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MOC Aids Farmers Amid Mideast Crisis: Absorbing Rice, Cutting Costs, Allocating Diesel

MOC Aids Farmers Amid Mideast Crisis: Absorbing Rice, Cutting Costs, Allocating Diesel

Matichon•Economy•2h ago

Reader Briefing

The Ministry of Commerce is rolling out multiple measures to support rice farmers struggling with rising production costs and market uncertainty exacerbated by the Middle East crisis.

  • •The Ministry of Commerce is launching a project to absorb 1 million tons of off-season rice, offering prices 300 baht per ton above market value.
  • •Initiatives to reduce farmer costs include discounts on fertilizer and efforts to ensure sufficient diesel supply for harvesting machinery.
  • •Rice markets are being organized to provide additional sales channels and better prices for farmers, starting in March and continuing through May 2026.
  • •Farmers are assured that their off-season rice will have a market and that the government is actively addressing the impacts of global economic instability.

Overview

  • •The Ministry of Commerce has launched the 'Off-Season Rice Absorption Project' for the 2026 production year.
  • •The Ministry of Commerce is implementing measures to assist Thai farmers, particularly rice growers, due to global economic disruptions.
  • •The 'Off-Season Rice Absorption Project' aims to absorb 1 million tons of off-season rice.
  • •The Internal Trade Department is organizing 'Rice Markets' in off-season rice production areas to provide additional sales channels for farmers.
  • •The 'Rice Markets' initiative will operate from March to May 2026.
  • •The Department of Internal Trade will coordinate with relevant agencies, especially the Ministry of Energy, to ensure sufficient diesel allocation for the off-season rice harvest.
  • •Wittayakon Maneenet assured farmers that there will be a place to sell their off-season rice during the harvest season.
  • •The Ministry of Commerce is implementing the 'Green Flag Plus Fertilizer' project to provide fertilizer discounts to farmers, totaling up to 1,400 baht per person.

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Key Quotes

Wittayakon Maneenet
"Farmers can be confident that there will be a place to sell their off-season rice this harvest season."
ขอให้ชาวนามั่นใจว่า ฤดูเก็บเกี่ยวข้าวนาปรังนี้มีที่ขายข้าวแน่นอน
Wittayakon Maneenet
"Regarding the reduction of production costs, the department is preparing to implement the 'Green Flag Plus Fertilizer' project, supporting a discount of 200 baht per bag for chemical fertilizer, totaling 1,000 baht."
ในด้านการลดต้นทุนการผลิต กรมฯ เตรียมดำเนินโครงการ “ปุ๋ยธงเขียวพลัส” สนับสนุนส่วนลดปุ๋ยเคมีกระสอบละ 200 บาท จำนวน 5 กระสอบ รวม 1,000 บาท
Pramote Jaroensilp
"We thank the Ministry of Commerce for prioritizing and urgently assisting our farmers, understanding the impact on all sectors."
ขอขอบคุณกระทรวงพาณิชย์ที่ให้ความสำคัญและเร่งช่วยเหลือพี่น้องชาวนา โดยเข้าใจถึงสถานการณ์ที่ทุกภาคส่วนได้รับผลกระทบ

Key Entities

Organization

Ministry of Commerce(พณ.)ℹ️
The government organization implementing measures to assist farmers.
Department of Internal Trade(กรมการค้าภายใน)
A department under the Ministry of Commerce responsible for trade and consumer protection, implementing farmer support measures.
Thai Farmers and Agriculturists Association(สมาคมชาวนาและเกษตรกรไทย)
An association representing the interests of Thai farmers, lobbying for assistance and engaging with government bodies.
Public Warehouse Organization(องค์การคลังสินค้า)
An organization tasked with implementing the rice absorption project by facilitating purchases from millers and cooperatives.
Weights and Measures Office(สำนักงานชั่งตวงวัด)
Local offices tasked with supervising and ensuring fairness in rice trading, including accurate weighing and quality checks.
Land Development Department(กรมพัฒนาที่ดิน)
A department overseeing soil and land management, which issues the 'Good Soil Card' benefit for farmers.
Ministry of Energy(กระทรวงพลังงาน)
The ministry the Department of Internal Trade will liaise with to ensure adequate diesel allocation for agricultural machinery.

Person

Wittayakon Maneenet(นายวิทยากร มณีเนตร)
Director-General of the Department of Internal Trade, involved in implementing farmer assistance programs.
Pramote Jaroensilp(นายปราโมทย์ เจริญศิลป์)
President of the Thai Farmers and Agriculturists Association, who met with the Department of Internal Trade to discuss farmer support.
Supachai Suthamma­phan(นางศุภจี สุธรรมพันธุ์)
Minister of Commerce, who ordered the Department of Internal Trade to accelerate assistance measures for farmers.

Law

Off-Season Rice Absorption Project, Production Year 2026(โครงการดูดซับข้าวเปลือกนาปรัง ปีการผลิต 2026)
A government policy initiative to purchase off-season rice to stabilize prices and support farmers.
Green Flag Plus Fertilizer(ปุ๋ยธงเขียวพลัส)
A project offering discounts on chemical fertilizer to farmers to reduce production costs.
Good Soil Card(บัตรดินดี)
A program by the Land Development Department that provides additional benefits for fertilizer purchases.

Place

Nakhon Sawan(นครสวรรค์)ℹ️
One of the five key off-season rice production provinces where the absorption project will be piloted.
Phitsanulok(พิษณุโลก)ℹ️
One of the five key off-season rice production provinces where the absorption project will be piloted and a site for 'Rice Markets'.
Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya(พระนครศรีอยุธยา)ℹ️
One of the five key off-season rice production provinces where the absorption project will be piloted and a site for 'Rice Markets'.
Kamphaeng Phet(กำแพงเพชร)ℹ️
One of the five key off-season rice production provinces where the absorption project will be piloted.
Sukhothai(สุโขทัย)ℹ️
One of the five key off-season rice production provinces where the absorption project will be piloted.
Sing Buri(สิงห์บุรี)ℹ️
A province where 'Rice Markets' are confirmed to be held in late March.
Ang Thong(อ่างทอง)ℹ️
A province where 'Rice Markets' are confirmed to be held in late March and early April.
Phichit(พิจิตร)ℹ️
A province where 'Rice Markets' are confirmed to be held in early April.
Nan(น่าน)ℹ️
A province where 'Rice Markets' are confirmed to be held in late April.