Final Stretch of Election '69: Phalawat Party Unveils Plan to Restructure Thai Agriculture, Focus on Sustainable Debt Relief

In the final stretch before the 2026 parliamentary elections, the policy competition between political parties is becoming increasingly intense. Each party is designing unique policies to attract voters, especially targeting farmers who are a crucial voting base. Amid promises aimed at solving the long-standing debt problems haunting farmers, Phalawat Party has raised an interesting perspective. Sorayuth Phetktrakul, the party's secretary-general, appeared on the 'Election Tracker '69' program on NBT, stating that solving farmer debt requires moving beyond traditional approaches of debt suspension and reduction. Instead, the focus must be on creating sustainable income for farmers by elevating agriculture to a modern, technology-driven model that truly responds to market needs. Sorayuth emphasized that Phalawat Party's approach is to transform Thai agricultural structures to meet modern era requirements. Their strategy involves market-led innovation, shifting from mass production to high-value production. This includes focusing on new high-value products like herbs, seeds, and agricultural cell-level developments, allowing farmers to sell smaller quantities at higher incomes. The party plans to introduce modern technologies like satellite systems, IoT, and smart machinery to increase production and reduce costs. They also aim to promote environmentally friendly agriculture, such as alternate wet and dry rice cultivation techniques that save water and generate saleable carbon credits. For basic agricultural products, Phalawat Party pledges to reduce costs and increase production, making goods more price-competitive. They propose using Land Use Data to help farmers plan optimal crop cultivation, preventing market oversupply and ensuring fair pricing. 'Debt suspension is only a short-term measure. Without creating income for farmers, debt will continue to accumulate,' Sorayuth noted. The party proposes an incentive system to reduce debt for farmers who modernize their agricultural practices, including technology adoption, water resource development, and strategic crop planning. 'We must transform farmers into a critical economic driving force through high-value agriculture aligned with market and technological needs. This is the true solution to the farmer debt problem we've faced for over 20 years,' Sorayuth concluded, emphasizing that this is not just an election promise but a concrete plan ready for implementation.