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New law will restrict traditional ways: Thai farmers


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New law will restrict traditional ways: farmers

By THE NATION

 

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Concern over ban on uncertified rice varieties and conflicts.

 

FARMERS are getting increasingly worried about the Rice Bill, which drafters claim would improve their lives, but is now causing huge controversy.

 

Researchers and senior government officials have now joined farmers’ calls for the National Legislative Assembly (NLA) to address their concerns and avoid triggering future problems.

 

Two major controversial points of the Rice Bill, proposed by 25 NLA members, are the ban on uncertified paddy seeds and the requirement that rice mills issue paddy-purchase papers clearly specifying rice varieties, weight, quality and moisture content.

 

Offenders face a fine of up to Bt100,000 and/or one year in jail, under the draft law.

 

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While the controversial legal clauses aim to boost rice quality and farmer incomes, they are viewed by critics as threatening farmers’ way of life and hurting their ties to rice mills. Farmers worry that the bill will force them to buy commercial varieties of paddy rather than developing their own varieties.

 

“We are worried that the draft law will practically bar farmers from selecting their own rice varieties or force them into seeking certification. 

“That’ll be too much for farmers,” |said Daoruang Puechpol, the chair of a community agricultural enterprise.

 

Even though his enterprise is not likely to be impacted, Daoruang said he opposes certain sections of the bill.

 

“Farmers should not be forced to change their way of life,” he said.

 

Ubon Yuwa, coordinator for the Network of Northeast Alternative Agriculture, said the Rice Bill would place power in the hands of the Rice Department as the certifying agency.

 

“In fact, the government should create opportunities for farmers to manage their own affairs, such as improving their own rice varieties,” he said.

 

Separately, Assoc Professor Nipon Poapong-sakorn, a researcher at the Thailand Development Research Institute, said that farmers have in the past successfully developed several high-quality rice varieties and have a history of preparing their paddy seeds.

 

“But their development activities are different from the methods used by private companies. If the current Rice Bill becomes law, farmers will become discouraged. They will be too worried about legal punishments to continue developing varieties,” he said.

 

Change will increase costs

 

Rice mills should also not be treated as suspected criminals, said Nipon, pointing to a section of the Bill that would allow officials to check paddy-purchase records at the mills without prior notice.

 

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Critics have said the purchase-paper requirement, which is likely to raise operating costs for the mills, could prompt them to offer farmers lower prices for crops and so incite future conflicts between mills and farmers.

 

Jintana Chaiyawonnagal, vice minister attached to the prime minister, said many farmers were also worried that it would become tougher to get paddy seeds for their fields.

 

“Concerns are growing among rice-seed distributors as well,” she said.

 

Speaking on condition of anonymity, a rice farmer in Prachin Buri province complained that he and other farmers should have been informed of the drafting of the bill and asked to comment prior to the NLA introducing it.

 

Meanwhile, Agriculture Minister Grisada Boonrach said he had expressed opposition to any restriction on farmers developing rice varieties.

“We have already informed the NLA of this in writing,” he said.

 

Grisada is hopeful the NLA will heed his ministry’s concerns. 

 

“But we will also make sure that government representatives talk to the NLA’s ad-hoc committee on the Rice Bill before it goes to the NLA for second and third readings,” he said.

 

Rice Bill controversy

Background 

The National Legislative Assembly is set to hold the second and third readings of the Rice Bill, sparking grave concerns among farmers and academics. 

 

Controversial points 

- The draft bans the distribution of uncertified paddy seeds.

- Offenders face up to Bt100,000 in fine and/or one year in jail.

 

Drafters’ stated intention

To boost quality, yield and farmers’ income.

 

Concerns

- It will discourage the development of paddy based on local wisdom and affect farmers’ way of life. 

- The draft law requires rice mills to issue purchase papers, specifying the variety of rice, weight, quality and moisture content. Random checks will be conducted and offenders will face up to Bt100,000 in fines and/or a year in jail.

 

Drafters’ stated intention 

-To prevent rice mills from buying rice at unfair prices.

 

Concerns

- Requirement for documentation can mean extra cost and trigger conflicts between mills and farmers. 

