Agriculture Ministry Launches Emergency Plan to Combat El Niño Following Strong Q1 Agricultural Growth of 2.4%
Agriculture Ministry projects 0.5-1.5% growth for 2025 despite strong Q1 expansion, launching emergency measures to combat expected El Niño drought conditions in the second half of the year.
On May 15, 2025, Agriculture and Cooperatives Minister Suriya Jungrungreangkit announced that the agricultural economy grew 2.4% in Q1 2025 (January-March) compared to the same period in 2024. The growth was supported by continuous rainfall throughout 2024, which ensured adequate water in reservoirs and natural water sources for crop cultivation and growth, combined with favorable overall weather conditions. Although March 2025 was affected by Middle East tensions that pushed crude oil prices higher globally, domestic fuel price controls during early March and existing stock levels of agricultural inputs such as chemical fertilizers and pesticides limited production cost increases. The crop, livestock, and forestry sectors all showed expansion.
The ministry projects full-year 2025 agricultural growth of 0.5-1.5% compared to 2024, supported by adequate water levels in major and medium-sized reservoirs and comprehensive water management, disaster preparedness, disease control in crops and animals, and promotion of agricultural technology and innovation. However, the minister warned of several risk factors requiring close monitoring, including climate variability—particularly El Niño conditions expected in the second half of 2025 that could cause irregular rainfall and drought—as well as fluctuations in oil and fertilizer prices, stringent trade measures from key trading partners, baht volatility, and global economic slowdown.
The ministry will implement both urgent and continuous development measures to address these risks. Immediate priorities include managing diesel and B20 fuel distribution through cooperatives, promoting balanced use of chemical and organic fertilizers based on soil analysis, utilizing biofertilizers and precision agriculture technology, improving water management, conducting cloud seeding operations, and preparing water pumps in drought-prone areas. Long-term efforts will focus on improving production efficiency, reducing costs, and strengthening Thai agriculture's competitiveness through precision agriculture technology, farmer training programs, and low-interest credit for agricultural machinery.
