Thai Sugarcane Farmers Struggle with High Costs and Low Prices

Khaosod•Society•21d ago

Reader Briefing

Sugarcane farmers in Nakhon Ratchasima are facing severe financial distress due to rising production costs and low purchase prices for the 2025/69 production season.

•Sugarcane farmers in Nakhon Ratchasima province are struggling with high costs for labor, fuel, and fertilizer.
•The Cabinet set the initial sugarcane price for the 2025/69 season at 890 baht per ton for 10 CCS sweetness.
•A government measure to provide 477.05 million baht for fresh sugarcane cutting to reduce PM 2.5 dust for the 2024/68 season is still in the processing stage.

Overview

•Sugarcane farmers in Nakhon Ratchasima are facing high costs for labor, fuel, and fertilizer during the 2025/69 production season.
•The Cabinet set the initial sugarcane price for the 2025/69 season at 890 baht per ton at 10 CCS sweetness.
•The government's 477.05 million baht budget for the "Fresh Sugarcane Cutting to Reduce PM 2.5 Dust" measure for the 2024/68 season is still in the processing stage for payment.
•Wichan Tangta, a farmer in Si Khieu District, reported investing over 100,000 baht for 16 rai of sugarcane, with planting costs at 5,500 baht per rai.
•Production was further impacted by drought and long periods without rain, requiring additional spending on herbicides and water pumping.
•Wichan Tangta stated that diesel prices reached 51 baht per liter, costing 10,000 baht over 10 days to pump water for the crops.
•Wichan Tangta requested the government to increase the purchase price to 1,400 baht per ton due to high production costs.

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Key Entities

Place

Nakhon Ratchasima(นครราชสีมา)ℹ️

The province where sugarcane farmers are experiencing severe hardship.

Si Khieu(สีคิ้ว)

The district in Nakhon Ratchasima where Wichan Tangta operates his farm.

Organization

Cabinet(ครม.)

The body that determined the initial sugarcane price for the 2025/69 production season.

Government(รัฐบาล)ℹ️

The entity responsible for the PM 2.5 reduction budget and the target of the farmers' request for price adjustments.

Policy

Fresh Sugarcane Cutting to Reduce PM 2.5 Dust(ตัดอ้อยสด ลดฝุ่น PM 2.5)

A government measure with a 477.05 million baht budget to assist farmers in the 2024/68 production season.

Person

Wichan Tangta(วิชาญ ตังตา)

A 60-year-old sugarcane farmer from Si Khieu District who grows 16 rai of sugarcane.