“Suriya” led two deputy ministers and entered the Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives at the auspicious time of 9 a.m. He said he was not nervous but determined to work, promising a "debt moratorium for farmers" and establishing a war room to launch six urgent measures to respond to the Middle East situation.
On 8 Apr 2026 GMT+7, Mr. Suriya Juangroongruangkit, Minister of Agriculture and Cooperatives, along with two deputy ministers, Mr. Watcharapol Khawkhum and Ms. Piyarat Tiyapairat, entered the ministry at 9 a.m. to commence their duties and pay respects to the ministry’s sacred objects. These included worship of Phra Phum Chai Mongkol, Thao Wessuwan, the ancestral shrine, and Phra Pirun with Naga, both outside and inside the ministry building, for good fortune before starting work. They were welcomed by executives, civil servants, and staff, participated in a group photo with the permanent secretary and senior executives in front of the ministry, and delivered policy directives.
Following that, the Minister chaired a senior management meeting of the Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives to deliver policies and operational directions. He announced the establishment of a war room to urgently resolve farmers' problems, outlining six measures: addressing the Middle East situation by adjusting fertilizer usage proportions and promoting fertilizer application based on soil analysis and crop needs; resolving fuel issues specifically for agricultural product transport vehicles; using “Agricultural Ambassadors” to find alternative markets for product distribution; accelerating management of agricultural exports and domestic consumption, including resolving bottlenecks in fruit distribution and developing traceability systems; managing water resources for agriculture and the public; managing soil and land, creating new-generation Smart Farmers, and tackling PM 2.5 pollution with systematic monitoring and resolution. All agencies must report continuously and ensure tangible results.
The five main policies to be promoted include elevating production with technology and innovation, increasing farmers’ incomes, developing farmers’ potential, market-driven production, and sustainable water resource management across the system.
Mr. Suriya stated he was not nervous but fully committed to his work. He emphasized that the Ministry of Agriculture is vital to farmers, who are the grassroots of the country. Although he has never previously overseen the ministry, he is confident based on his management experience.
Regarding the fertilizer shortage, he said discussions were held yesterday with Russia, which has strong production capacity, and additional negotiations will take place during the Songkran festival. Initially, about 2 million tons may be imported, marking considerable progress. Furthermore, on 9 Apr, there will be a joint meeting with fertilizer importers to discuss collaborative solutions. Concerning the “farmer debt moratorium,” a policy previously campaigned on by the Pheu Thai Party, he confirmed it will definitely be implemented. He is confident all the policies mentioned today can be accomplished.