Bangkok: The government is taking decisive steps to address the ongoing fertilizer shortage by coordinating with Malaysia and Brunei for additional import sources, as announced by Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Commerce, Supajee Suthamphan.

According to Thai News Agency, Supajee Suthamphan revealed after a special cabinet meeting that the government is implementing the "Half-Price Fertilizer" project to promote the efficient use of fertilizer tailored to specific soil conditions. This initiative involves cooperation among relevant agencies and includes interest subsidies from the Bank for Agriculture and Agricultural Cooperatives (BAAC) to help reduce farmers' production costs.

The government is also focusing on resolving the shortage of urea fertilizer, which is still dependent on imports. Delays through the Strait of Hormuz have impacted the timely arrival of at least five fertilizer tankers. In response, the government is working with countries like Malaysia and Brunei to secure additional import channels to ensure adequate domestic stock levels.

Furthermore, the Cabinet has approved the Green Flag Fertilizer project, which increases the discount to 300 baht per bag for the first five bags and offers additional discounts on agricultural chemicals. This results in farmers receiving a maximum assistance of 2,100 baht per household to alleviate the burden of high production costs.

Ms. Supajee stressed that while no price increases have been sanctioned, the government is actively monitoring manufacturing costs to prevent price gouging. Over 1,000 fertilizer stores have been inspected nationwide, resulting in legal actions against 48 offenders. The public is encouraged to report any unfair price hikes via the hotline 1569, enabling officials to investigate and take necessary legal action.