He said this would be an effective way of farming and also provide higher output.
He also urged them to stop depending on state subsidies. If farmers cannot work together, they’ll keep making demands for government assistance, the prime minister said.
“Do you think the country has enough money for that? The government also needs to take care of other groups of people.”
He added that he had sympathy for all groups. “Don’t pit me against farmers,” he said. Prayut said farmers needed to curb their production to make sure they could profit from their grain. He said current costs were too high. Speaking to reporters during a visit to the Finance Ministry, the prime minister also praised different groups that have helped farmers sell their rice at a time when prices are declining. However, he said direct rice sales to consumers were only 5 per cent of total.
Meanwhile, authorities in different provinces yesterday allowed local farmers and those from elsewhere to sell their rice at city halls and other marketplaces. They included Samut Prakan, Lop Buri, Pathum Thani, and Nakhon Ratchasima. Local businesses such as petrol stations and farm-produce outlets also sold rice sourced from farmers directly to consumers.
Samut Prakan Governor Chartchai Uthaiphan said yesterday that local farmers and those from other provinces, such as Buri Ram, Surin, Roi Et, Si Sa Ket and Ubon Ratchathani were selling their rice at their respective provincial hall.
“We encourage farmers to sell their rice directly to consumers. This way the farmers do not need to rely on middlemen,” he said.
Lop Buri Governor Panu Yaemsri yesterday said farmers were allowed to sell their rice at the provincial hall as part of the authorities’ measures to help them.
At Rangsit Market in Pathum Thani, 10 tonnes of the local farmers’ rice was sold within three hours yesterday. Deputy provincial governor Nirat Phongsittithaworn said a total of 210 tonnes of rice had been sold directly to consumers over the past four days. As well, soldiers continued to help farmers to harvest their rice and buy rice from them for consumption within the local military camps.
Dozens of soldiers from the 23rd Military Circle in Khon Kaen yesterday helped local farmers harvest their crop in a flooded area.
In Uttaradit, five military units yesterday agreed to buy 300 tonnes of rice a year from local farmers for Bt7.5 million.