CP Senior Chairman Urges Government to Overhaul Water Systems, Calls Agriculture 'Land Oil' with Limitless Value Creation
CP Group's senior chairman urges the government to overhaul water systems and irrigation infrastructure, arguing that agriculture—dubbed "land oil"—holds unlimited economic potential to boost farmer incomes and ensure food security.
Thanin Chearavanont, Senior Chairman of Charoen Pokphand Group, spoke following Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin's government-private sector meeting on developing Thailand's economic competitiveness at Government House on May 15, 2026. CP Group presented proposals at "The Listening Forum: Voices to the PM," highlighting Thailand's "enormous opportunities" amid global crises, particularly in agriculture and food—described as "land oil" with unlimited potential. The group urged the government to accelerate investment in irrigation infrastructure, water management systems, and modern agricultural development to increase farmer incomes, transform grassroots economy, and ensure long-term food security.
Thanin noted that Thailand possesses strong advantages in climate, sunlight, and farming potential, but the primary challenge for Thai agriculture is water access. If the government invests in irrigation, creates reservoirs, and distributes water nationwide—similar to how electricity and roads were developed—agricultural productivity and farmer incomes could increase dramatically. With adequate water, farmers could cultivate three crops annually, and improved management efficiency could boost yields by up to five times.
"Land oil is more important than underground oil because everyone needs to eat. Farmers are the benefactors feeding the nation, yet many remain poor. We must work together to solve this," Thanin said.
He also proposed an "agricultural industrial park" concept linking agriculture, industry, and commerce in integrated zones to connect production, processing, transport, and markets into one system, reducing logistics costs and creating high-value agricultural products through AI, technology, and food innovation.
Thanin emphasized that Thai industry has significant opportunities, but businesses must rapidly adopt modern production systems using AI, automation, and smart logistics to compete globally. This includes transforming Thai agricultural products into high-value goods such as processed foods, future foods, and research-intensive products.
"Future winners are those who adapt quickly, and logistics will be the competitive heart. With good AI management, existing businesses become more efficient and new opportunities emerge," Thanin concluded.