 

Source:The Nation

 

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/detail/national/30364155

 

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-- © Copyright The Nation 2019-02-15
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The rice farmers may have a case I'm not a rice farmer, what I do know, farmers can't handle change and to prove that how many young people are working paddy fields , my experience with my family,  the young in the village go to agriculture schools learn new ways, go back to farm, Grandad, Father and uncles kindly ignore their suggestions, after a year of trying , the youngsters head to the city, you only have to see the thousand year old tradition of burning off, to understand lack of progress.

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46 minutes ago, webfact said:

“Farmers should not be forced to change their way of life,”

The socialisation of rice growing in Thailand; congratulations junta.

This could be a big vote loser for the Great One; an own goal in fact.

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1 hour ago, webfact said:

While the controversial legal clauses aim to boost rice quality and farmer incomes, they are viewed by critics as threatening farmers’ way of life and hurting their ties to rice mills.

Yep... they are taking the word 'tradition' out of traditional and making rice farming dependent on the multinationals. Ain't that grand... 

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Ah somebody has spotted that if a guy buys top range rice one year, he keeps enough seed from his crop for the next year, but also provides for other members of his family over a few years the quality of rice production improves for all the family. From, the purchase of one bag of quality seed.

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Bring in whatever laws you want, rice farmers will do the same as before, thinking if it was good enough for my grandad its good enough for me.

This is just a way of trying to control farmers, and moving everything into conglomerates like CP.

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16 minutes ago, colinneil said:

Bring in whatever laws you want, rice farmers will do the same as before, thinking if it was good enough for my grandad its good enough for me.

This is just a way of trying to control farmers, and moving everything into conglomerates like CP.

Farmers are more receptive to change than you give them credit for Colin. Most transitions are however implemented for increased revenue. On this topic you will note there is concern there may be less profit due to restrictions and controls.

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2 hours ago, chainarong said:

The rice farmers may have a case I'm not a rice farmer, what I do know, farmers can't handle change and to prove that how many young people are working paddy fields , my experience with my family,  the young in the village go to agriculture schools learn new ways, go back to farm, Grandad, Father and uncles kindly ignore their suggestions, after a year of trying , the youngsters head to the city, you only have to see the thousand year old tradition of burning off, to understand lack of progress.

Not all farmers, Dutch farmers are some of the most inovative farmers there are. The changes I have witnessed there were amazing. But there was good education for farmers where I came from. But I agree in Thailand they don't seem to want to change or learn new things. The few young farmers that did change and made it are inspirational, i seen Thai stories about that. But most farmers don't want to change.

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2 hours ago, chainarong said:

The rice farmers may have a case I'm not a rice farmer, what I do know, farmers can't handle change and to prove that how many young people are working paddy fields , my experience with my family,  the young in the village go to agriculture schools learn new ways, go back to farm, Grandad, Father and uncles kindly ignore their suggestions, after a year of trying , the youngsters head to the city, you only have to see the thousand year old tradition of burning off, to understand lack of progress.

The old thai are just very stubborn...i see it everywhere, ancient looking crappy shops/business in BKK where the younger kids can speak fluent english because they studied abroad...but the old man will not let them change anything at all.....

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1 minute ago, 473geo said:

Farmers are more receptive to change than you give them credit for Colin. Most transitions are however implemented for increased revenue. On this topic you will note there is concern there may be less profit due to restrictions and controls.

Farmers in other countries maybe, how much change have you seen in rice farming in Thailand ?.

 

I don't agree with your statement, in the Netherlands most change came because of the government rules. Sure some came from profit but farmers won't change (ecology wise) if a government won't push them. Now farming where i lived is far less damaging and far less labor intensive.  Nobody ever imagined nets to help with tulips they all thought it had to be done by hand. Change can happen but farmers need to be open. Most farmers that i saw lose it were older farmers who were unwilling to change. Those with their younger family working for them did change and survive. Its usually the old that don't want to change. Now most Thai farmers are not young... so I think change is not high on their list.

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Please guys do your homework

 

10 years ago reaping was done by hand and a stationary machine now almost extinct

 

But it costs to have a machine harvest rather than family

 

So the family work off the farm

 

The farmer for his part improves the rice quality, uses fertiliser to increase yield

 

It's already happened and happening

 

Change

 

Use of AI  - more introduction of foreign beef breeds - Charolias Kobe, Angus

 

The concerns here are not if when change may occur, but a possible negative revenue effect if the rice laws are implemented. Then why would farmers be berated for not wanting to follow the rules!

