The budget allocation for the 2025 fiscal year is not sufficient to effectively tackle the problems plaguing the agricultural sector, Agriculture and Cooperatives Minister Thamanat Prompow said on Friday.
He made the remarks during a parliamentary debate on the budget bill.
He said the ministry has been allocated a budget of 125.8 billion baht to take care of more than 30 million farmers -- or about 3,386 baht per person.
''But considering the current economic situation, this amount is not enough. We have to admit the budget allocated is not in line with the ministry's tasks, especially those involving land and water management," Capt Thamanat said.
However, he insisted the ministry would make the most of its limited budget to empower farmers through various marketing strategies and innovations.
The tasks at hand involve reducing production costs and promoting crops used for animal feed while also curbing off-season rice farming in areas with water shortages and encouraging farmers to grow soybean instead, he said. ''These measures are intended to triple farmers' income by 2027, as planned by the government," he said.
Agriculture and Cooperatives Minister Thamanat Prompow. (Photo: Chanat Katanyu)
Deputy Minister Atthakorn Srilatthayakorn told the House that more than 70% of the ministry's budget will be earmarked for investment projects, but it is still too little to iron out the kinks in the sector.
Jetsada Dontreesanoa, a Move Forward Party MP for Pathum Thani, criticised the ministry's budget allocation, saying the government has failed to allocate sufficient funds to deal with heavy flooding as a result of the La Nina phenomenon, which is predicted to occur in the latter half of the year.