Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives (Thailand)

Kingdom of Thailand Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives
กระทรวงเกษตรและสหกรณ์
Ministry overview
Formed	1 April 1892
Jurisdiction	Government of Thailand
Headquarters	Phaya Thai Road, Ratchathevi, Bangkok 10400
Annual budget	68,822,961,300 Baht (2009)
Minister responsible	Theera Wongsamut, Minister of Agriculture and Cooperatives
Ministry executive	Chatichai Pookyaphorn, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry
Website
www.moac.go.th

The Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives of the Kingdom of Thailand (Thai: กระทรวงเกษตรและสหกรณ์; RTGS: Krasuang Kaset Lae Sahakon; Abrv: MOAC) is a Cabinet ministry in the Government of Thailand. The Ministry is one of the oldest ministry in the government, tracing back its existence since the 14th century. The Ministry is responsible for the administration of agricultural policies, forestry, water resources provision, irrigation, promotion and development of farmers and cooperative system, including manufacturing process and agricultural products. As Thailand is a mostly agricultural country with a strong agrarian tradition, the ministry is one of the most important departments in the government. The Ministry is headed by a Minister of Agriculture and Cooperatives, currently: Theera Wongsamut.

History

The issue of agriculture and the well-being of farmers in Thailand started out very earlier on in the History of Thailand. During the Kingdom of Ayutthaya one of the King's four Ministries was the "Krom Na" (Thai: กรมนา) or Farm Ministry. Created in 1350 the Ministry was responsible for the for protecting and preventing the conflicts over rice, crops and livestock. Eventually the Ministry gained more powers as appropriated by the King to: the management of land reformation, irrigation and livestock, collecting broken rice grain for the royal granary, management of the king's land donation, solving conflicts over land ownership, and appointment of officers to stay in provincial towns.^[1]

During the Rattanakosin era and later periods the name of the Ministry changed several times. In 1892 the name changed to the "Ministry of Kasetpanichakarn", then in 1898 to the "Ministry of Kasettrathikarn", then in 1932 to the "Ministry of Kasetpanichayakarn", then in 1933 to the "Ministry of Setthakarn", then in 1935 to the "Ministry of Kasettrathikarn", then in 1952 to the "Ministry of Agriculture", and finally to its current name in 1972 to the "Ministry of Agriculture & Cooperatives".^[2]

Departments

Administration

• Office of the Minister
• Office of the Permanent Secretary
  • Kasetradhikarn Institute
  • Bureau of Royal Rainmaking & Agricultural Aviation

Dependent Department

• Department of Agricultural Extension
• Agricultural Land Reform Office
• Department of Agriculture
  • Rubber Research Institute
• National Bureau of Agricultural Commodity and Food Standards
• Office of Agricultural Economics
• Cooperative Auditing Department
• Cooperative Promotion Department
• Department of Fisheries
• Land Development Department
• Department of Livestock Development
• The Royal Irrigation Department
• Department of Rice

State Enterprises

• Dairy Farming Promotion Organization of Thailand
• Fish Marketing Organization
• The Marketing Organization for Farmers
• Rubber Estate Organization
• Office of Rubber Replanting Aid Fund

Public Organization

• Agricultural Research Development Agency (Public Organization)
• Highland Research and Development Institute (Public Organization)

See also

• Agriculture in Thailand
• Economy of Thailand
• Cabinet of Thailand
• List of Government Ministers of Thailand
• Government of Thailand

References

1. ^ http://www.moac.go.th/eng/inside.php?pages_id=20
2. ^ http://www.moac.go.th/eng/inside.php?pages_id=2

• [1]

External links

• Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives - Official Website in Thai
• Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives - Official Website in English