June 10, 2013, at 11:10hrs, at the Press Center, 3rd Floor, Kamphaeng Phet Rajabhat University, Government Spokesperson Teerat Ratanasevi held a press conference on results of the 3/2013 cabinet retreat. Gist as follows:
Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra informed the cabinet of the result of field visit in Kamphaeng Phet and the lower Northern integrated province II (Nakhon Sawan, Uthai-Thani, Kamphaeng Phet, Pichit). According to PM Yingluck, the area is along the East-West corridor to which was significant as part of the Government’s 2-trillion infrastructure development project where high-speed train stations would be constructed at Pitsanulok and Nakhon Sawan. Therefore, integrative work and development of the 4 provinces in order to accommodate the 2-trillion infrastructure development investment was essentially important.
Moreover, three major crops in the area of 4 provinces, namely rice, sugar cane, and cassava, must be well managed to ensure the best benefits in each particular area. Production of processed agricultural products should be emphasized.
PM Yingluck also mentioned about tourism cluster development in the lower Northern area II. Ministry of Culture planned an integrative development of 4 major tourist attractions which were Si Satchanalai Historical Park, Sukhothai Historical Park, Kamphaeng Phet Historical Park, and Huai Kha Khaeng Wildlife Sanctuary. Increase of the number of tourists and surroundings improvement would be prioritized.
On the issue of water management, PM Yingluck called for systematic solution of Bueng Si Fai and Bueng Boraped fresh-water lakes. She assigned the provincial governors to host a workshop based on the framework of Water and Flood Management Commission which would be in line with the Government’s 350,000 million Baht Water Management Project. Objectives of the workshop were to tackle flood and drought problems as well as to promote tourism around the areas, and set regulations on area utilization. PM Yingluck also ordered Ministry of Interior to look into cases of encroachment on the areas of both Bueng Si Fai and Bueng Boraped.
PM Yingluck also informed the cabinet of her visit to Thip Kamphaeng Phet sugar mill where the garbage and waste had been well managed with the reuse of bagasse for power generation. However, even though there was a number of sugar mills and sugar cane plantations around the area, local sugar cane planters outside of the mills areas could not sell their crops to the mills due to the sub-standard of sugar cane sweetness. PM Yingluck, therefore, assigned PM’s Office Minister Varathep Ratanakorn to look into the matter.
According to PM Yingluck, although Kamphaeng Phet was the 2nd largest cassava planting areas of the country, it was ashamed that the province-based Ajinomoto Co., (Thailand) Ltd., and other 8 flour mills that would require large quantity of cassava for its production, did not acquire cassavas from the local area. PM Yingluck, therefore, assigned Ministry of Commerce, and Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives to come up with improvement schemes to upgrade the quality of local-grown cassavas.
On the rice pledging scheme, Commerce Minister Boonsong Teriyapirom informed the cabinet that the clarification had been made on the accusation of 260,000 million Baht deficit that the figure was unaccountable and was not based on any mathematic principle. A figure from the National Rice Policy Committee to be finalized next Thursday would be the official figure for further public clarification. It was also agreed during the meeting that information on rice pledging scheme had not been systematically and collectively compiled. PM Yingluck, therefore, assigned PM’s Office Minister Varathep Ratanakorn to take charge of the data integration of information related to the rice pledging scheme such as rice stocks, revenue, rice sales, etc. PM Yingluck expressed her hope that such data integration would do away unaccountable accusations and public confusion.
PM Yingluck also ordered Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives to come up with a measure to tackle the drop of fruit prices, and called upon OTOP Committee led by Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Kittirat Na Ranong and Interior Minister Jarupong Ruangsuwan to organize an OTOP event on food and fruits from all over the country as a supporting measure. PM Yingluck also emphasized on advanced order of fruits and on the Thailand Post to help deliver fruits to the consumers to expedite the release of fruits and increase fruit planters’ revenue.