The 2570 Budget Committee exposed numerous suspicious activities in the Farmer Rehabilitation Fund, finding incorrect income and expense records and an inability to reconcile the fund's remaining balance. They were shocked to discover phantom farmer debt accounts. MP Chada urged suspending the budget allocation for now.
On 14 July 2026 at the Parliament, the Special Committee on the 2570 Fiscal Year Budget Bill convened. Mr. Anurak Jurimas, MP for Roi Et from the Bhumjaithai Party and Deputy Committee Chairman, chaired the meeting to review the Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives’ budget, focusing on inquiries into the Farmer Rehabilitation and Development Fund, which faces audit issues.
Mr. Chaiwat Sathawornvichit, committee member, questioned whether the Farmer Rehabilitation and Development Fund deserves the 1.089 billion baht 2570 budget. He highlighted numerous accounting discrepancies, such as recording various income and expenses in the same bank account incorrectly, and submission of inaccurate income and expense registers. The fund’s bank balances could not be verified, and the Office of the Auditor General (OAG) could not confirm their accuracy. Regarding 8.482 billion baht in farmer debt accounts, only 708 million baht in documentation could be verified; the remaining 7.773 billion baht lacked evidence. The fund failed to provide end-period debtor balances for verification.
Mr. Chaiwat continued that the OAG found several additional issues, including discrepancies between outstanding debt reports and accounting records. In some cases, farmer debtors do not actually exist, making it impossible to confirm if the debts and expenses were accurately recorded. The existence of phantom debtors is a serious problem. Moreover, there were 12 retroactive accounting corrections spanning 10 years. Transfers totaling 1.262 billion baht came from unknown sources and are under investigation. The audit report describes severe management problems, likening it to a chaotic marketplace where incoming and outgoing funds are untraceable. Some farmers listed do not actually exist. The committee must consider whether this organization should continue operating. Fund balances dropped drastically from 613 million baht in 2026 to an estimated 11.6 million baht in 2572 (2029). The reasons for these losses remain unclear.
Meanwhile, MP Chada Thaiset, party-list MP for Bhumjaithai and committee member, proposed suspending the budget consideration for the Farmer Rehabilitation and Development Fund under the Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives. Citing OAG findings of wrongdoing without any legal prosecution, he argued the budget should be suspended to protect the minister. While politicians are reluctant, the committee has the authority and must act; failure to do so would be neglect. He stressed that the fund was initially established with tens of billions of baht, yet problems persist without clear figures. The fund has become a vehicle for vested interests bargaining with the government rather than genuinely rehabilitating farmers, often using protests for leverage. Past inaction is no longer acceptable; the wrongdoers must be held accountable.
MP Boonlue Prasertsopha, Ratchaburi MP from Bhumjaithai and committee member, agreed with MP Chada, saying the farmers’ protests are unproductive and merely seek to divert the rehabilitation fund money. He urged the committee to suspend the budget.
Ms. Wannee Mahaniranon, Secretary-General of the Farmer Rehabilitation and Development Fund Office, acknowledged the accounting report’s issues, attributing them to data and management shortcomings rather than corruption. Since the fund’s establishment, it has helped alleviate farmer debt starting in 2006 by purchasing debts and providing loans to groups. The fund serves 40,000 farmers with over 13,000 projects, has 81 provincial branches and one headquarters. Initially, the fund lacked a comprehensive financial and accounting system across branches, causing problems. Improvements began in 2021 and were implemented in 2022, enabling detailed transaction records exceeding 200,000 entries. From 2022 onwards, verifiable data exists, but over 200,000 entries still require reconciliation. The OAG currently provides oversight and guidance. By September, significant progress is expected in resolving these issues. She admitted management problems but denied any fraud.
