InfoQuest (August 4, 2020) - Ms. Tassanee Muangkaew, the OAE assistant Secretary-General, announced that the agricultural economy in the first half of 2020 had a year-on-year decrease of 5.1 percent (a fall of 7.0 percent, 6.4 percent and 3.0 percent in crops, fisheries and agricultural services respectively) and predicted a favorable development of agricultural economy in the whole year, with a slight decline of 1.3-2.3 percent, due to the insufficient water for agricultural cultivation arising from the dropped water level of most reservoirs and natural waters in hot and dry days, as well as insect pests in some places, resulting in the recession of agricultural services.
In addition, climate change has led to reduced marine fisheries, drought has lowered the output of shrimp and freshwater aquaculture, and the outbreak of COVID-19 has brought risks and uncertainties to the industry while shutting down global agricultural and economic activities.
Nevertheless, the expected precipitation increase and normal weather that are conducive to the cultivation of cash crops arrive in the rice planting period of rainy season, and farmers may expand the planting area in the second half of 2020. Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives (Thailand) and relevant departments will notice the rainfalls, floods and droughts to help farmers out.
Insufficient water for fisheries due to climate change has made fisheries, marine fisheries, shrimp farming and freshwater fisheries contracted, despite continuous development of both animal husbandry and forestry and expanded production of animal husbandry on market demand. But animal husbandry and forestry increased by 5.5 percent and 1.0 percent respectively due to rising market demands and Thailand's proper response to the African Swine Fever.
Ongoing support of agricultural policies is also an influencing factor.
Continuous tracking on all important factors related to the 2020 agricultural economic development forecast is required, especially the COVID-19, climate change and crude oil price; problems brought about by COVID-19 will be solved and agricultural economy will be recovered under the guidance of the major policies and the concerted efforts of all departments.
Ms. Tassanee Muangkaew remarked that the spread of COVID-19 has caused sudden changes in global production chains, worries about famine and global economic stability and heavy losses to Thailand's economy; industrial and service workers lost their jobs and turned to agriculture.
From another point of view, the current crisis is both a challenge for the New Normal and an opportunity for the development of new agricultural economy. Now, the people have become more concerned about health and safety, paving the way for Thailand's agricultural practitioners. To this end, the crisis can be used to increase the added value of agricultural products, improve the quality of agricultural products, develop safe food, promote fusion food with the combined local culture and new lifestyle as selling point, expand E-commerce of agricultural products, establish agricultural logistics system and enhance agricultural tourism.
The crisis promoted the production and processing of herbal medicines while offering an opportunity for the cooperation between agriculture and the pharmaceutical and medical products, laying a foundation for Thailand's farmers to adapt to global market demands in the future.
Source: InfoQuest, by Nisaratat Wichiansri, translated by Xinhua Silk Road
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