Farmers unenthusiastic over using organic instead of chemical fertiliser

23 Sept 02:29 Key points summarised by AI

The government plans a 6 billion baht initiative to distribute organic fertiliser as an alternative to increasingly scarce and expensive chemical fertilisers like urea.
Farmers express significant reluctance to adopt organic fertiliser, citing unfamiliarity, confusion over various types, and a perception that it is less effective and slower than chemical options.
Rice farmers are particularly affected by soaring prices (up to 1,500 baht per 100kg sack) and shortages of chemical urea, impacting their operational costs.
Experts support the long-term shift to organic farming but warn of potential short-term supply shortages, suggesting provincial self-production for sustainable access.

Examining Thailand’s four-part education revolution

Today 14:22 Key points summarised by AI

Thailand's Education Ministry is implementing a four-pronged strategy to address its students' below-average performance in PISA 2025 and tackle significant educational inequality.
The plan prioritizes closing performance gaps by increasing funding for small and low-income schools, overhauling the curriculum to foster critical thinking, and adopting a data-driven management system to reduce teacher workload.
Key initiatives include enhancing school safety, combating cyberbullying, and expanding mental health support through peer-to-peer networks, recognizing the severe impact of distress on academic performance.
An education expert advises verifying if PISA improvements stem from structural changes, advocating for a revived STEM curriculum with practical 'learn by doing' methods, and urging bureaucratic reform to link teacher evaluations to student development.