Thamanat outlines 9 policies to make Thailand a global agriculture, and food hub

Minister of Agriculture and Cooperatives Thamanat Prompow announced the policies during a seminar to promote Thailand as a global agriculture and food hub. It is one of Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin’s eight “Ignite Thailand” visions. The aim is to make Thailand a centre for agriculture and food globally, recognising agriculture and food as crucial economic foundations of the country.

Thamanat said the government aims to triple the net income of farmers within four years, by 2027. Thailand's geographical advantages and suitable climate make it highly competitive to produce a wide range of agricultural products year-round. With these strengths, the government is confident of achieving this goal, Thamanat said.

"Success stories in agriculture, such as rubber and rice, demonstrate that not only are prices favourable but also the quality of the produce is high. This is partly due to government officials working together to enforce laws against illegal products,” he said.

Besides good prices, high-quality agricultural products result from precision farming, the use of technology like soil testing and appropriate fertilizer application, and the cultivation of improved crop varieties through continuous research and development efforts, he said.

Furthermore, increasing the area of irrigated land, implementing effective water management systems, addressing flood and drought issues, ensuring a comprehensive agricultural market management system, developing appropriate agricultural infrastructure, and tackling PM2.5 pollution from agricultural activities were all crucial aspects of achieving agricultural success, he added.

“When it comes to food goals, Thailand is abundantly rich with excellent agricultural raw materials, renowned food products, and numerous stories that can elevate its status further,” he said. “For instance, collaborating with Michelin Guide and expanding Thai restaurants globally, advancing food through innovation, targeting consumer groups, and exploring new markets such as producing health foods, medical foods, and plant-based foods,” he added.

With the continuous growth of the food industry, Thailand is confident in its full potential, as the saying goes, “In the water, there are fish; in the fields, there is rice". The key goal is to ensure "money in the pocket”, he said.

The nine key policies are:

- Land management for agricultural use of farmers
- Digital transformation of agricultural data and farmer plots, along with crop insurance
- Promoting soil fertility restoration
- Water management and governance
- Promoting high-value agricultural products
- Strengthening farmers and agricultural institutions
- Promoting agri-tourism
- Environmental change initiatives
- Collaborative research and work within various frameworks

"To make Thailand a global centre for agriculture and food, it is imperative to enhance both production and market capabilities. The Ministry of Agriculture's role, specifically in the production [supply-side] aspect, is crucial as it serves as the engine driving agricultural products to higher levels. This includes measures to strengthen farmers and individuals within the agricultural sector," Thamanat said.