Thai farmers to get disaster insurance

[Admin]

Thai farmers to get disaster insurance 
Bangkok Post: 20 Sep 2010
Farmers to get disaster relief!

The government will offer an insurance package to farmers whose crops are hit by natural disaster, Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva has announced.

In his weekly radio and television address, the prime minister said yesterday the government would offer insurance to farmers affected by natural disasters such as flooding.

The insurance scheme was similar to the guaranteed minimum income scheme for farmers.

Pay-outs under the insurance scheme would not affect the income guarantee scheme.

Farmers whose land is affected by a natural disaster could seek compensation for damage as well as state assistance under the income guarantee scheme, he said.

Mr Abhisit urged Thais to monitor weather conditions and brace themselves for possible flooding.

In Ayutthaya, flood-hit residents in Bang Ban district have called on irrigation authorities to open sluice gates to drain floodwater from the Noi River. The district was flooded for the second time this month after water from the Noi and Chao Phraya rivers was released downstream.

Many residents in tambon Nam Tao, tambon Thang Chang, tambon Wat Taku and tambon Phra Khao in Bang Ban were evacuated as flood waters reached levels of one metre or more.

Khamtan Boonprom, 49, from tambon Nam Tao, said he and his neighbours abandoned their homes to seek refuge along a road.

He did not understand why local officials kept saying that flooding in Bang Ban district was just part of life. It was the worst flooding he had seen, and residents needed help.

The Meteorological Department says a monsoon trough across lower northern, central and eastern Thailand has brought torrential rain with isolated heavy falls over the upper parts of the country.

http://www.bangkokpost.com/news/local/197134/farmers-to-get-disaster-relief

[isanbirder]

This sounds great, but can you imagine how difficult it would be for farmers actually to get compensation?  Most of them are illiterate or semi-literate, their puyaiban is corrupt,... the only people who will get compensation are the bigger farmers who probably have better education, and certainly have more clout.