Bangkok: The shadow cabinet has called on the government to urgently tackle agricultural issues, particularly focusing on controlling fertilizer prices, and to expedite the introduction of seven draft laws to parliament before the impending deadline. Mr. Nattapong Ruangpanyawut, leader of the People's Party, led the shadow cabinet in announcing the outcomes of their second meeting, emphasizing their commitment to advocating for those suffering and neglected by the government.
According to Thai News Agency, the meeting involved discussions with representatives from various farming sectors who are grappling with fertilizer shortages, exorbitant prices, and low agricultural product prices. The shadow cabinet concluded that the Prime Minister must take charge by coordinating between the "Agriculture-Commerce" sectors and proposing a 40 billion baht budget to support farmers. The government's attempts to import fertilizer from Russia have failed, and the plan to use 5 billion baht from the central budget for bio-fertilizer production poses risks related to quality and procurement. The People's Party suggests negotiating the purchase of raw fertilizer materials from abroad and offering discounts to farmers, along with disclosing daily fertilizer prices and quantities for transparency.
The Ministry of Commerce is urged to focus on controlling fertilizer prices and enhancing inspections of imported goods. The People's Party believes that managing costs fairly should be the primary task, advocating for officially announced "controlled fertilizer prices" instead of non-binding "recommended prices." The Ministry should also inspect the increased volume of imported agricultural products and consider measures like prohibiting imports to stabilize domestic prices.
The People's Party has highlighted several urgent issues requiring immediate government action. The Cabinet must confirm draft amendments to Section 15/1 of the Constitution and resubmit them to Parliament by May 14th, honoring the will of over 21 million people from the February 8th referendum. Additionally, the Minister of Labour is urged to expedite regulations for the CARE formula to ensure fair old-age pension calculations. Lastly, the Cabinet must confirm the seven pending draft laws from the previous parliament by May 12th to avoid their rejection and the need to restart the process, thus addressing economic challenges and enhancing the quality of life for Thai citizens.