Chiang Mai: The Ministry of Commerce, through the Department of Internal Trade, has intervened in the onion market by facilitating the purchase of 11,000 tons directly from farmers in Chiang Mai Province. This initiative aims to stabilize the market and ensure farmers receive fair prices at the beginning of the onion harvest season.
According to Thai News Agency, Mr. Witthayakorn Maneenet, Director-General of the Department of Internal Trade, led a group of entrepreneurs to purchase onions directly from the growers. He revealed that the Minister of Commerce, Mr. Pichai Naripthaphan, instructed the department to proactively manage agricultural product prices before the harvest season. This strategy is designed to prevent market glut and mitigate the influence of middlemen on pricing.
The Department of Internal Trade coordinated with 19 buyers, including wholesalers, retailers, and cold storage operators, to secure the purchase directly from local cooperative groups. The volume purchased, totaling 11,000 tons, is aimed at setting a market-leading price that benefits farmers.
In Chiang Mai, onion farmers have organized into a cooperative, led by Mr. Sap Inthanon, Chairman of the Kad Phatthana Onion Growers Cooperative, to streamline the sale of their produce. With favorable weather conditions contributing to increased production, Chiang Mai has become the largest onion-producing area in the country, accounting for approximately 22,000 tons of the national output.
Mr. Witthayakorn noted the high quality of this year's onion crop due to the cold weather and encouraged farmers to select market-desirable varieties to potentially increase yields in the future. The current price of onions is 12 baht per kilogram, which satisfies the farmers financially. He hopes that the yield can reach 5,000-6,000 kg per rai with the right variety choices, improving the prospects for local farmers.