Thaindian News

Current Minister of Agriculture and Cooperatives Somsak Prisananuntakul (สมศักดิ์ ปริศนานันทกุล) revealed today while inspecting flood hit areas in Prachinburi province, that observations of rice fields in the area have shown little damage. The minister stated that as the inundated fields were in the planting process and not in the harvesting season they will only require 15-30 days to recover after flood waters subside. He expressed his confidence that with the aid of the Royal Irrigation Department, the nation’s rice production should not be greatly impacted this year.

The Agriculture and Cooperatives Minister said that inspections will be carried out as quickly as possible to damaged areas once the flood situation alleviates as every agency in the ministry will dispatch personnel to affected regions. The ministry has also tasked local government agencies to communicate reports from the inundated areas to the ministry. Once figures of damage are all tallied the ministry is prepared to directly reimburse agriculturalists; bypassing the Bank for Agriculture and Agricultral Cooperatives. Mr. Somsak said that if dealt with carefully, there should be no cause for concern over corruption.

Source : National News Bureau, Public Relations Department of Thailand