The deputy governor of Phetchabun province has stepped up his campaign against potato contract farming in Thailand, urging consumers not to buy chips from the producer.
In the post, he referred to the report and expressed concerns about its impacts on the environment and how the company takes advantage of farmers.
“Finally they show their faces. They’re going full-steam with monoculture — a green revolution theory which poisons the land, water and air — and with a sword hidden in the deceitful contracts cashing in on Thai farmers,” Kraisorn Kongchalard wrote.
He also accused a government organization in the news report of being so naive it was unaware of the environmental impacts of the project. “Don’t eat the fried potatoes that ruin the environment and take advantage of villagers. Please share this,” he concluded in the post on Facebook registered with his Thai name.
Mr Kraisorn claimed the potato strain imported by the company was vulnerable to pests and the farmers who wanted high yields would be forced to use chemicals and fertilizers supplied by the company, which also made profits from the sales.
The company already approached Phetchabun authorities, proposing to introduce the potato contract farming on the popular tourist attraction Phu Thap Boek mountain, Mr Kraisorn said. He opposed the plan and recommended that agricultural guidelines from the late King Bhumibol be applied for environmental conservation.
Source: Bangkok Post
