Deputy Prime Minister Prawit Wongsuwon has been assigned to oversee four agencies under the Agriculture and Cooperative Ministry, which were previously handled by former deputy agriculture minister Capt Thamanat Prompow.
Deputy government spokeswoman Traisulee Taisaranakul said the cabinet acknowledged an order by Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha for Gen Prawit to oversee the four agencies temporarily.
They are the Land Development Department, the Department of Royal Rainmaking and Agricultural Aviation, the Agricultural Land Reform Office, and the Marketing Organisation for Farmers.
Under the order, the work of the four agencies will be screened by the agriculture minister and any submissions to the cabinet will be made via Gen Prawit, instead of Deputy Prime Minister Jurin Laksanawisit, the spokeswoman said.
Mr Jurin said yesterday that he had given moral support to the ruling Palang Pracharath Party (PPRP) which has struggled to fix some internal problems.
However, solving these problems should not affect other coalition parties.
If it did, this would create new and unnecessary problems, Mr Jurin said, adding that he communicated his concern to the prime minister and the PM had acknowledged it.
"We understand the government has to tackle many problems.
"Therefore, it is best to avoid creating any unnecessary ones. I believe things will turn out fine," Mr Jurin said.
Asked if Gen Prawit, who is the PPRP leader, will retake the Agriculture and Cooperative Ministry from the Democrat Party, Mr Jurin only said the matter has not been raised. The changes stem from two recent sackings from cabinet.
Last month, Capt Thamanat was sacked as deputy agriculture minister, as was Narumon Pinyosinwat, who was dismissed as a deputy labour minister.
Their dismissals came after Capt Thamanat was accused of plotting to topple Gen Prayut from power, by persuading some MPs within the PPRP and smaller coalition parties to vote against him in the no-confidence debate earlier this month.