Lawmaker Challenges Commerce Minister Over Fruit Farmer Relief Plan
A Democratic Party MP challenged the Commerce Minister over fruit-farming relief, questioning whether the government has a proactive plan to prevent produce oversupply or merely reacts after farmers face losses during harvest season.
On July 13, Chatchon Detchdetcho, a Democratic Party MP responsible for the southern region, addressed Deputy Prime Minister and Commerce Minister Supachee Suthammaphand regarding relief measures for fruit farmers as the south enters harvest season. He questioned whether the government has a proactive strategy to handle oversupply of produce, rather than reacting after problems emerge, which leaves farmers with reduced income and mounting debt.
Chatchon urged the Commerce Ministry to coordinate with transport companies, including Thailand Post and private carriers, and to provide packaging support for farmers as the fruit season approaches. He also criticized past government efforts, suggesting the minister lacks genuine understanding of agricultural issues. He cited previous failures, such as when the government set unrealistic targets for promoting frozen durian sales at 100 baht per fruit while market prices were around 100 baht per kilogram, and inadequate responses to shrimp and coconut price crises.
When asked if his remarks signaled a motion of no-confidence against Supachee, Chatchon stated he wanted to first assess her actual performance. He noted that despite her claims of focusing on work rather than social media, she has a large following. He also suggested that another party colleague, Chulee Noomkaew, might raise similar concerns about the minister's absence from media attention.
