BACC to grant loans to Thais working as berry-pickers in Sweden or Finland

The state-owned Bank of Agriculture and Agricultural Cooperatives (BAAC) has decided to set aside 375 million baht to assist 5,000 Thai farmers who want to pick wild berries in Sweden or Finland during this year’s harvest season, set to begin this month.

BAAC President Chatchai Sirilai said today that the bank will extend loans, up to a maximum 75,000 baht each, to its customers who want to travel to Finland or Sweden to pick wild berries to support their families after the completion of rice cultivation.

He said that the loans must, however, be settled in one instalment by December 31st.

Those who are eligible to apply for such loans must be the bank’s customers and their names must appear on the lists of employment agencies submitted to the bank for consideration.

Chatchai explained that the bank does not support farmers who want to travel to either of the two countries to pick wild berries independently, without going through an employment agency, as the bank wants to make sure that they do not work illegally and that they are provided with welfare protection while working there.