Korn leads the new generation of the Democrat Party in studying solutions to the crisis of coconut prices falling to 2 baht, calling for serious structural reforms rather than merely propping up prices as a short-term fix to the problem.
On 3 Mar 2026 GMT+7, Mr. Korn Jatikavanich, Deputy Leader of the Democrat Party, posted on Facebook about advancing studies to find a new economic structure for the future of Thai farmers. He led the party's younger members to visit the Aromatic Farm community enterprise to monitor the situation of "aromatic coconuts" after discovering that farm-gate prices sometimes dropped to only 2–3 baht per fruit, while the average cost was 5–6 baht. This contrasts with the export value, which continued to grow and reached nearly 28 billion baht in 2023.
"This is not a problem of products being unsellable but a problem of the 'value distribution structure' within the industry supply chain. Although Thai coconuts still have high potential, especially in the premium and health markets expected to expand in 2024–2025, bargaining power remains concentrated in the midstream of the chain. Meanwhile, farmers sell individually, causing price volatility to always affect the origin first. The Democrat Party sees that solving this issue requires more than just short-term price support measures; it must be" "a serious structural reform." Mr. Korn also stated,
The Aromatic Farm model reflects a systemic answer through three main pillars: People, Planet, and Profit, with "Sustainability" at its core. It includes mechanisms to purchase coconuts from members at fair prices, has its own marketing channels, and upgrades quality standards and professional management.
Mr. Korn emphasized that this approach helps reduce long-term vulnerability rather than just addressing short-term problems. We can learn from foreign examples like Fonterra, which shows that when farmers unite and hold shares within their value chain, the entire industry becomes stronger and more sustainably competitive. He proposed key measures, including
✅ Supporting the formation of farmer groups to increase bargaining power,
✅ Establishing transparent and fair competition frameworks,
✅ Regulating middlemen to prevent exploitation of producers,
✅ Creating an agricultural carbon credit system accessible directly to farmers.
Mr. Korn also warned that if the situation of "2-baht coconuts" continues, the first consequence will be farmers incurring losses, lacking capital to maintain trees and soil, and ultimately a decline in the country's production. The Democrat Party believes Thai coconuts should not be just a volatile agricultural commodity but must develop into a "green industry" that provides long-term security for Thai farmers. It is time for us to boldly implement structural reforms for the future of farmers across the country.