Solving the problem of falling agricultural product prices: 11 resolutions

Government House, Cabinet acknowledges the results of consideration of the motion requesting the House of Representatives to consider studying guidelines for solving the problem of low agricultural product prices, a total of 11 motions. Ms. Kanika Unjit, Deputy Government Spokesperson, revealed that the Cabinet meeting (9 July 2024) resolved to acknowledge the results of the consideration of the motion requesting the House of Representatives to consider studying guidelines to solve the problem of low agricultural product prices, totaling 11 motions, as proposed by the Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives. The Deputy Government Spokesperson said that the Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives has submitted the results of the consideration of the motion requesting the House of Representatives to consider studying guidelines to solve the problem of low agricultural product prices, totaling 11 motions, for action, which was considered together with relevant agencies. The summary of the results of the ope rations is as follows: Rice products have measures to stabilize the price of paddy rice in the 2023/24 production year, such as the loan project to delay the sale of wet-season paddy rice and the loan project to collect rice and create added value by agricultural institutions (the Cabinet resolved on November 7, 2023, that the Bank for Agriculture and Agricultural Cooperatives support loans for farmers and agricultural institutions). Cassava products have measures to stabilize cassava prices in 2023/24, such as the project to compensate for interest on cassava stockpiling by supporting interest for entrepreneurs, cassava yards, flour mills, and ethanol plants that borrow money from banks to increase liquidity in purchasing cassava; the project to collect cassava and create added value by agricultural institutions by having the Bank for Agriculture and Agricultural Cooperatives support loans to agricultural institutions to be used as capital to purchase fresh cassava roots and shredded cassava from farmers a nd/or agricultural institutions whose members are mainly engaged in animal husbandry; Sugarcane products have the Ministry of Industry (Office of the Cane and Sugar Board) as the agency that oversees measures and solutions for sugarcane products in the entire system. Rubber products have implemented short-term measures such as helping with living expenses for small-scale rubber farmers, supporting low-interest loans, medium-term measures such as encouraging farmers to change their production from primary rubber to intermediate processing, and providing more distribution channels, and long-term measures such as research and promotion of investment in rubber product processing. Palm Oil Products has set measures for purchasing palm oil fruit by stipulating that 'operators of palm oil fruit purchasing points (pouring yard) are prohibited from doing anything to cause palm oil fruit to fall unnaturally, whether by using gratings, pouring rails for transporting, palm oil bunches that are gratings, equipment or o ther things to separate fallen palm oil fruit.' This helps reduce production costs and increases competitiveness, and creates a price structure for palm oil fruit and palm oil so that the buying and selling prices do not fluctuate, allowing farmers to receive fair income. Fruit products have management guidelines, divided into short-term, such as setting up collection/distribution centers at the local level to accelerate the distribution of produce, developing the quality of produce to meet market demand; medium-term, such as creating a management plan to solve the problem of concentrated produce, promoting and supporting processing to create added value; and long-term, such as promoting processing into new products, promoting Thailand as a source of tropical fruit markets with standard quality and international acceptance. Livestock products have been addressed to address livestock product prices, such as using the regulatory mechanism of the committees for each type of animal, such as pig products driven by the Pig and Product Policy Committee, cattle and buffalo products driven by the Beef Cattle and Buffalo Development Policy Committee, announcing a delay in the import or transit of cattle and buffalo or cattle and buffalo carcasses through the Kingdom, and pushing for the opening of the market for exporting live cattle and buffalo, including cattle and buffalo carcasses, to the Socialist Republic of Vietnam. Shrimp products have related measures, such as the project to reduce the cost of marine shrimp production to increase the ability to compete sustainably in the marine shrimp industry, the project to promote the use of the Solar Cell system to reduce production costs. The Department of Fisheries has produced microorganism starter cultures, Pm.1 (powder type) and Pm.2 (liquid type) to distribute to farmers to help reduce production costs, and has controlled the import of marine shrimp from abroad before allowing them to be imported into the Kingdom under the Animal Epidemics Act, B.E. 2558. Sea bass pr oducts have taken measures such as raising import control measures. If residues are found, they will be fined and destroyed or other actions will be taken as deemed appropriate. They also promote the use of microorganisms in farming to help control water quality and muddy odors, which reduces the cost of using drugs and chemicals and reduces the cost of changing water. Source: Thai News Agency