Agriculture Ministry to Push Rice Subsidy Plan to Cabinet
Thailand's Agriculture Ministry will present an expanded rice subsidy plan to cabinet next week, aiming to provide 1,000-baht-per-rai payments to nearly 234,000 farming households who missed previous assistance rounds.
Agriculture Minister Suriya Jungrungruangkit revealed that the National Rice Policy and Management Committee has approved an expansion of the rice farmer assistance programme for the 2568–69 harvest. The initiative aims to help 233,729 farming households who have not yet benefited from the per-rai subsidy of 1,000 baht, capped at 10,000 baht per household, with a combined budget of 1.846 billion baht. The ministry has completed its review and coordination with all stakeholders and will present the measure to the cabinet next week to expedite relief for farmers who missed payments in the previous season.
Sarawut Nueangchamnong, secretary to the agriculture minister, stated that preparations for a separate support and promotion measure for rice farmers in the 2569–70 season are underway. All relevant departments are preparing for a meeting of the National Rice Policy and Management Committee's production subcommittee, which is expected to be held within September 2569. The Agriculture Ministry is fully prepared to convene the meeting and acknowledges the hardship faced by rice farmers as the harvest season for 2569–70 is now underway. Officials are confident that new support measures satisfactory to farmers will be announced.
