Lt. Col. Thammanat approves measures to hunt down black-chinned tilapia, allocating a purchase budget of 15 baht/kg.

Bangkok, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Agriculture Thammanat has urged the committee to solve the problem of black-chinned tilapia to conclude measures to solve the problem in order to kick off as soon as possible. The urgent measure is for farmers who raise aquatic animals and the public to catch and sell them, with money from the Rubber Plantation Aid Fund to buy them to make fertilizer, including the central budget. The purchase price is 15 baht per kilogram. Lt. Col. Thammanat Prompao, Minister of Agriculture and Cooperatives, came to summarize the urgent measures after solving the black chin tilapia problem. After the committees to solve the problem at both the ministry and provincial levels met for more than 3 hours, but could not reach a conclusion because representatives of farmers, aquaculture farmers and local fishermen did not agree with releasing the predatory fish to eat the black chin tilapia because they were not sure that it would be effective. They wanted to use the budget to buy it at a price of 20 baht per kilogram instead. Finally, Lt. Col. Thammanat concluded that he had discussed with the Prime Minister to purchase at a price of 15 baht per kilogram, and emphasized to the representatives of aquatic animal breeders not to negotiate because it would prevent the conclusion of the action plan from being completed and could not be kicked off. Initially, money from the Rubber Plantation Aid Fund would be used to purchase to make fertilizer, including the central budget to purchase, which had been discussed with the Prime Minister. The purchase would not be set in a time frame, and would be purchased until the problem was solved. He also emphasized that they should not cultivate for sale, and would not purchase at all, as it was also illegal. After reaching a conclusion at a price of 15 baht per kilogram, the representatives of the aquaculture farmers were somewhat satisfied. Although they wanted 20 baht per kilogram, they initially accepted it in order to start the operation. Source: Thai News Agency