Commerce Department Helps Private Sector Purchase Onions, Garlic, and Large Onions, Absorbing Over 7,000 Tons of Produce

The Department of Internal Trade is collaborating with private companies to purchase red onions, garlic, and large onions directly from farms through market agreement mechanisms, absorbing over 7,075 tons valued at more than 108 million baht. Director Wittayakorn Maneenate revealed that January-February is typically when three economic crops flood the market simultaneously, potentially impacting prices. The department is proactively implementing production management measures using market agreement platforms to directly link farmers, agricultural institutions, and operators to reduce localized production clustering and mitigate price impacts. In January 2024, the department worked with commercial offices from Chiang Mai, Lamphun, and Mae Hong Son provinces to connect garlic and red onion sales through agreement markets. Seventeen farmer groups and three purchasing companies participated, including Agro Thai Union, Tawan Crop Products, and Yingphaisarn Agriculture, to distribute production to domestic wholesale-retail markets, processing factories, and export channels. The department's strategy includes three main approaches: expediting exports to neighboring countries, purchasing and redistributing produce domestically, and using agreement markets to connect farmers and operators in advance. For the 2025/2026 production year, total three-crop production is 243,877 tons, with red onions comprising 158,824 tons, garlic at 53,390 tons, and large onions at 31,663 tons. The department will continue monitoring production and prices while maintaining market connection measures to ensure price stability and fair farmer income.