Bangkok: Shrimp farmers lament that flooding in the South has cost them everything and are calling on the government to provide urgent assistance. The president of the Thai Shrimp Association pointed out that flooding in the South has severely impacted production, with the loss of numerous shrimp ponds and farm equipment submerged. He urged the government to provide urgent assistance and set a target of 400,000 tons of production in 2026.
According to Thai News Agency, Mr. Ekapoj Yodpinij, President of the Thai Shrimp Association, along with association executives and representatives of the Thai Aquaculture Federation, jointly announced the situation of the Thai shrimp industry and the damage caused by the severe flooding in southern Thailand. He stated that the severe flooding in Songkhla, Satun, and Pattani provinces has caused severe damage to many shrimp farmers, leading to “the loss of everything” due to the loss of shrimp in their ponds, aeration equipment, and almost all of their farm equipment, which were damaged by the floodwaters.
The association’s preliminary assessment is that the total damages exceed 1 billion baht. Shrimp production from the affected areas accounts for approximately 10% of the country’s production. This will impact the total production for 2025, which is estimated at approximately 270,000 tons, and will undoubtedly impact the total production at the end of this year.
Shrimp farmers have had to contend with unstable weather conditions since the beginning of the year, high rainfall, fluctuating water quality, and outbreaks of shrimp diseases such as white feces and white spot disease, forcing many farmers to harvest shrimp ahead of schedule. Although shrimp prices were good in the first half of the year due to a 15% increase in domestic consumption, the flooding has severely impacted the production sector.
The Thai Shrimp Association is calling on the government to expedite assistance to farmers. They are requesting the Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives to expedite damage assessments and for relevant agencies to expedite budget allocations to support shrimp farmers in the South. This includes support for the purchase of new farming equipment, farm repairs, rehabilitation loans, and interest rate deferrals. Some farmers borrowed money to invest in shrimp and saw their production disappear with the floodwaters. This assistance will allow farmers to return to production in time for next year’s farming cycle.
The association also proposes that the “Thai shrimp industry” be reinstated as a national agenda, with a target production increase of 400,000 tons in 2026. This will be achieved through farm system upgrades, systematic disease management, and preparation for the Sustainable Shrimp Standard (ASC). The association also promotes the Low Carbon Shrimp Project, which requires support from the Ministry of Energy to meet market demands for sustainability.
Mr. Preecha Sukkasem, Vice President of the Thai Shrimp Association, speaking on behalf of shrimp farmers in the southern region, said that many shrimp farmers have suffered severely from the floods and require urgent assistance to resume shrimp farming in time for the next round. In addition to immediate assistance, given the potential for farmers in all areas to face similar disasters in the future, the Department of Fisheries, the agency promoting aquaculture farmers, should issue recommendations on disaster prevention and preparedness. Given that each shrimp pond is worth millions of baht, it is imperative that they provide assistance to prevent such severe damage again.