Leaders of the Prachachon Party campaigned for “Chairat Sak-Isarapong”, emphasizing readiness to fight in the election for the president of the Ratchaburi Provincial Administrative Organization. “Pita” joined a discussion with small-scale pig farmers, listening to the problem of low prices, and proposing ways to increase income and reduce costs.

The core members of the People’s Party joined the tour to meet people in many areas of Ratchaburi Province to help campaign for Chairat Sak-Isarapong, the candidate for the Ratchaburi Provincial Administrative Organization president, People’s Party, No. 1.

Early in the morning, Nattapong Ruangpanyawut, leader of the Prachachon Party, and Rakchanok Srinok, MP for Bangkok District 28 of the Prachachon Party, campaigned with Chairat at the Wat Amorn Market in Damnoen Saduak District with people who came to shop on the day of the Chinese Ghost Festival. Many people and vendors were interested in the policies and came to talk and give encouragement.

Then in the afterno
on, Chaiyot, along with Pita Limjaroenrat, campaign assistant for the Prachachon Party, and Narongdej Ularakul, MP for the Prachachon Party, joined a discussion with pig farmers in Ratchaburi Province to listen to the problems that small-scale pig farmers are currently facing, especially the problem of pork prices that have been stable for a long time compared to the continuously increasing costs, making them unable to compete with the big ones. Previously, they had to face the problem of African Swine Fever (AFS) followed by the problem of illegal pigs. Although both problems have been resolved, they still have to face the current price situation.

After listening to the problems, Pita asked for more details and proposed ideas on what the Provincial Administrative Organization could do to help small farmers. He stated that from the current price situation, the solution to the problem is to reduce costs and increase income. What can be done in the short and medium term is to quickly increase income. As for re
ducing costs, it is related to large capital groups and monopoly power, which requires solving problems at a large structural level. His fellow MPs from the Prachachon Party are designing and pushing for amendments to several related laws, such as the Cooperative Act and the Procurement Act, which allow local administrative organizations to have easier procurement conditions with SMEs than large companies, etc.

Increasing income is something that can be done immediately and is under the authority of the Provincial Administrative Organization. In the short term, it is to act as a mediator coordinating with both the private sector, the tourism sector, and affiliated agencies to find a new customer base for farmers in Ratchaburi Province, whether it be schools, hospitals, and hotels. In the medium term, it is to find ways to build brands and add value to products, find distinctive features that are different from the big players. Then, in the long term, it is something that needs to be thought about in the proc
essing stage.

Chairat said that one of the policies that he and the Prachachon Party proposed for the Ratchaburi Provincial Administrative Organization was to find raw materials for lunch to distribute to agencies under the PAO that need them. The PAO can provide budget support, whether it be schools or hospitals, which will directly increase the customer base for farmers. The PAO itself can also play a greater role, whether by investing in, building processing plants, or providing commercial support, etc.

In addition, my team and I have talked to entrepreneurs from the New Generation Chamber of Commerce (YEC) in Ratchaburi Province and found an interesting idea to make Ratchaburi have its own unique pig breed, to encourage small farmers or pig farmers under their houses to develop their own pigs to have premium quality, with the same identity as Kurobuta of Japan. The new generation entrepreneurs have the idea and have done their homework quite a bit, but they still lack direct connections with farmers. Th
is is where the Provincial Administrative Organization can play a role in coordinating and connecting many organizations and agencies to come together.

Source: Thai News Agency