The parliament voted to reject the opposition's proposal to establish a special committee to resolve the agricultural product price crisis, instead deciding to refer the matter to the Commerce Committee. "Prit and Laofang" emphasized the necessity of forming the committee, pointing out that it is an urgent issue the government has yet to address adequately, involving multiple ministries and committees.
On 29 April 2026, Mr. Prit Watcharasinthu and Mr. Laofang Bundittherdsakul, party-list MPs from the Move Forward Party, together with representatives from other opposition parties, held a press conference at the parliament building to propose establishing a special committee to investigate the government and resolve the agricultural product price problems.
Mr. Prit said the parliament began debating this motion last week, with about 60 speakers participating due to the issue's importance to the public. He, representing the opposition coalition, reaffirmed their whip's decision that the House of Representatives should vote to establish a special committee on this matter rather than merely forwarding it to an existing standing committee. He cited three key reasons.
First, the agricultural product price problem is urgent, as prices for many crops such as rice, mangoes, and coconuts have fallen, compounded by impacts from the Middle East war causing cost increases in fertilizers and transportation.
Second, the opposition agrees that the government's approach to addressing agricultural product issues is still off-target. For example, in the past two days, the Ministry of Commerce's role in a durian live sale caused market confusion after the Deputy Prime Minister and Commerce Minister appeared in promotional clips suggesting the sale of one million premium-grade durians at 100 baht each. Although the live sale did not happen as suggested, the ministry's inconsistent explanations caused unnecessary concern among farmers. Additionally, the ministry's delayed measures for other crops have raised public questions about its prioritization of problems.
Finally, he stressed the necessity of establishing a special committee rather than referring the issue to any single standing committee because agricultural product pricing involves multiple standing committees. Previously, before rule changes last term, the House had a standing committee specifically addressing agricultural product pricing. The government also manages affairs through multiple clusters, acknowledging the cross-ministry nature of such problems. Therefore, he believes a special committee must be formed immediately rather than waiting one to two weeks to set up and begin work with an existing standing committee.
Mr. Laofang, the motion's proposer, highlighted three points. First, farmers are truly suffering, especially in rural areas, across all agricultural products. Many have already faced losses or bankruptcy, and others nearing harvest see no sign of price improvement, which is alarming.
Second, he emphasized that the current agricultural product price problem involves at least seven ministries: pricing is under the Ministry of Commerce; processing under the Ministry of Industry; fertilizers, pesticides, and standards under the Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives; fuel and transport under the Ministry of Energy; nominee suppression under the Ministry of Interior and the Prime Minister's Office, though promised measures have not been implemented; and relief measures under the Ministry of Finance. Given these multiple ministries' roles, a special committee is necessary rather than referring the issue to any single standing committee.
Lastly, forming a special committee would bring together all stakeholders—including government, parliament, relevant agencies, private sector, academia, and especially farmers—to collaborate on solutions. He stressed the need to address the plight of those already ruined, helping them survive and have resources for the next planting season, while urgently preparing for the upcoming harvest season that shows no sign of price improvement. He called for clarity today, warning that failing to form the special committee risks delaying solutions for the people further.
Following the press conference, the House of Representatives voted 271 to 181 against establishing a special committee to investigate the government on agricultural product price issues, instead deciding to refer the matter to the Standing Committee on Commerce and Intellectual Property.