Dairy Farmers Storm Government House Over Milk Crisis
Over 10,000 dairy farmers from 60 cooperatives protested at Government House on July 14 to demand government action on a raw milk crisis caused by increased imports under new trade agreements with New Zealand and Australia that took effect
At 8:30 a.m. on July 14, 2025, dairy farmer cooperatives led by Subin Pompochaa, chair of the Thai Dairy Cooperative Assembly, gathered outside Government House with representatives from 60 cooperatives and over 10,000 farming families to submit a letter to the Prime Minister addressing the raw milk oversupply crisis affecting dairy farmers nationwide.
Subin stated that the crisis stems from trade liberalization agreements with New Zealand (TNZCEP) and Australia (TAFTA) that took effect on January 1, 2025, which significantly increased imported milk powder. Meanwhile, some processors reduced purchases of Thai raw milk, leaving farmers unable to sell their milk at fair prices, draining cooperatives of liquidity and burdening them with debt to members and financial institutions.
The assembly submitted four proposals: postpone imports of skimmed milk powder for 2025 until all Thai raw milk is purchased; accelerate a memorandum of understanding (MOU) for 2025–2026 milk purchases; extend the school milk program to lower secondary education and increase it to 365 days per year; speed up resolution of milk payment arrears to farmers; and revise labeling standards to distinguish products made from fresh cow's milk from those made from imported milk powder.
At 9:00 a.m., protesters occupied Pitsanulok Road in front of Government House Gate 4, requiring police to redirect traffic from the Chaloem Mueang Ruamchasai intersection to the Sam Misakwan intersection. The group then moved to Gate 5 opposite the Ministry of Education to await submission of their letter to the Prime Minister's representatives.
At 10:00 a.m., Pansak Jareun, director of the Government House Citizen Service Center, along with other officials, invited six protest representatives and officials from the Food and Drug Administration, Ministry of Commerce, and Ministry of Agriculture to discuss the group's demands. By 10:30 a.m., Deputy Ministers Prasert Chantaruangthong (Education), Nikom Somklaeng (Social Development and Human Security), and Deputy Ministers Watchrapol Khaokhram and Piyaratchai Tiyapairat (both Agriculture) accepted the petition on behalf of the government, with Watchrapol assuring farmers that the government would urgently address their concerns.
