Thailand has a nationwide referendum on Sunday, on whether to accept a constitution proposed by the military government. The military came to power in 2014 following protests against the elected government. Many of the disgruntled demonstrators were rice farmers who felt they hadn’t been properly compensated after a failed rice subsidy scheme.

But many farmers have also been disappointed by the military government that they claim mismanaged the recent drought. Indeed some feel their interests will be marginalized by the proposed constitution. The following is one of a series of pieces we have on CCTV, in which Thai people talk about the issues that concern them in this weekend's referendum. 

My name is Praramate Benjanun, I’m a farmer in Phayuhakhiri district, Nakhonsawan. In our group we plant organic rice berry.

First we had problems growing it. We didn’t know the life cycle of the bugs and the requirements of the field but now we do know and can avoid bugs and weeds without any chemicals at all.

White rice is more or less just starch but rice berry has extra anti-oxidants and lower sugar.  The grain is only licensed in Thailand, so you can’t plant it anywhere else.

The feedback from aboard is quite good but the local market is difficult because of price cuts and often the quality of rice differs too much.

I wish there was no discrimination and no double standard, everyone should get treated fair and I wish there is no coup. 

Under democratic government we got compensated during the time of flood and drought periods. The military government promised the same help, but we didn't get any support.

During the last drought I didn’t plant anything on my field because it was too risky.

Now the military gave us the referendum papers, promising only good things but the people here have no real idea about the constitution. Villagers who can read will decide for themselves.

What I would like to see from the government is support to explore the market abroad because we can produce and manufacture with foreign standards, but it is difficult to find places to sell.