VOA慢速英語：泰國米農(nóng)受到米價下跌打擊

泰國米農(nóng)受到米價下跌打擊

Rice farmers in Thailand are facing a large drop in income because of the drop in the price of rice throughout Asia.

由于亞洲大米價格下跌，泰國米農(nóng)面臨著收入大幅下降。

At the same time, costs to grow the crop are increasing. Farmers are not sure who to ask for help. Many of them are struggling this year. Some of them may not even make enough money to pay their production costs.

與此同時，種植農(nóng)作物的成本卻在上漲。農(nóng)民們不知道該向誰求助。他們中很多人今年都非常艱難，其中一些人甚至可能賺不回成本。

Experts say the government's rice storage plan is a short-term answer. It is similar to a plan put in place by then-Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra. Because of the failure of that plan, the military ousted the prime minister and fined her over $1 billion.

專家表示，泰國政府的大米儲藏計劃是一種短期解決辦法，它類似于當時的英拉總理提出的一個方案。由于那個方案的失敗，軍方趕走了英拉，并罰了她超過10億美元。

Many Thai workers believe the government does not know how to manage the economy. They believe the government is more interested in controlling the country than in helping farmers.

很多泰國工人認為政府不懂如何管理經(jīng)濟。他們認為，政府更感興趣的是控制這個國家，而不是幫助農(nóng)民。

About 40 percent of the Thai workforce has agricultural jobs.

泰國大約40%的勞動力從事農(nóng)業(yè)工作。

Lung Chai is a rice farmer in Chiang Mai.

Lung Chai是清邁市的一名米農(nóng)。

He says the situation has affected all farmers. He says he is losing money, but does not know who to talk to about it. "No one would hear our voice," he said.

他說這種狀況影響到了所有農(nóng)民。他正在賠錢，但是不知道找誰解決。他說，“沒人會理會我們。”

Thailand faces strong competition for rice exports from India and Vietnam. This is partly because of lower pay in neighboring countries and large expected harvests this year.

泰國在大米出口上面臨著印度和越南的強力競爭。部分原因是鄰國工資更低，并且很大預期今年會豐收。

A recent study paid for by the Bank of Thailand said Thai farmers should grow crops in addition to rice. It also said farmers should be trained to help predict market changes.

泰國銀行最近出資進行的一項調(diào)查表示，泰國農(nóng)民應該種植除稻米之外的其它作物。該報告還稱，農(nóng)民應該接受培訓，幫助他們預測市場變化。

Singhachai Boonyayotin is a senior director of the Bank of Thailand.

Singhachai Boonyayotin是泰國銀行的一名高級主管。

He said Thailand should produce products other than white rice to compete with Vietnam and Cambodia.

他說，泰國應該生產(chǎn)精米以外的產(chǎn)品同越南和柬埔寨競爭。

Wachirajak Nin-khuntod wanted to help his father who is a rice farmer. He began packaging his crops and selling them on the internet as a way to increase income.

Wachirajak Nin-khuntod希望幫助他作為米農(nóng)的父親。他開始把自家農(nóng)作物包裝好在互聯(lián)網(wǎng)上銷售來作為一種增加收入的辦法。

He said, "My parents didn't believe at first that I would be able to sell rice on social media, because most farmers believe we can sell rice to the middleman or rice mill company only."

他說，“我父母最初不相信我能夠在社交媒體上賣出大米，因為大多數(shù)農(nóng)民認為我們只能把大米賣給中間商或米廠。

Now, he says, his parents know that they can sell their own rice without a middleman.

他說，現(xiàn)在他的父母知道他們可以不要中間商自己賣出大米。

I'm Phil Dierking.

Phil Dierking報道。