 

And just to remind you in Thai farming if a farmer hits on a good scheme, where financially viable, others are quick to follow - in that respect no different to any other area of business

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Rice is one of the main incomes for the government and the government takes ownership of it as their baby. Now they are messing with tradition and farmers themselves who essentially are the ones who feed the governments mouths. It is apparent that the ruling party and its long arm have no intent to let Thailand and Thai people do what they want, only do what (they call the legal arm of the government) they tell you to do for th better of you. Funny how everything is being attacked and controlled here now. This just could majorly backfire on them with the millions of farmers. THAI farmers aren’t the easiest ones. I know a little 1 or 2 or 3 about this.

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1 hour ago, 473geo said:

Ah somebody has spotted that if a guy buys top range rice one year, he keeps enough seed from his crop for the next year, but also provides for other members of his family over a few years the quality of rice production improves for all the family. From, the purchase of one bag of quality seed.

Unless of course the seedis sterile, so the farmer is forced to buy from Monsanto, Pfizer et al year after year after year.

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2 minutes ago, Blackheart1916 said:

Unless of course the seedis sterile, so the farmer is forced to buy from Monsanto, Pfizer et al year after year after year.

And that could mean an annual kick-back for the next 20 years.

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29 minutes ago, 473geo said:

Please guys do your homework

 

10 years ago reaping was done by hand and a stationary machine now almost extinct

 

But it costs to have a machine harvest rather than family

 

So the family work off the farm

 

The farmer for his part improves the rice quality, uses fertiliser to increase yield

 

It's already happened and happening

 

Change

 

Use of AI  - more introduction of foreign beef breeds - Charolias Kobe, Angus

 

The concerns here are not if when change may occur, but a possible negative revenue effect if the rice laws are implemented. Then why would farmers be berated for not wanting to follow the rules!

 

And just to remind you in Thai farming if a farmer hits on a good scheme, where financially viable, others are quick to follow - in that respect no different to any other area of business

 Yes farming here has got mechanized, but my point is farmers will not change what they grow.

The year before my accident i tried to get my wife, her father to diversify from nothing but rice to maybe corn, grass or other crops, i was told this is rice land we grow rice, nothing  else will grow, have you tried other crops, i asked no, this is rice land.

A near neighbour early 60s his daughter and son in law came to live with her parents, s.i.l. wanted family to use some land for corn, lime trees, f.i.l. said no this is my land i grow rice.

Well with attitudes like that things will not change until the older ones are  dead.

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6 minutes ago, colinneil said:

 Yes farming here has got mechanized, but my point is farmers will not change what they grow.

The year before my accident i tried to et my wife, her father to diversify fram nothing but rice to maybe corn, grass or other crops, i was told this is rice land we grow rice, nothing  else will grow, have you tried other crops, i asked no, this is rice land.

A near neighbour early 60s his daughter and son in law came to live with her parents, s.i.l. wanted family to use some land for corn, lime trees, f.i.l. said no this is my land i grow rice.

Well with attitudes like that things will not change until the older ones are  dead.

You are most likely correct in this case Colin and there will be many similar

I guess I am in an area where change is more readily accepted, maybe even play a part in encouraging change.

Tell me Colin, many eucalyptus trees in your neck of the woods?

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38 minutes ago, colinneil said:

 Yes farming here has got mechanized, but my point is farmers will not change what they grow.

The year before my accident i tried to et my wife, her father to diversify fram nothing but rice to maybe corn, grass or other crops, i was told this is rice land we grow rice, nothing  else will grow, have you tried other crops, i asked no, this is rice land.

A near neighbour early 60s his daughter and son in law came to live with her parents, s.i.l. wanted family to use some land for corn, lime trees, f.i.l. said no this is my land i grow rice.

Well with attitudes like that things will not change until the older ones are  dead.

Wasn't it about fifteen or twenty years ago that Thaksin (IIRC) pushed the idea of growing Eucalyptus as it adapted to the dry soil here.

It turned out that the Eucalyptus was very good at drawing up the small amount of moisture in the soil. The problem was that after a while there was no moisture at all, and it was nearly impossible to grow anything else on the land for a long time.

 

(I'm sure someone with a better knowledge will instantly put me right if I have some details incorrect)

 

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1 hour ago, fruitman said:

.i see it everywhere, ancient looking crappy shops/business in BKK where the younger kids can speak fluent english because they studied abroad...but the old man will not let them change anything at all.....

