Thai farmers demand rise in rice price to 10,000 baht per tonne
Farmers congregated at Government House in Bangkok, yesterday, February 19, urging the government to increase rice prices from the current 6,000 baht to 10,000 baht per tonne.
Farmers from various provinces, including Sukhothai, Phitsanulok, and Suphan Buri, sought meetings with the prime minister, the agriculture minister, or the commerce minister to discuss solutions to declining rice prices. Deputy Commerce Minister Suchart Chomklin engaged with them shortly after noon.
In central Thailand, farmers have begun harvesting off-season rice, but prices have fallen to between 6,000 and 7,000 baht per tonne, a decrease from last year’s 10,000 to 11,000 baht, resulting in considerable losses.
Commerce Minister Pichai Naripthaphan attributed the recent decline in rice prices mainly to external factors, including India’s resumption of exports and reduced demand from Indonesia and the Philippines.
A farmer from Suphan Buri at yesterday’s gathering expressed that he was awaiting decisive government action before harvesting his crop.
Previously, representatives from central provinces had submitted grievances to the government via provincial governors.
Last week, farmers from Ayutthaya protested by blocking roads, prompting the Ministry of Commerce to announce urgent measures, such as establishing rice-buying points through its provincial offices.
Another farmer from Phichit highlighted that his rice production cost per tonne was 6,000 baht, yet he had to sell it for less due to pest issues.
In the central region, rice is cultivated twice annually, with off-season rice planted in December and harvested in February and March.
A national subcommittee on rice policy and management is expected to convene today to tackle the rice price crisis, and the House Committee on Agriculture is also scheduled to discuss the problem.
Pramote Charoensilp, president of the Thai Agriculturists Association, stated the association submitted a letter to the prime minister, the agriculture minister, and the commerce minister on Monday.
The letter urges the government to assist farmers through measures, such as 500 baht compensation per rai for adhering to the straw-burning ban and an additional 500 baht per rai for low rice prices.
Pramote stressed the importance of direct payments to farmers to bypass middlemen and lessen the risk of corruption, reported Bangkok Post.
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