Thai PM collects royal rice seeds, vows drought support
Thai PM Anutin collected royal rice seeds after the Royal Ploughing Ceremony and pledged government drought relief measures, including coordinated water management and additional water sources for farmers facing dry conditions expected late
BANGKOK — 13 May 2026, Thai Prime Minister and Interior Minister Anutin Charnvirakul joined members of the public in collecting royal rice seeds after the Royal Ploughing Ceremony, saying the seeds would be planted in his own rice field while assuring farmers the government had measures in place to address expected drought conditions this year.
After the annual Royal Ploughing Ceremony, Anutin walked to a demonstration rice field where royal rice seeds had been scattered and joined members of the public in gathering the seeds into prepared bags.
The prime minister said it was his first time collecting the royal rice seeds, adding that he had never previously had the opportunity to take part in the activity despite attending the ceremony in earlier years.
When asked by reporters what he planned to do with the seeds, Anutin initially declined to answer and continued collecting rice grains before later confirming that he owned rice fields and intended to plant the seeds there.
"I do," he replied when asked whether he had his own rice fields, adding that he would reveal later where the seeds would be planted once they begin to grow.
Anutin later posed for photographs with award-winning farmers and outstanding agriculturalists recognised during the ceremony.
Asked about government preparations for possible drought conditions this year, the prime minister said authorities had already coordinated water management plans through the Office of the National Water Resources, the Royal Irrigation Department and other agencies to secure water supplies for farmers, including groundwater sources.
He added that the Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation and the Department of Public Works and Town & Country Planning would also work together to address drought-related problems, following weather forecasts indicating dry conditions later this year.
Anutin said the government aimed to maximise water storage and secure additional water sources to minimise the impact on farmers.
During the event, some members of the public approached the prime minister to greet him and jokingly asked in the Isaan dialect whether he was a "real Isaan person or a fake one", to which Anutin laughed and replied: "A fake Isaan."
Some attendees also asked whether they would receive a promised 1,000-baht cash handout at the end of the month, although the prime minister did not respond to the question.