Ah you again.

Good grief.

What the hell has fluent English got to do with this thread?

And why should fluent English be a compulsory positive point in BKK?

Or is this another one of your "i'm Johnny Foreigner and i expect everyone everywhere i go to speak and understand the Queen's English"?

Howzabout, i know this is difficult to comprehend, but how about attempting to learn the local lingo?

Jesus wept.

 

Back on topic,

bar the central plains, which is Thailand's rice basket, and very mechanized, and probably efficient & profitable. most other areas, especially in the North & NE are smaller plots, or very small plots, often run by subsistence farmers, small, poor, families who are multi-generational farmers with poor land and poor soil (especially in the NE), with poor irrigation. These people will be the ones affected by these proposed laws which will help nobody except the big boys.

The hunter gatherers, foragers, families with 10-15 rai of paddy that can be grown only once a year, but need minimal money, they are the ones who will suffer.

 

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37 minutes ago, bluesofa said:

Wasn't it about fifteen or twenty years ago that Thaksin (IIRC) pushed the idea of growing Eucalyptus as it adapted to the dry soil here.

It turned out that the Eucalyptus was very good at drawing up the small amount of moisture in the soil. The problem was that after a while there was no moisture at all, and it was nearly impossible to grow anything else on the land for a long time.

 

(I'm sure someone with a better knowledge will instantly put me right if I have some details incorrect)

 

Most Thai farmers are smart they grow the trees alongside roads, tracks to the paddies, and the irrigation ditches

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5 minutes ago, thaiguzzi said:

What the hell has fluent English got to do with this thread?

 

Fluent english means has studied abroad on a real university where everything goes organised, planned and efficient...but of course that's far to difficult for you to undastaan with your fred flintstone bikes.

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39 minutes ago, 473geo said:

You are most likely correct in this case Colin and there will be many similar

I guess I am in an area where change is more readily accepted, maybe even play a part in encouraging change.

Tell me Colin, many eucalyptus trees in your neck of the woods?

No eucalyptus around here.

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2 minutes ago, 473geo said:

It turned out that the Eucalyptus was very good at drawing up the small amount of moisture in the soil. The problem was that after a while there was no moisture at all, and it was nearly impossible to grow anything else on the land for a long time.

 

In that case the farmers should grow more eucalyptus and put some koala's in them...tourist buses will come in droves!

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5 minutes ago, fruitman said:

In that case the farmers should grow more eucalyptus and put some koala's in them...tourist buses will come in droves!

Idiot!

Your sense of humour is pretty pathetic.

 

Eucalyptus is the worst thing that got imported here, and the worst thing anyone can put on their land.

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2 hours ago, 473geo said:

Ah somebody has spotted that if a guy buys top range rice one year, he keeps enough seed from his crop for the next year, but also provides for other members of his family over a few years the quality of rice production improves for all the family. From, the purchase of one bag of quality seed.

very well like the family of my girlfriend. They do not sell their rice harvest. They eat it by themselves and use it to trade for other goods within their village, they have done so for decades and they don't need to buy Monsanto seeds !! 

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3 minutes ago, thaiguzzi said:

Idiot!

Your sense of humour is pretty pathetic.

 

Eucalyptus is the worst thing that got imported here, and the worst thing anyone can put on their land.

Where Eucalyptus is grown on 'waste' land of the type I mentioned above it provides easy additional income for no cost. I personally have not seen any detrimental effect on the rice crops in the adjacent paddies

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1 minute ago, 473geo said:

Where Eucalyptus is grown on 'waste' land of the type I mentioned above it provides easy additional income for no cost. I personally have not seen any detrimental effect on the rice crops in the adjacent paddies

Maybe as a wind barrier on borders and ditches, ok.

But actually sticking it into a field of say 10-15 rai, no.

It's lazy farming, which brings money in 3 years after planting, and every few years there after.

Anything is better, but requires more work, inc rice, cassava or sugar.

And it is bad for the soil in that 10-15 rai.

You will see nothing grows in it after a while, the trees leech every bit of goodness out of the soil, and it takes years to grow anything half decent after the Eucalyptus is gone.

Horrible stuff.

Read up on the history of Eucalyptus being introduced to this country.

Japanese & Paper conglomerates.

Also ask yourself the question, why nobody puts it in decent, good land?

 

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