The National Legislative Assembly (NLA) has passed the first reading of the Thai rubber bill by 173 votes to 1 while making note of the issue of zoning for Para rubber cultivation.
The rubber bill seeks to establish a legal body to be in charge of overseeing financing, research and development of Thailand’s rubber industry. The deliberation of the draft raised many issues among NLA members, such as the need for the new entity to have adequate knowledge in strategic management of rubber, zoning of plantations, crop rotation as well as research methods.
NLA members suggested that representatives from various organizations, such as those in the industrial and foreign trade sectors, be included in the legal body. The ratio of rubber farmers to rubber traders should be increased. Cooperation with neighboring countries should be established in order to jointly enhance the price of rubber.
Furthermore, the NLA suggested that the committee scrutinizing the draft bill also take into account all initial findings by the previous parliament regarding the bill which could be useful in the consideration process.
Minister of Agriculture and Cooperatives Amnuay Patise said he believes that once the bill is signed into law, the price of Para rubber will definitely not fall below the current level and the ministry will try to ensure that the price reaches at least 60 baht per kilogram.
After deliberation, the NLA voted 173 to 1 with 5 abstentions to pass the first draft of the bill and established a 25-member scrutinizing committee with a work timeframe of 30 days. The committee comprises 15 members from the Committee on Agriculture and Cooperatives, 5 members from the Committee on Labor, Commerce and Industry as well as 5 members from the Cabinet.