The government has postponed debate on a draft rubber law after coming under pressure from rubber farmers pushing to scrap it entirely, the deputy agriculture minister said.
About 50 angry rubber farmers risked violating martial law Tuesday to decry draft legislation aimed at reversing plummeting market prices while also demanding new subsides. Some farmers threatened to step up street action if the law is not scrapped entirely.
The draft legislation aimed to set up a Rubber Authority of Thailand that would include farmers and representatives from the public and private sectors to oversee policy and prices, but protesters are concerned small-time farmers will be left out.
Deputy Agriculture Minister Amnuay Patisae said it will be reintroduced to the National Legislative Assembly in two weeks, after talks with rubber groups. The minister said he has invited farmers to discuss ways to fix the draft law "so that this piece of legislature truly belongs to rubber farmers and pleases all sides".
About 50 angry rubber farmers risked violating martial law Tuesday to decry draft legislation aimed at reversing plummeting market prices while also demanding new subsides. Some farmers threatened to step up street action if the law is not scrapped entirely.
"If things do not play out according to what we have agreed, rubber farmers will surely come out and voice their discontent," said Sunthorn Rakwong, coordinator for the Rubber Planters Rescue Alliance, which represents 14 farming groups in the South.
The coalition said the bill, as written, would not help all farmers, especially who grow rubber trees but don't own land, and rubber tappers. The group also urged the government to buy raw rubber sheets at 80 baht a kilogramme.
Thai unsmoked rubber sheet was quoted at 45 baht per kilogramme on Thursday, which farmers say is far below the production cost of 65 baht.
The government has ruled out the sort of intervention schemes that led to the ousting of the previous Yingluck Shinawatra-led government as they are costly and cause a build-up in stockpiles that then become difficult to sell.