Government Counters Economic Criticism as Crop Prices Surge
Government spokesperson Ekkapap Piaphiwet defended the economy against criticism, citing sharp year-on-year increases in key crop prices — cassava up 81%, rubber up 54%, and rice up 40% — which have boosted farmer incomes. He acknowledged persistent high living costs from global energy prices but argued assessments must balance both income and expenditure. The government is pursuing parallel policies to raise household earnings through biofuel demand and rooftop solar, while cutting costs via electricity price caps and fuel tax reductions.
On November 7, 2026, Prime Minister's Office spokesperson Ekkapap Piaphiwet revealed that overall prices of major agricultural commodities have recently risen from the same period last year across multiple items, a positive factor for farm household incomes at a time when the public still faces pressure from global energy prices and living costs.
However, some critics argue that improved farm prices are still insufficient to offset the public's cost-of-living burden. The government welcomes all views, but insists economic assessment must weigh both income and expenditure, not cherry-pick figures to summarize the whole picture.
Ekkapap cited latest data showing cassava in October 2026 at 3.85 baht per kilogram, up from 2.13 baht a year earlier — an 80.75% increase. RSS3 rubber sheet stood at 82.14 baht per kilogram, up 53.79% from 53.41 baht. Paddy rice at 15% moisture reached 9,073 baht per ton, up roughly 40% from 6,471 baht, while Hom Mali paddy at 15% moisture hit 17,853 baht per ton, a 12% rise from 15,931 baht.
Animal feed corn at 14.5% moisture fetched 9.36 baht per kilogram, up 6% from 8.83 baht, while whole oil palm fruit rose 10.32% to 8.02 baht per kilogram from 7.27 baht.
"The government does not deny the public still bears a cost-of-living burden, especially volatile energy prices tracking global markets. But to claim farm prices are poor or that farmers gain no benefit ignores the latest data — many commodities have clearly risen, and these facts must be considered together," Ekkapap said.
He acknowledged higher farm prices alone cannot fully erase living-cost pressures for all groups, so the government is pursuing dual-track measures to raise incomes and cut expenses. These include capping the first 200 units of electricity at 3 baht per unit to directly reduce household bills.
Meanwhile, the People's Solar Project will let households generate their own power, lower bills, and sell surplus back to the grid — turning consumers into producers with extra income from their rooftops.
Excise tax cuts on E20 and B20 fuels create a near-10-baht-per-litre price gap versus base petrol, encouraging biofuel use, cutting fuel costs, and reducing future oil imports. This links back to agriculture directly: higher E20 and B20 consumption drives demand for sugarcane, cassava, and oil palm — feedstocks for ethanol and biodiesel — creating new markets beyond traditional domestic consumption and exports.
"The aim is not to force all prices down against global markets, but to raise people's incomes while lowering essential spending — electricity must become cheaper, energy must offer choices," Ekkapap concluded.
