Farming

  • Economy News15 most popular tourism provinces contribute 70% of total GDP

    15 most popular tourism provinces contribute 70% of total GDP

    Wealth inequality around the world has always been the haves versus the have nots, but in Thailand, it has become the toured versus the toured not. The Fiscal Policy Officer’s senior expert on macroeconomic policy recently presented some stark figures showing the astounding gap in contribution to the GDP between tourism provinces and non-tourism provinces. Only 15 provinces contribute 70%…

  • Northern Thailand NewsNortheastern Buri Ram mother becomes second to die from lightning in recent weeks

    Northeastern Buri Ram mother becomes second to die from lightning in recent weeks

    A Thai mother in Thailand’s northeastern Buri Ram province, has died after being struck by lightning at a cassava plantation. The 38 year old woman, who went by the name of Jureerat, was working in the plantation with her husband, 6 year old daughter, 2 year old son and a neighbour when it started lightly raining. They all took cover…

  • Covid-19 NewsHuman trafficking ‘gang’ arrested over Samut Sakhon outbreak | VIDEO

    Human trafficking ‘gang’ arrested over Samut Sakhon outbreak | VIDEO

    But are they scapegoats? Nearly 2 months after the Samut Sakhon outbreak put Thailand’s previously excellent Covid 19 record to the test, a series of people are now being rounded up and arrested as the key people behind the outbreak. A 45 year old Thai woman, known as Jay Phet, has been arrested for acquiring illegal Burmese migrants, getting them…

  • Thailand NewsThailand News Today | Restrictions on Bangkok and Pattaya to be lifted? | January 27

    Thailand News Today | Restrictions on Bangkok and Pattaya to be lifted? | January 27

    A trailer truck has driven into an accident scene, crashing into 9 vehicles and critically injuring a police officer who was directing traffic in Surat Thani’s main city district. Luckily rescue workers and another police officer were able to jump out of the way before the truck ploughed through the accident scene and into a roadside tyre shop. 2 people…

  • Environment NewsResidents express health concerns as smog engulfs Pattaya

    Residents express health concerns as smog engulfs Pattaya

    Pattaya residents have expressed concern over air pollution, as the eastern coastal city finds itself engulfed in smog. The Pattaya News reports that the deterioration in air quality has been ongoing for a number of days, with a cloud of haze obscuring the bay and neighbouring islands. Residents are advised to wear masks when outside and to limit outdoor exercise,…

  • Northern Thailand NewsFarmlands flooded in Nong Bua Lam Phu Province as heavy rain persists

    Farmlands flooded in Nong Bua Lam Phu Province as heavy rain persists

    Flooding has inundated over 1,000 rai of farmland and the main highway in Nong Bua Lam Phu province, between Khon Kaen and the Laos border in north east Thailand. Heavy rains since last Thursday have congregated in the area with more rain over the weekend making things worse. Highway 210, running from Udon Thani to Loei province, has been completely…

  • FoodThai farmers mystified as government classifies harmless herbs as “hazardous”

    Thai farmers mystified as government classifies harmless herbs as “hazardous”

    Following a backlash from the country’s farmers, Thailand’s Agriculture and Cooperatives Ministry has agreed to update its list of “Type 2” hazardous substances to remove 13 herbs and vegetables. The government says it will instead move these to the “Type 1” list, meaning farmers don’t have to be registered as producers, but will still have to inform officials when exporting…

  • Business News“Come and see” – Ministry invites diplomats to see coconut-picking monkeys in action

    “Come and see” – Ministry invites diplomats to see coconut-picking monkeys in action

    The monkeys, and the Thai government, are hitting back at accusations macaque monkeys are being exploited, even abused, and forced to pick coconuts for commercial farmers. Some larger western retailers say they’re going to pull Thai coconut products off their shelves after being lobbied by animal rights activist that the coconuts were picked by abused and over-worked macaque monkeys. The Thai…

  • Environment NewsNow paraquat, glyphosate and chlorpyrifos are banned, what do farmers use?

    Now paraquat, glyphosate and chlorpyrifos are banned, what do farmers use?

    PHOTO: sugar-asia.com In just two weeks the ban on paraquat, glyphosate and chlorpyrifos kicks in – a total ban on the three controversial agri-chemicals. Now officials are ramping up efforts to find effective alternatives for the popular agricultural herbicides and pesticides, especially the two herbicides (maybe this would have been a good idea before they imposed the ban?). Thai PBS…

  • Northern Thailand NewsFarmlands flooded in Mukdahan from mountain run-off

    Farmlands flooded in Mukdahan from mountain run-off

    PHOTO: The Nation Some 10,000 rai of farmland and a main road have been inundated with run-off from mountains in Mukdahan, north-east Thailand near the Laos border and Mekong River. The roads were cut off yesterday morning. The Dong Luang district chief Somsak Boonchan says the runoff from the Phuphan Noi mountain range was caused by several days of heavy…

  • Northern Thailand NewsHow to raise rats and other livestock: lessons from a north-eastern school

    How to raise rats and other livestock: lessons from a north-eastern school

    PHOTOS: The Nation A school in Surin province, north-east Thailand, is teaching students how to make a living raising small livestock such as wild rats and voles. Local farmers will often pay up to 1,000 baht for breeding rodents, with fully-grown ones sold for meat at 120 baht a kilo. Rodent meat remains a traditional food source in some parts…

  • Environment NewsThai farmers reluctant to scale down use of ‘toxic’ herbicides

    Thai farmers reluctant to scale down use of ‘toxic’ herbicides

    Thai farmers say they oppose the proposed bans on herbicides paraquat, glyphosate and chlorpyrifos. The Thai government plans to phase out three chemical weed killers, widely used by Thai farmers, by the end of this year. Farmers say they oppose the restrictions of use because the chemicals provide higher crop yields, according to Thai PBS who headed out into the…

  • Northern Thailand News“No water crisis in the Chao Phraya basin” – Irrigation Department

    “No water crisis in the Chao Phraya basin” – Irrigation Department

    PHOTO: Bhumibol Dam in Tak when full, now holding only 4% of capacity The Royal Irrigation Department is assuring farmers and residents in the central and north-east that there is no risk of Thailand of severe water shortages. This is despite little rain in some areas during the annual wet season and the low levels of the Chao Phraya River…

  • World NewsXayaburi Dam owners say they’re not responsible for dry Mekong River

    Xayaburi Dam owners say they’re not responsible for dry Mekong River

    PHOTO: The Laotian Times CK Power, operators of the new Xayaburi Dam in Laos, are denying their dam tests (running from July 15 until tomorrow) are responsible for the low water flows in the Mekong River. The tests were a lead up to full scale production of electricity from October this year, most of which will head to Thailand. Fingers…

  • Thailand NewsThai business sector drops 2019 export projections by 1%

    Thai business sector drops 2019 export projections by 1%

    The Thai Chamber of Commerce and Board of Trade are revising down Thailand’s 2019 export growth projections from 3.1% to 2.1%. They say several unfavorable external factors are contributing to the revised outlook. Thai PBS reports that Mr. Sanan Aung-ubonkul, vice president of TCC and BoT, says that, in order to maintain the 3.1% growth projection, the value of monthly…