Chiang mai: Karun urged the government to explain why the Longan Act bill was rejected, despite being a campaign promise, betraying the hopes of 250,000 longan farming households. He declared that the government should not let the farmers bear the consequences alone.

According to Thai News Agency, Mr. Karun Koocharoenchaikul, MP for Chiang Mai from the Kla Tham Party, commented on the government's failure under Mr. Anutin Charnvirakul to bring the Longan Act bill back for consideration within the 60-day constitutional timeframe. He stated that the bill, a key measure to address the longan price slump, was unfortunately lost. He explained that the bill, proposed by Mr. Nares Thamrongthipyakun, also an MP for Chiang Mai from the Kla Tham Party, had already passed the House of Representatives and the Senate, and was preparing for its second and third readings before the dissolution of parliament on December 11, 2025. This represents a significant loss and a nightmare for longan farmers nationwide, as the law was expected to be a crucial mechanism in resolving the long-standing problem of low longan prices.

Mr. Karun further stated that lychee farmers in 33 provinces nationwide are now questioning the sincerity of the coalition government, especially the Pheu Thai Party, which oversees the Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives, asking whether they still prioritize the plight of lychee farmers. He noted that the aforementioned Act was previously used as a campaign promise, but since coming into power, they have allowed the issue to fade away, describing it as a neglect of promises made to the people.

Mr. Karun also stated that Captain Thamanat Phromphao, leader of the Kla Tham Party and former Minister of Agriculture and Cooperatives, has continuously pushed for this law because he wants to elevate longan to a systematically developed economic crop in terms of production, marketing, and export, in order to create stable income for farmers and increase competitiveness in the global market. 'I urge Mr. Suriya Jungrungruangkit, the Minister of Agriculture and Cooperatives, to clarify the next steps. Thailand produces more than 1.2 million tons of longan per year, generating over 30 billion baht in revenue, and there are over 250,000 longan farming households waiting for government support. I am calling on those in power to fulfill their promises and prioritize longan farmers. Don't leave them to face their fate alone,' Mr. Karun said.