Samak Smacks Down World Bank on Bio Fuels comments
Thai Prime minister Samak Sundaravej yesterday lambasted the World Bank and U.N. for blaming bio-fuel producing nations for the current price increases in food worldwide. He suggests the oil-producing nations also deserve criticism for high oil prices which also raise the cost of food due to transportation costs.
Mr. Samak stated ”Let me ask the World Bank whether they had ever asked oil-exporting countries before pointing their fingers and blaming us for having to use rice fields to grow biofuel crops’ Adding, ”They have unreasonably continued to inflate oil prices even though the oil supply has not run out yet.’ In reference to the U.N. secretary general he said ”Mr Ban Ki-moon complained about farming countries but he never pays attention to oil-exporting countries, which really cause the volatility in world economy.”
The Prime Minister’s plan, outlined by his cabinet is a 12-year, 10-billion baht program to increase productivity including new zoning regulations to be implemented over the next two years, followed by an improved productivity program for the following five years. Out of 130 million rai of usable farm land, bio fuels will take up about 20 million rai.
Samak continued ”Thailand doesn’t have to worry at all ( about food shortages) _ I have asked the Finance Ministry to consider developing state land for cultivation so Thailand will be the world’s kitchen,” in reference to Thailand’s position as an exporter of all types of agricultural products.
The cultivation of oil palm, a bio fuel source, will be expanded from three to five million rai. Productivity per rai is expected to be improved from 3 to 3.5 tons per rai.
Samak Smacks Down World Bank on Bio Fuels comments
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