Bangkok: Supajee Suthamphan, the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Commerce, has highlighted the ongoing challenges facing Thailand's agricultural sector, particularly in relation to product management and policy communication. She emphasized the necessity of addressing these issues across the entire supply chain to achieve effective solutions.
According to Thai News Agency, Supajee stressed that these problems have been accumulating over many years, necessitating a comprehensive strategy that spans production planning, variety development, quality improvement, cost reduction, processing, and market creation.
Supajee acknowledged that previous communication efforts concerning rice policy have sometimes left farmers uncertain about the direction of government policy, despite collaboration between the Ministry of Commerce and the Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives under the National Rice Policy Council (NRPC). Preparations are underway to enhance communication strategies, ensuring a unified approach that clarifies government policy for farmers.
Emphasizing the need for a systemic solution, Supajee pointed out that addressing just one aspect of the supply chain is inadequate. She cited the example of rice, a crucial economic crop in Thailand, where the Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives manages production aspects, while the Ministry of Commerce handles marketing and export. Both ministries coordinate under the National Rice Policy and Management Committee (NRPMC) to synchronize policy implementation from production to market.
Supajee admitted that past policy communication might have led to confusion due to differing concepts promoted by the ministries, such as "premium rice" and "low-carbon rice." Despite these differences, the ministries are collaborating within the NRPC framework. The communication strategy will be adjusted to help farmers understand the cohesive policy direction and the specific roles of each government agency.
The "low-carbon rice" initiative, part of the "Refined Rice" concept, focuses on reducing greenhouse gas emissions and enhancing product quality to align with global trends for environmentally friendly products. While the Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives spearheads production, the Ministry of Commerce focuses on adding value, marketing, and exporting.
Supajee highlighted joint efforts to develop rice-farming communities under the NRPC framework, providing support in knowledge, cost reduction, quality improvement, and market linkages. These initiatives aim to meet domestic and international consumer demand, ensuring stable long-term income for farmers. Moving forward, Supajee emphasized the importance of aligning communication with policy implementation to assure farmers of the unified goals of the Ministry of Commerce and the Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives, ultimately enhancing the competitiveness of Thai agricultural products in the global market.