Chachoengsao: “Athakorn” thanks the government for providing additional budget to the Ministry of Agriculture, praises the budget drafters for daring to think and act, asks that the budget be used wisely for farmers. Mr. Atthakorn Sirilatthayakorn, Chachoengsao MP from the Kla Tham Party, acknowledged the government’s decision to allocate an increased budget of 133,177 million baht to the Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives, marking a rise of 7,819 million baht from the previous year. He emphasized the crucial role this budget plays in improving the lives of over 30 million individuals in the agricultural sector.
According to Thai News Agency, Mr. Atthakorn highlighted the Ministry’s focus on the 2-dimensional national strategy, which includes an investment of 36,747 million baht aimed at enhancing competitiveness. The strategy emphasizes local identity agriculture, high-value agriculture, organic and mixed agriculture, and aims to improve the quality and standards of agricultural products. Additionally, the Ministry plans to boost confidence in agricultural and food products and advance agricultural product processing. The investment plan also includes about 83,000 million baht dedicated to water resource management, an integrated strategy to develop water sources, resulting in a 9.45 percent increase in the Ministry’s investment budget.
Mr. Atthakorn also mentioned a planned expenditure of no less than 2,900 million baht to develop weather-resistant and disease-resistant plant varieties. This initiative includes breeding programs and the production and promotion of rice seeds. Other efforts involve promoting high-value agricultural products with market demand both domestically and internationally, such as expanding coffee planting and resolving export challenges for fresh durian. The Ministry also aims to increase food security by boosting animal feed corn production to meet domestic needs.
In reviewing past initiatives, Mr. Atthakorn noted the Ministry’s work, influenced by Lt. Col. Thammanat Prompao and Mrs. Narumon Pinyosinwat, to curb illegal imports of agricultural products and the recent success in preventing avocado smuggling. These efforts are part of policies that also include providing agricultural land deeds and transforming trees into assets for financial leverage.
Mr. Atthakorn concluded by expressing confidence in the budget allocation, affirming that it reflects the farmers’ needs. He commended the innovative and bold approach of the budget organizers and urged the Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives to utilize the funds wisely to benefit farmers effectively.