Thailand outlines new measures to support Thai farmers

Commerce Minister Pichai Naripatapan, announced that the House of Representatives’ Agriculture and Cooperatives Committee met with the Ministry of Commerce to discuss policies and measures to assist Thai farmers both domestically and internationally.

The focus was on key agricultural products such as rice, cassava, animal feed corn, and fruits, as well as the compilation of agricultural product data. The meeting took place at the Department of Internal Trade.

The discussion included notable attendees such as Naphinthon Srisangpang, deputy commerce minister; Chai Watcharong, Thai trade representative; Wuttikrai Leewiraphan, permanent secretary of the ministry of commerce; and Sakdinai Numnu, chairman of the agriculture and cooperatives committee.

The committee raised issues based on complaints from farmers across various regions, seeking to align with the ministry’s policies.

One of the ministry’s key missions is to support farmers and maintain price stability for agricultural products, ensuring balance across all dimensions. This includes major economic crops like rice, cassava, animal feed corn, and other fruits such as durian, mangosteen, rambutan, longan, lychee, langsat, pineapple, and oranges.

The ministry is also focused on promoting markets and exporting agricultural products.

Grassroots economy

The commerce ministry implemented measures to manage the cost of living and address public concerns, aiming to balance agricultural prices and strengthen the grassroots economy. This includes supporting SMEs, promoting exports, and negotiating Free Trade Agreements (FTA) to increase the inflow of money into the sector.

Initiatives also focus on adding value to products and services, leveraging intellectual property, facilitating trade, and amending obstructive laws. Previously, the ministry, in collaboration with the private sector, launched six measures and 25 plans to support smaller businesses, leading to record-high prices for agricultural products and fruits.

For the upcoming year, 2025, the ministry has already outlined management measures for 900,000 tonnes of fruit. These measures include promoting production and processing, enhancing domestic and international markets, improving trade efficiency, and facilitating commerce through legal measures.

The government recognises the importance of addressing the structure of agricultural products to enhance farmers’ incomes. The goal is to position Thailand as a food security hub, ensuring sufficient food supply for other countries, thereby increasing sales opportunities for Thai farmers.

Additionally, the Commerce Ministry aims to elevate Thai products to the Thailand Next Level, enhancing their market value. Recently, this initiative was promoted in the UK, showcasing the quality and potential of Thai agricultural products to improve the livelihoods of Thai citizens.

Sakdinai Numnu, Chairman of the Agriculture and Cooperatives Committee, expressed gratitude towards the Commerce Minister and ministry officials for the opportunity to discuss and reflect on the farmers’ issues.

He emphasised the importance of these discussions in helping Thai farmers achieve better prices for their products.