Representatives of rubber growers across the country are due to meet Agriculture Minister Thammanat Prompao today, to voice their strong opposition to a plan, by the Rubber Authority of Thailand (RAT), to use 50 million baht from the Rubber Development Fund to purchase Blackchin tilapia and process them into bio compost for sale to farmers.
According to RAT, the fund will be used to buy the alien fish species at 15 baht/kg and RAT will hire the Land Development Department to process them into bio compost for sale at 100 baht/L.
RAT Deputy Governor Sukkhatat Dangviriyakul insists that the RAT Act B.E. 2558 (2015) allows RAT to engage in business enterprises, and the sale of bio compost is a new business venture which has already been approved by RAT’s board.
Chob Prajongjai, fund manager of Ban Thung Tor Rubber Cooperatives in Huai Yod district of Trang province, said the 50 million baht should, however, be used to shore up the price of rubber latex, which has fallen to about 60 baht/kg, from 80 baht/kg, and many rubber growers are suffering due to the falling price.
He also said that RAT should help rubber growers by providing them with high-yield rubber varieties and solving the problem of rubber tree diseases.
Meanwhile, Samruey Wongsanont, head of Wiset Chaicharn agricultural cooperatives and other representatives will meet with Justice Minister Tawee Sodsong to propose that the Corrections Department buy Blackchin tilapia from the cooperative, to be supplied to 30 prisons as food for prisoners.
