Agricultural Development in the Five Southern Border Provinces

(15/02/2013)

The Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives has allocated 1.47 billion baht in the 2013 fiscal year for agricultural development in the five southern border provinces. Minister of Agriculture and Cooperatives Yukol Limlamthong paid a visit to the deep South and discussed occupational development in agriculture with officials involved. The five southern border provinces consist of Yala, Pattani, Narathiwat, Songkhla, and Satun. These provinces cover an area of 20,810 square kilometers and have a combined population of more than three million. They have good potential for further development, especially in terms of agricultural production. Mr. Yukol said that various agencies under the Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives were joining forces with security units in conducting a survey to learn more about the real needs of local farmers, so that the project on occupational development in agriculture would be carried out in response to the local demands. The project focuses on rubber cultivation, fishery industry, livestock development, and other related activities. Moreover, the Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives will accelerate the rehabilitation of 15,000 rai, or 6,000 acres, of unattended farmland this year, in accordance with its plan worked out earlier. It will also consider the possibility of introducing cultivation zoning and marketing outside the special development areas. Mr. Yukol pointed out that beef cows are now in great demand, especially in the Malaysian market. In the initial stage, the Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives assigned the Department of Livestock Development to seek ways to develop Yala as an animal quarantine checkpoint before exporting beef cows to Malaysia. He said that the Ministry would also help develop animal breeds, promote production and processing, and seek markets for outstanding farm products in the South, such as Shogun oranges and durian. According to Mr. Yukol, the Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives attaches great importance to enhancing agricultural potential in accordance with the lifestyle of local people. The objectives are to upgrade the standards of living for local people, generate employment, and increase income for each family to an average of 180,000 baht a year. In addition, the project also aims to add value to agricultural products in the five southern border provinces. Today, agricultural value in the five provinces amounts to 104.9 billion baht. It comprises five major products: 73.3 billion baht, accounting for 69.8 percent, involves rubber; 11.5 billion baht, accounting for 12.9 percent, involves fishery products; 3.1 billion baht, accounting for 3 percent involves chicken; 2.7 billion baht, accounting for 2.6 percent, involves fruit, such as longkong, durian, and Shogun oranges; and 1.36 billion baht, accounting for 1.3 percent, involves rice.