Ayrin Phanrit criticized the agriculture minister for focusing on politically motivated civil servant transfers more than addressing farmers' livelihood and hardship issues. She pointed out that requiring civil servants to perform duties amid suspicion undermines their morale.
21 Jul 2026 GMT+7 Ayrin Phanrit Deputy spokesperson of the Kla Tham Party and former spokesperson for the Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives, commented on the issue of high-level civil servant transfers within the Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives. She said that society expects the agriculture minister at this time to urgently solve farmers' hardships—including crop prices, production costs, water, and debt—rather than the ministry being remembered for personnel transfers perceived as serving financial interests instead of work priorities.
"The bureaucracy should not be manipulated as a political arena. Transfers should follow good governance principles, expertise, and work continuity, since each department director has specialized knowledge. Changes inevitably affect policy implementation and civil servant morale," she said.
Ayrin added that from her experience as a former ministry spokesperson, she has seen farmers continually waiting for assistance. If dedicated and honest civil servants must work amid suspicion, it will undermine their morale and negatively impact the bureaucracy's long-term effectiveness.
"Today, farmers are not waiting to see who becomes director but are watching to see what achievements the minister will deliver to improve their lives. If the ministry’s image remains focused on transfers rather than livelihood solutions, society has the right to question whether the minister has properly prioritized ministry management and addressing farmers' problems."