintain the quality andvolume of rice production, and one to promote farmers raising tilapia andpoultry, she noted.
The scheme topromote farmers growing crops that use less water is estimated to cost 348million THB, while another to maintain the quality and volume of rice for the2020 – 2021 crop year will cost 1.74 billion THB, she added.
Some 260million THB of the total budget will go to promote farmers raising tilapia andthe remaining budget will be allocated to promote farmers raising poultry andfreshwater prawn to generate extra income.
The cabinetalso approved allowing the farm aid fund to extend 538 million THB worth ofno-interest loans to farmers to build water supply for their farmland, shesaid.
Thailand hasbeen striken by the worst drought in decades with water levels in the country’smain reservoirs hitting very low. The Thai government has urged people to savewater while farmers have been asked to not grow off-season rice.
The dry spellin Thailand lasts from November to May every year./.
The packagewill benefit more than 530,000 eligible farmers in 19provinces, said deputy government spokeswoman Rachada Dhanadirek.
Sponsored bythe central budget, it covers five projects including a scheme to promotefarmers growing crops that use less water, another to maintain the quality andvolume of rice production, and one to promote farmers raising tilapia andpoultry, she noted.
The scheme topromote farmers growing crops that use less water is estimated to cost 348million THB, while another to maintain the quality and volume of rice for the2020 – 2021 crop year will cost 1.74 billion THB, she added.
Some 260million THB of the total budget will go to promote farmers raising tilapia andthe remaining budget will be allocated to promote farmers raising poultry andfreshwater prawn to generate extra income.
The cabinetalso approved allowing the farm aid fund to extend 538 million THB worth ofno-interest loans to farmers to build water supply for their farmland, shesaid.
Thailand hasbeen striken by the worst drought in decades with water levels in the country’smain reservoirs hitting very low. The Thai government has urged people to savewater while farmers have been asked to not grow off-season rice.
The dry spellin Thailand lasts from November to May every year./.
VNA
