Farming isn't about earning a fast baht

All of a sudden, our long-neglected farm sector has become the goose that lays the golden eggs. But we must beware the powers that be and their obsession with quick money do not kill the goose for a one-off gain.

For more than four decades, the government's grand scheme to catch up with the West has undermined the growth of the agricultural sector in favour of industrialisation. It's a miracle our farmers have survived, let alone become the new hope for economic recovery in the post-boom era.

One factor is El Nino. The warming of the oceans, which has caused prolonged drought and other disruptions to the climate elsewhere, has been relatively kind to our farmers. This means their rice and other cash crops are now in high demand overseas.

Another factor is the steep devaluation of the baht. While plunging other industries into the abyss, the 50 baht-plus/$ exchange rate has increased the farm sector's earnings tremendously.

For example, a kwian of ordinary rice now reportedly fetches over 7,000 baht while jasmine rice is earning 12,000 baht. Although farmers get only a small fraction of the profit from rice exports, it is nevertheless a big injection into their emaciated arms. Similarly, the price of cassava per kilo has nearly doubled. Other cash crops such as soybean, potatoes, corn and palm oil have also become important sources of hard currency in this time of need.

The resilience of Thailand's agriculture sector and the disillusionment with imported industrialisation has made agro-industry the new buzzword.

In his grand design for making the farm sector a new cash cow, Deputy Agriculture Minister Newin Chidchob has announced a policy to use 55 million rai under the Sor Por Kor land reform programme to boost cash crop production for export. The scheme will also help absorb 2 million workers made jobless by the economic meltdown, he argues.

But there's a glitch. Mr Newin has made it clear farmers that must comply with the Agriculture Ministry's crop production rules in order to qualify for the Sor Por Kor land. The farmers must grow only certain crops, they must use only certain seeds and farm chemicals and they must follow specific farming procedures in supplying agro-businesses and the overseas market.

Mr Newin can say what he likes. But this sounds to me like just another attempt to use cheap labour and cheap state-owned land to enrich a few big and powerful agro-businesses. There's also big money involved with the Agriculture Ministry having the direct authority to order farmers to buy what seeds and what farm chemicals from what companies.

Get the picture?

Mr Newin's scheme is also disruptive politically. There's no idle land in Thailand. All arable land is occupied, although the farmers, of course, don't have title deeds for it. Relocating them under Mr Newin's plan could cause civil unrest reminiscent of the military-led Khor Jor Kor relocation programme and the Forestry Department's eucalyptus plantation project.

Our policy makers have apparently learnt nothing from mono-cash crop farming. Intensive use of farm chemicals has destroyed the environment, the food chain and farmers' health. Price fluctuations have forced farmers into deep debt.

Agriculture can indeed save the country if we encourage farm family togetherness, food security and welfare. But, sadly, our politicians see only money-making opportunities, which is why we are in the deep mess we are right now.

* Sanitsuda Ekachai is Assistant Editor, Bangkok Post. sanitsuda@bangkokpost.net