Ayutthaya, 'Thammanat' discussed with the Economic Cabinet that the Cabinet resolution may be revised to postpone the 'Half-Half Fertilizer' project to be implemented in the next rainy season. He also ordered the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Agriculture to convene a committee to drive the project to discuss other ways to help farmers. He pointed out that some sectors still misunderstand that this is the reason for cutting the assistance for the '1,000 baht per rai' project, causing time to pass. Some farmers have already planted wet-season rice. He said that the project was interrupted because those who were disadvantaged obstructed it. Lt. Col. Thammanat Prompao, Minister of Agriculture and Cooperatives, said that he ordered Mr. Prayoon Insakul, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives, to hold a meeting with executives of the ministry and the Rice Department to consider the guidelines for driving the Half-Half Fertilizer Project, whether it will continue or be postpone d to the next year's wet-season rice planting season. In the past, there were obstacles from farmers and some sectors understanding that when the fertilizer project is implemented, there will be no project to support management costs and develop the quality of rice farmers' products or the "1,000 baht per rai" project, even though they have tried to explain all along that they are different projects. The Half-Half Fertilizer Project aims to help farmers use fertilizers in the correct formula based on soil analysis values ??to increase yields per rai from an average of 500 kilograms per rai to 800 - 1,000 kilograms per rai and help reduce production costs. However, if during the harvest season, rice prices drop, the government can consider implementing the 1,000-baht per rai project to help farmers again. As for the attempt to obstruct the half-and-half fertilizer project, is it due to politics? Lt. Col. Thammanat said that fertilizer traders who stockpile fertilizer will lose out from this project, which w ill provide good quality and cheap fertilizer to farmers, using half of the government budget and farmers paying only half. Recently, there was a mob protesting. Previously, Lt. Col. Thammanat stated about this matter that it was a project that 'stepped on someone's toenail.' Lt. Col. Thammanat stated that he will discuss this matter in the Economic Cabinet, including waiting to receive the report of the meeting results from the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Agriculture. If it is considered that the further action may be delayed because some farmers have already planted rice, the Cabinet resolution regarding the project amendment may be revised, which may be carried out in the next year's wet-season rice planting season. Source: Thai News Agency