Backing the statement were the Thung Kula Rice Farmers Group, Organic Rice Farmers of Tambon None Sawan, Cattle Group of Ban Hong Hae, Ban Nam Kham Forest Conservation Group, Silk Worm Growers of Tambon None Sawan, Organic Rice Farmers of Tambon Sa Bua, Pathumrat Conservation Group and three others. He added that forcing locals to accept whatever comes their way will also hurt the country’s democracy. The locals also said that people from outside the zone were paid between Bt300 and Bt500 to voice support for the project at the forum. They also said that Tambon None Sawan produces a strain of jasmine rice that has won a patent based on geographical indication, and their organic farming practices have paved the way for rice farmers in 22 other provinces to export organic rice. Promoted as the zone for jasmine rice under the Thailand 4.0 strategy, this area is also famous for silk.

Source: The Nation Bangkok May 23, 2019 21:45 UTC