Bangkok: Decharat Sukkamnerd, an advisor to the People's Party, has voiced his concerns regarding the timing of the Ministry of Commerce's initiative to live stream durian sales.
According to Thai News Agency, Decharat argued that the move was ill-timed given the current robust state of the durian market, which still has potential for growth. He highlighted that premium durians are already fetching good prices in markets like China.
The Ministry of Commerce had launched the live stream sales as a measure to assist durian farmers, anticipating a higher than usual production this year and urging farmers to sell quickly. However, Decharat suggested that the government focus on promoting high-quality durians for at least another half-month to one month to ensure better prices for farmers. He proposed that the promotion of lower-grade durians should occur after May, when production peaks. Concerns arose when confusion ensued over the grading of durians sold at 100 baht per fruit, sparking fears of a potential price drop among farmers and those in the supply chain.
When questioned about the impact on durian market prices, Decharat expressed that the swift objections quelled any potential disruption, leading the Ministry of Commerce to clarify the situation. He pointed out that the issue wasn't exclusive to durians, citing a recent incident where palm oil prices dropped due to inaccurate signals of an export ban from China. This, he suggested, underscores the necessity for precise communication to prevent adverse effects on farmers' prices.