Deputy Agriculture Minister Inspects Land Use at Paradise Beach in Phuket

Thailand’s Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Cooperatives, Watcharaphon Khaokham, has inspected three plots managed by the Agricultural Land Reform Office (ALRO) at Paradise Beach in Patong, Kathu District, Phuket, to review compliance with land-use regulations and consider possible changes to the relevant legislation.

The inspection focused on four key areas: the legality of lease agreements and approval procedures, whether businesses were operating within their authorised scope, the fairness and transparency of rental rates, and the extent to which commercial activities on the land benefit local farmers.

Watcharaphon stressed that all land use must comply with applicable laws, protect state interests, ensure fair treatment of business operators and safeguard farmers’ rights.

Businesses must also adhere to the purposes for which their land use was approved. For example, plots authorised for restaurants or retail outlets cannot be used for other activities without the necessary permission.

ALRO was instructed to ensure compliance with the regulations, while operators in Phuket were given 30 days to correct any identified irregularities.

Review of rental rates and land reform laws

The deputy minister also highlighted the need to update land reform legislation to reflect current economic conditions. The proposed changes are intended to support Agriculture Minister Suriya Jungrungreangkit’s policy of strengthening farmers’ rights and improving their access to capital.

Regarding rental charges, Watcharaphon explained that current regulations calculate rates as a percentage of land valuations determined by the Treasury Department, with 3% cited as an example.

He said rental arrangements should take account of current economic conditions and local circumstances while remaining fair to both the government and business operators.

The proposed legal amendments would also seek to ensure that businesses operating on agricultural land reform plots deliver tangible benefits to local farming communities.