“MP Chatchawan” demands public utility system, vows to fully investigate
Parliament 12 Sep – “MP Chatchawan” demands a good public utility system after 1 year has passed, villagers are still using murky water, warns “Paethongtarn’s government” not to follow the same water management of the previous government, causing farmers to suffer, only debt, declares that this farmer’s son will investigate fully, do not disappoint.
Mr. Chatchawan Paetthai, MP for Roi Et, Thai Sang Thai Party (TST), said in the debate on the government’s policy statement to the parliament, according to Article 162 of the Constitution, that today’s policy statement by Ms. Paethongtarn Shinawatra, Prime Minister, is a statement of intent to this parliament that the country must move forward, but no one must be left behind. Thailand has a population of 67 million people, most of whom are farmers. If they have a good quality of life, the country will be good too. However, in every past term, farmers have faced various problems. When liste
ning to the Prime Minister’s policy statement to the parliament, it is unbelievable that the policy to take care of and help farmers is only 8 lines out of 88 pages. He hopes that the details of the policy implementation will be able to measure the results of solving farmers’ problems effectively.
Mr. Chatchawan said that when listening, it is similar to the previous government, which has been in operation for 1 year, the people and farmers are still facing the same flooding and drought problems, even worse. Therefore, I would like to warn this government that if they use the same methods as the previous government, the problems will not be solved. The quality of life of farmers will continue to be lacking, as before. The first lack is losses from high farming costs, but income, which I am not sure whether the government intends to make farmers have 3 times more income or 3 times more debt, is 2. Lack of water, and 3. Lack of access to new resources, knowledge or technology.
‘Talking about water for consump
tion for the people of Tambon Khu Muang, Amphoe Mueang Suang, Roi Et Province, which I have already submitted a bill to the Speaker of the House and had the opportunity to discuss, I believe that there are still many areas in Thailand that still use murky water to wash their faces and brush their teeth. The previous Prime Minister announced that he would focus on creating public utilities to create good health and hygiene through the development of the water supply system. It has been a year already. This government should not follow suit,’ said Mr. Chatchawan.
Mr. Chatchawan added that he would like to propose guidelines to drive the policy to achieve results, namely, create a fair market system, reduce the influence of middlemen, support farmer groups, promote access to technology and resources, provide low-interest funds or funds to support investment in new technologies, promote knowledge development to develop skills that can be applied effectively, manage water resources effectively and sustainably, ex
pand export markets, and create Thai product brands that are accepted worldwide.
Mr. Chatchawan also said that the last suggestion is to issue measures to help farmers to prepare for the harvest season when the main season rice will be harvested in the next few weeks, with more than 10 tons of paddy rice coming out at the same time. If there are no measures to cope with the low price of fresh paddy rice, therefore, if this cannot be done, there must be measures to help, such as 1. Loan measures to delay the sale of main season paddy rice or to pledge granaries to provide farmers with working capital and while delaying the sale of rice, wait for the day to sell at a reasonable price. 2. Loan measures to collect rice and create added value by agricultural institutions to allow farmer cooperatives or community rice centers to access sources of low-interest funds, increase liquidity, and be able to purchase paddy rice from farmers, leading the market during the period of high production, so that they will not be
pressured by middlemen.
3. Measures to compensate interest for private rice traders in stockpiling to have liquidity to buy rice from farmers and 4. Support for management costs and develop the quality of rice farmers’ products or harvest costs of 1,000 baht per rai, not exceeding 20 rai. After the policy statement, if there is full authority, it can be done.
‘Today, farmers from generation to generation are still unable to make a living from the agricultural career that their ancestors passed on to them. On August 16, I was one of the voices that raised my hand to support the Prime Minister named Paethongtarn Shinawatra. But from now on, I will perform my duty to strictly monitor the performance of the Prime Minister and the ministers. I am a descendant of farmers, a farmer. The farmers elected you. Don’t disappoint the farmers,’ said Mr. Chatchawan.
Source: Thai News Agency