Bangkok: Farmers across the region are facing significant challenges as they grapple with soaring fuel and fertilizer prices, further exacerbating an already dire situation. The cost of production has reached 1,200 baht per rai, while farmers earn only 7,000 baht per rai and sell their rice for a mere 5,000 baht.
According to Thai News Agency, Mr. Pramote Charoensilp, president of the Thai Farmers and Agriculturists Association, voiced concerns on the "Sharing the News" program regarding the ongoing fuel shortage. Despite the allowance for farmers to use jerrycans for refueling, the supply remains inadequate. In many regions, farmers are compelled to queue as early as 4-5 am, only to find that some gas stations have depleted their fuel supplies by morning. Restrictions on fuel dispensing quantities further hinder farming operations, severely impacting the crucial dry season rice farming as it enters the harvesting period. With modern rice farming heavily reliant on machinery and fuel at every stage, insufficient fuel supply threatens timely harvesting, risking crop loss and potential adverse effects on the main rice season.
The crisis is further compounded by rising production costs, particularly the price of urea fertilizer, which has surged from around 800 baht to over 1,200 baht. This has resulted in an average rice farming cost of 6,500-7,000 baht per rai. Coupled with the low market price of paddy rice at just 5,500-6,000 baht per ton, many farmers are experiencing financial losses in various areas.
Furthermore, a ban on burning crop residue has intensified the problem, as it necessitates additional time and costs for land management, resulting in delays and increased expenses in the production process.
Mr. Pramote has called on the government to urgently implement measures to assist farmers, including ensuring an adequate fuel supply, controlling fertilizer prices, and adjusting rice prices to reflect production costs. He is set to meet with government officials on the 25th and has warned that unresolved issues may lead to protests by farmer groups in several areas.