Chanthaburi: The Prime Minister visited Chanthaburi Province to cut durians for show and engage with local fruit farmers, addressing concerns over fluctuating product prices. The visit aimed to tackle issues of product standards and expedite solutions for export documentation and labor problems. The Prime Minister emphasized the government's commitment to reducing border inspection times and facilitating smoother export processes.
According to Thai News Agency, Prime Minister Ms. Paethongtarn Shinawatra, accompanied by Ms. Jiraporn Sindhuphrai, Minister to the Prime Minister's Office, and Mr. Suchart Chomklin, Deputy Minister of Commerce, engaged with fruit farmers and buyers in the eastern region at Suan Rak Tawan, Chanthaburi Province. The visit focused on addressing production costs, yields, and government assistance strategies, while observing a live durian sale by Young Smart Farmers.
Members of Parliament from Chanthaburi and Trat provinces, representing the Prachachon Party, were present to convey farmers' concerns. These included Ms. Yanyathicha Buaphuan, Mr. Warayut Thongsuk, and Mr. Sakdinai Numnoo. The Prime Minister met with farmers and entrepreneurs, receiving a briefing on the agricultural product situation from Mr. Montisit Paisalthanawat, Governor of Chanthaburi Province, and discussed marketing challenges, especially for durian, a significant export fruit.
Representatives of Thai durian exporters urged government support for exports and proposed establishing labs in provinces like Chanthaburi to facilitate speedy fund openings. They also suggested enlisting influencers such as BLACKPINK's Lisa for product promotion.
During the discussions, Ms. Paethongtarn emphasized quality control measures for durian and addressed issues affecting mangosteen growers, such as price fluctuations and lengthy inspection times. MP Ms. Yannicha proposed extending working hours for foreign workers and resolving crop disturbances caused by wild elephants.
The Prime Minister expressed his commitment to resolving farmers' issues, particularly regarding product pricing and quality, by collaborating with the Ministry of Agriculture and the private sector. He highlighted the importance of research and development to enhance product competitiveness and outlined strategies to expedite customs processes and implement one-stop services for faster delivery.
Furthermore, the government plans to introduce a law to regulate fruit quality, with a team assigned to oversee quality standards. Addressing labor regulations, the Ministry of Interior will explore feasible solutions, while the issue of wild elephants will be treated as a priority due to safety concerns.
The Prime Minister's visit included an exhibition of fruit production in Chanthaburi and the Eastern region, where he planted a durian tree as a souvenir and observed agricultural technology demonstrations. The event concluded with a durian-cutting demonstration by the Prime Minister, who humorously compared carrying durians to carrying a child.