The Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives has sought approval for next year's fiscal budget of 411 billion baht, more than three times higher than the previous budget, based on the expectation it will triple farmers' incomes within four years.
Chantanon Wannakejohn, secretary-general to the Office of Agricultural Economics, said on Wednesday that the ministry is seeking this amount for its short-medium and long-term plans to increase farmers' incomes as they are the largest group of workers in the country.
"Under the 411-billion-baht budget, we hope to see incomes among farmers rise threefold by 2028, which is the ministry's main focus," he said.
Mr Chantanon said the short-term plan would require 81.6 billion baht, which would be used to promote agro-tourism activities, find new markets, deal with fishery problems, solve debt issues, and tackle haze pollution. It would also be used to set up plans responding to the environmental crisis, promote carbon neutrality, and suppress meat smuggling.
He said another budget of 1.4 billion baht would be needed for a middle-term plan, adding the ministry wants to promote advanced farming technology such as precision farming systems.
Mr Chantanon said a further 26.5 billion baht would be needed to manage free-trade agreement discussions with international partners, promote new crop plantations that better fit environmental and economic changes, and support the processing of crops.
A budget of 301.9 billion baht will be needed for the long-term plan to be allocated for improving water management and crop production and upgrading land titles for farmers.
Mr Chantanon said this year's fiscal budget of 120.6 billion baht should be announced in the Royal Gazette by April.
The fiscal budget for 2025 will be forwarded to the Budget Bureau and the cabinet for consideration.