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The Commerce Ministry has outlined a series of measures to support rice farmers by lowering costs, improving productivity and expanding market access.

Speaking at the annual meeting of the Thai Agriculturists Association on Sunday, Commerce Minister Suphajee Suthumpun said rice growers are facing multiple pressures affecting both output and income, making closer coordination across the supply chain essential.

She said the government will adopt an integrated strategy covering production, processing and marketing to help farmers navigate global economic uncertainty.

The ministry is also promoting a market-driven purchasing approach to absorb excess supply and stabilise prices during peak harvest periods.

Ms Suphajee said real-time rice dashboards will be introduced to track domestic supply and demand, enabling more accurate production and sales planning.

The ministry is also working with state agencies and buyers to ensure timely paddy purchases, while expanding paddy fairs to increase competition and allow farmers to sell directly to buyers.

She added the Agriculture Ministry will focus on improving rice varieties and boosting yields. Thai farmers produce an average of 400–700 kilogrammes per rai, compared with up to 1,500kg in some competing countries.

Better seeds, improved soil and fertiliser management, and stronger technical support are expected to reduce costs and raise productivity over the long term. To increase value, the government plans to expand processing capacity and product development.

The National Rice Policy and Management Committee has approved more than 200 community projects providing access to milling machines, dryers, vacuum packaging and branding support.

Ms Suphajee said processing should go beyond milled rice to higher-value products, enabling farmers to delay sales and avoid price drops during periods of oversupply.

Thailand is targeting rice exports of more than seven million tonnes this year, supported by overseas promotions and government-to-government deals despite global uncertainty.

Wittayakorn Maneenate, director-general of the Department of Internal Trade, said a fertiliser discount scheme offering reductions of up to 300 baht per sack will begin today, starting at 30 locations before it is expanded nationwide.

Published Date: April 27, 2026