Reflections on the Human Condition - Api-fellowships.org

246 SESSION IV
among its 10 members. The individual action would
decrease the bargaining power of ASEAN countries
under AFTA in dealing with other blocs and countries.
To get more suitable free trade, the FTA, at least,
should be:
- Regional deals to have more bargains and
advantageous.
- Taken gradually to empower the agricultural
production sector and farmers.
-
Comprehensive not only covers tariffs elimination
but also other subjects such as investment,
human resources development (HRD), and
environment (such as water supply service for
farmers).
Before having deal in terms of bilateral free trade agreements
with other trading countries, the Thai government has
to prepare the pre-conditions in agricultural sector and
related factors (as shown in Figure 2). These efforts
will hopefully give greater benefits to both agricultural
society in particular and consumers in general. The
Figure 2, give us more detailed on how the free trade in
Thai agricultural sector should be managed firmly.
Figure 2: Free Trade Process in Thai Agriculture.
Farmers
Empowerment
Environment
- Water supply
- Land use Negotiations on
Agricultural Chapters
Thai Agricultural Sector
under FTA
- Less to the most
sensitive
Research and
Development
Investments
Ref lections on the Human Condition: Change, Conflict and Modernity
The Work of the 2004/2005 API Fellows
In order to maximize the potential benefits of existing
FTAs and minimize the possible negative impact,
the Thai government needs to satisfactorily make the
necessary adjustments to its economy and set up the
economic actors to be competitive in the emerging free
market. The government has to reform and restructure
the public sector so they can facilitate the business
activities more effectively and efficiently by preserving
the lower costs of trade. These conditions must be
certainly fixed before entering into the FTA negotiation
process and signing it into an account.
The Thai farmers should be prepared and managed
properly by empowering them on the good condition
through practical training in skill and technology
in agricultural production, and the promotion of a
modern productive and innovative workforce. The
suitable condition such as soft loans for production,
reserving good quality of seeds, easy and reachable
fertilizers, good irrigation, cultivation and marketing
process, and etc., have to be settled properly. The
central government has to pay great attention on all of
those kinds of circumstances prior to the liberalization
process.
Phases: gradually
Members: regional
Chapters: comprehensive*
- Revision
- Compensation to**:
Farmers, SMEs and society
* It doest not only cover tariffs elimination but also other subjects such as investment, human resources development
(HRD), and environment (such as water supply service for farmers).
** The compensation to the losers can be given through the creation of the social safety nets, upgrading the
educational systems and facilities and a social and health care system. The strengthening of the small and
medium enterprises (SMEs) is also needed to compensate them from the worst-of condition of free trade
through practical training, technology transfer, marketing and skill development in order to raise their
productivity and their international competitiveness.