Bangkok: The Thai Farmers Association has urged the newly appointed Minister of Agriculture and Commerce to expedite the disbursement of aid for dry season rice farmers at a rate of ‘1,000 baht per rai.’ This aid is aimed at promoting quality rice seeds and managing production costs amid low rice prices and heightened global market competition.
According to Thai News Agency, Mr. Pramote Charoensilp, President of the Thai Farmers and Farmers Association, congratulated Mr. Atthakorn Sirilatayakorn, the new Minister of Agriculture and Cooperatives, and requested him to expedite the aid payment for the second-crop rice in 2025. The aid, previously approved by the National Rice Policy and Administration Committee (NRAC), is set at 1,000 baht per rai and is limited to 10 rai per household. The Production Subcommittee, chaired by the Minister of Agriculture, awaits the new minister’s assumption of office to convene a meeting. Mr. Atthakorn assured that a meeting would be called immediately after his official oath-taking.
The association also recommended that the Ministry of Agriculture speed up the procurement of high-quality rice seeds that yield more than 1,000 kilograms per rai, ensuring nationwide availability. Additionally, they urged the establishment of a water delivery system to provide adequate water to the fields, as it is a crucial production factor.
In a related proposal, Mr. Pramote requested Mr. Chatuporn Buruspat, the new Minister of Commerce, to urgently address the high prices of production inputs, particularly fertilizers and controlled chemicals and pesticides. These costs remain high despite the low price of rice, significantly impacting farmers’ expenses.
Data from the Department of Foreign Trade, Ministry of Commerce, reveals that from January to May 2025, Thailand exported 3.05 million tons of rice, a 25.61% decline from the previous year. The export value also decreased by 34.03% to 63,098 million baht. The global rice production increase to 541 million tons, with India resuming full export and accumulating over 60 million tons in stocks, has intensified price competition with Thailand. Additionally, rice import demand from key trading partners like Indonesia has noticeably decreased.
Mr. Pramote stressed that farmers face dual challenges: low rice prices and rising production costs. He urged the two ministers to take immediate action to support more than 8.7 million farmer households across the nation.