AS Deputy Prime Minister Somkid Jatusripitak is giving importance to reviving the economy at the grassroots level in face of the coronavirus pandemic, the National Village and Urban Community Fund Office is now quickly pushing the barter of goods between communities across the nation such as rice for fish, PostToday reported today ( 27.4.2020).
The Deputy Premier has set his sights on driving the local economy to reduce dependence on exports and sees that this fund, with its 12.9 million family members, is an important mechanism to spur to domestic economy.
Earlier this month IMF had downgraded its economic forecast for Thailand this year to a contraction of 6.7% with this being due to the global coronavirus pandemic. If it turns out to be true then this country would be the worst performer in Asean.
However IMF did project that Thailand would record a 6.1% economic growth next year, Bangkok Post said.
In keeping with the grassroots strategy Mr Rakpong Sengcharoen, the head of this fund, said he is encouraging communities nationwide to barter goods with each other so that they get a better price.
Last week officials of the fund took 300 five-kilogramme bags of rice from members in Nakhon Luang district of Ayutthaya province and bartered it for processed seafood from other members in Thong Khung district of Samut Sakhon province.
The fund has been handling this barter exchange between the two communities for a long time now. he said.
CAPTION:
Top: Rice for processed seafood barter handled by the National Village and Urban Community Fund Office last week.
Insert: Deputy Prime Minister Somkid Jatusripitak. Photos: PostToday
At last a creative, positive measure to begin to relieve the developing shortages of vital consumables…..need to ramp up such efforts by several degrees.
Fully agree with you, Thailand has the widest income inequality in Asean and the people at the grassroots level do urgently need help.