GPS to monitor paddy fields under rice pledging scheme

[News Bandit]

BANGKOK, Oct 17 - The Agriculture Ministry will spend Bt48 million to install GPS tracking devices in 2,400 sub-districts nationwide to monitor farming areas registered under the government-sponsored rice pledging scheme, a senior official said today.

Nikorn Chamnong, adviser to the agriculture minister, said 882 districts have been equipped with the devices which are useful to the authorities in inspecting and monitoring agricultural areas, especially farmlands certified for the rice pledging scheme.

The GPS system will be expanded to 2,400 sub-districts and budget for the additional tracking devices will be allocated by the Agricultural Promotion Department, he said.

By the end of next fiscal year, 6,885 sub-districts which grow economic farm produce will be installed with the GPS tracking devices, he said, adding that emphasis will be given to 20 provinces along the Chao Phraya River and the borders.

The entire GPS programme will cost the government Bt120 million.

From August 9-October 12, over 4.2 million farmers were registered under the rice pledging scheme in the 2011-2012 harvest.

Mr Nikorn added that an investigation found 25 farmers violated the rice pledging regulations and legal action will be taken against them. (MCOT online news)
 

View the full article