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Farmers Protest Ministry for Fuel Prices and Paddy Rice Support

Farmers Protest Ministry for Fuel Prices and Paddy Rice Support

MGR Online•Economy•2h ago

Reader Briefing

Farmers demand government intervention for agricultural fuel prices and fair paddy rice market support.

  • •Farmers' associations have petitioned the Ministry of Commerce and the Ministry of Energy for urgent action on escalating agricultural fuel costs.
  • •The Ministry of Commerce has agreed to establish purchase points for 1 million tons of paddy rice at prices above market rates and organize rice markets.
  • •Measures to stabilize fertilizer prices and a subsidized fertilizer program, 'Green Flag Plus Fertilizer', are also planned.
  • •Farmers warn of potential protests if effective measures are not implemented due to increasing debt and production costs.

Overview

  • •Farmers' associations, led by Pramote Charoensilp, submitted a letter to the Ministry of Commerce and the Prime Minister requesting immediate solutions for agricultural fuel shortages.
  • •Pramote Charoensilp met with officials from the Department of Internal Trade and the Public Warehouse Organization to discuss farmers' grievances.
  • •Farmers' associations demanded prompt action to address the fuel crisis in the agricultural sector.
  • •The Ministry of Commerce will establish paddy rice collection points through participating mills and agricultural cooperatives in five pilot provinces (Ayutthaya, Phichit, Nakhon Sawan, Kamphaeng Phet, and Sukhothai) to absorb 1 million tons of paddy.
  • •The designated purchase price for paddy will be 300 baht per ton above the market price, and rice markets will be organized with prices 200-400 baht above market rates.
  • •The new rice purchasing initiatives are scheduled to commence from the end of March.
  • •The Department of Internal Trade confirmed strict adherence to existing price controls for fertilizers and the upcoming launch of the 'Green Flag Plus Fertilizer' program to offer subsidized prices to households.
  • •Farmers are experiencing mounting debt and production costs, particularly for agricultural fuel, leading to potential protests if their concerns are not addressed.

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Key Quotes

Pramote Charoensilp
"If the government lacks clear measures or does not prioritize this, farmers in many provinces may need to escalate their activities or organize protests, due to frustration from unmanageable debt burdens and costs."
หากภาครัฐไม่มีมาตรการที่ชัดเจนหรือไม่ให้ความสำคัญ เกษตรกรในหลายจังหวัดอาจจำเป็นต้องยกระดับการเคลื่อนไหวหรือมีการรวมตัวประท้วง เนื่องจากเป็นความอัดอั้นตันใจจากภาระหนี้สินและต้นทุนที่แบกรับไม่ไหว

Key Entities

Organization

Farmers(ชาวนา)
The group advocating for government support on agricultural costs and market prices.
Ministry of Commerce(กระทรวงพาณิชย์)ℹ️
The government ministry petitioned by farmers to address agricultural fuel prices and rice market support.
Thai Farmers and Agriculturists Association(สมาคมชาวนาและเกษตรกรไทย)
The association representing farmers who lobbied the government for support on agricultural fuel and rice prices.
Department of Internal Trade(กรมการค้าภายใน)ℹ️
A department within the Ministry of Commerce involved in discussions and agreements on agricultural product prices.
Public Warehouse Organization (PWO)(องค์การคลังสินค้า (อคส.))ℹ️
An organization involved in discussions with farmers regarding agricultural product procurement.
Ministry of Energy(กระทรวงพลังงาน)ℹ️
The ministry to which farmers have also submitted requests regarding agricultural fuel prices.

Person

Supajee Suthamphana(ศุภจี สุธรรมพันธ์)
The Minister of Commerce who received demands from farmers regarding agricultural fuel and rice prices.
Pramote Charoensilp(นายปราโมทย์ เจริญศิลป์)
President of the Thai Farmers and Agriculturists Association, who led the delegation to the Ministry of Commerce.
Wittayakorn Maneenet(นายวิทยากร มณีเนตร)
Director-General of the Department of Internal Trade, who participated in discussions with farmers.
Prime Minister(นายกรัฐมนตรี)
The head of government who received a letter from farmers concerning agricultural fuel prices.

Place

Ayutthaya(อยุธยา)ℹ️
One of the five pilot provinces where the Ministry of Commerce will establish paddy rice collection points.
Phichit(พิจิตร)ℹ️
One of the five pilot provinces where the Ministry of Commerce will establish paddy rice collection points.
Nakhon Sawan(นครสวรรค์)ℹ️
One of the five pilot provinces where the Ministry of Commerce will establish paddy rice collection points.
Kamphaeng Phet(กำแพงเพชร)ℹ️
One of the five pilot provinces where the Ministry of Commerce will establish paddy rice collection points.
Sukhothai(สุโขทัย)ℹ️
One of the five pilot provinces where the Ministry of Commerce will establish paddy rice collection points.
Suphan Buri(สุพรรณบุรี)ℹ️
A province targeted for expansion of paddy rice collection points.
Nakhon Pathom(นครปฐม)ℹ️
A province targeted for expansion of paddy rice collection points.
Ang Thong(อ่างทอง)ℹ️
A province targeted for expansion of paddy rice collection points.

Timeline

End of March(สิ้นเดือน มี.ค.)
The approximate start date for the paddy rice market initiatives.

Policy

Green Flag Plus Fertilizer Program(โครงการปุ๋ยธงเขียวพลัส)
A new program by the Department of Internal Trade to offer subsidized fertilizer to agricultural households.