September 18, 2006

Thailand's free-range poultry ranchers to join closed farming scheme 
 

To better control bird flu, Thailand's Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives has made it compulsory for owners of open poultry farming to switch to closed farming system. 

Dr. Charal Trinvuthipong, Vice Minister for Agriculture and Cooperatives, said on Friday (Sep 22) that the government would advocate measures to persuade free ranchers to switch to the closed farming system to contain the deadly disease.

Nearly 3,500 free range polutry farmers are now registered with the Livestock Development Department, Dr Charal said.

Slightly more than half have applied for loans from the state-run Bank for Agriculture and Agricultural Cooperatives (BAAC), Dr. Charal said. The bank has already made loans of almost THB171.50 million (US$4.6 million) to 1,237 farmers.

Authorities would take action against poultry farmers not registered with the Livestock Development Department, Dr Charal said, adding that provincial officials had been ordered to persuade open range ranchers to operate in a full cycle business.

The measure will be submitted to Agriculture and Cooperatives Minister Khunying Sudarat Keyuraphan  for consideration next week with an aim towards getting all open ranchers join the closed farming system before the end of the year.