Bangkok: Supajee clarified that the private sector's signing of an MOU to import 1 million tons of GMO corn from the United States will not affect Thai farmers. She pointed out that there are measures in place to protect prices, the import limit will not exceed the established threshold, and no additional imports have been ordered.
According to Thai News Agency, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Commerce, Supachie Suthamphan, addressed concerns and complaints from corn farmers to the Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives regarding the planned import of 1 million tons of GMO corn from the United States. She stated that there was no cause for concern, explaining that recent demand for animal feed corn exceeded 20 million tons, while domestic production only reached approximately 9 million tons, falling short of 5 million tons. This resulted in a shortage of about 4 million tons within the country, necessitating the use of substitute materials such as broken rice, rice bran, and cassava chips, as well as imports from ASEAN and neighboring countries with varying regulations.
Currently, imports from Cambodia and Myanmar have decreased due to controls on burning, totaling approximately 1.5 million tons. Another 1 million tons will be imported under the WTO framework. Regarding the memorandum of understanding (MOU) signed with a Thai private company in the United States for 1 million tons, it was not a purchase agreement but rather an alternative measure, stipulating that imports would only be necessary if shortages arose. She emphasized that this does not constitute an increase in imports but is within the WTO framework, so there is no need to worry.