Commerce Minister Pichai Naripthaphan is facing strong criticism from opposition parties and agricultural advocates following his suggestion that rice farmers switch to cultivating bananas for export to Japan, arguing it would yield higher profits than rice.
Pol Lt-Gen Piya Tavichai, spokesperson for the opposition Palang Pracharath Party, condemned the minister’s remarks, calling them a reflection of his lack of understanding of the challenges faced by rice farmers. Farmers have reported a sharp decline in rice prices, with second-crop harvests dropping from approximately 10,000 baht per tonne to around 8,000 baht per tonne—below production costs.
The government’s current subsidy program, which provides 1,000 baht per 0.16 hectares up to a maximum of 1.6 hectares per household, is insufficient, Piya argued. He urged the administration to increase the support to 20,000 baht to cover 3.2 hectares, a policy similar to that of the previous Prayut government.
Piya also criticized the minister for being detached from the realities of farming. He pointed out that paddy fields, often flooded, are unsuitable for banana cultivation, and banana plants take over a year to bear fruit. “What will farmers eat while waiting for their banana crops?” he questioned.
Thai Pakdee Party Chairman Warong Dechgitvigrom also weighed in, questioning why rice farmers are struggling with lower prices despite rising costs of milled rice on the domestic market. He suggested that the discrepancy indicates underlying issues within the rice production system and asked who is benefiting from the price gap.
