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AGRICULTURE
Latest figures needed in designing measures
WALAILAK KEERATIPIPATPONG
Skyrocketing food prices, drastic change in the use of farmland, and fears of foreign invasion into the farm sector have prompted Thai authorities to determine the exact size of farmland and devise safeguards to maintain it.
Thailand's farming area has not changed much in the past 20 years, at around 130-131 million rai, based on the statistics of the Office of Agricultural Economics (OAE).
''It's necessary for the government to conduct a review to ensure whether the database is correct since there have been significant changes in recent years. We need to invest to ensure the accuracy of the figures for better management plans in the future,'' said Apichart Jongskul, the OAE secretary-general.
Farmland has over the years been threatened by rapid urbanisation, industrial expansion and leisure developments such as golf courses.
The ongoing high grain prices have underscore the concern as people start noticing that rapid growth of cities, roads and factories. ''Golf courses, for instance, have tapped the government-financed irrigation systems intended for farmers.''
A number of fertile rice lands and fruit orchards have also been encroached by housing estates in the past years, especially those in Bangkok's neighbouring provinces once famous for delicious fruit such as durian and oranges.
According to Mr Apichart, possible measures include tax schemes to deter encroachment, and more support for farm owners such as better marketing strategies and product-price support to encourage them to keep their land.
The government has previously initiated the idea of zoning for food and energy crops to keep the right balance between the two, but he believes additional measures are needed to enhance its effectiveness. Access to more efficient logistics and price subsidies would encourage farmers to keep up the profession in designated areas. The OAE has also registered geographical indications (GI) for some farm products to protect them from abuse such as Sangyod Rice of Phatthalung province, he said.
According to Mr Apichart, Agriculture Minister Somsak Prissananantakul is also worried about the threat from foreign ''invasions'' of farming areas and instructed authorities to review whether current laws are adequate to prohibit foreigners from owning farmland.
A committee was set up last month to determine whether more teeth should be added to existing laws including the Foreign Business Act, the Land Code, and the Investment promotion Act.
''Fines and fees against violators remain small and some laws still have loopholes,'' he said.
However, the committee would first tighten existing laws before deciding to pass new legislation, which could be a time-consuming process, he said.
The reasons behind the concern are to ensure food security, protect local farmers and prevent them from becoming just farm workers.
Several countries have eyed Thailand for years thanks to its rich farm resources, relatively few natural disasters, and better farm technology when compared to other nations in the region.
''As Thailand produces in excess of 20 million tonnes of milled rice a year, the country has attracted foreign countries as a perfect food-production venue,'' he said.
Recent reports that investors from Middle Eastern countries are interested in buying farmland here have sparked the fear. ''However, we have yet found any irregularities, or possession of farmland by foreigners,'' he said.
The planting of Japonica short-grain rice supported by Japanese investors in a northern province involves a small volume and serves only local consumption of a particular group.
Chookiat Ophaswongse, president of the Rice Exporters Association, said he was not aware of any foreign investment in rice farming in recent years.
He recalled one case more than 20 years ago when a Japanese firm formed a joint venture with a local trader to grow Japonica rice for export to Japan. ''But it did not work successfully. Although the grain looked right, the taste was different from the authentic variety.''
According to Mr Chookiat, the foreign presence is limited to rice trading with only a handful of companies that enter joint ventures in rice mills with local businessmen to mill Hom Mali rice for sale to parent companies in Hong Kong.
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