Profile of Rapeepat Chantrasrivong, a career official of the Ministry of Agriculture, from Director-General of the Department of Agriculture to the new Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives after Cabinet approval of his appointment.
On 21 July, reporters reported that following a Cabinet meeting, Mr. Rapeepat Chantrasrivong, Director-General of the Department of Agriculture, was appointed as the new Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives. Mr. Winarot Sapsongsuk, the current Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Agriculture, is scheduled to retire on 30 September 2026 (read more:Cabinet appoints Rapeepat Chantrasrivong, Director-General of the Department of Agriculture, as the new Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Agriculture.)
Mr. Rapeepat Chantrasrivong, Director-General of the Department of Agriculture and the incoming Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Agriculture, holds a master's degree in Public Administration (MAP) from Chaminade University of Honolulu, Hawaii, USA, and a bachelor's degree in Economics from the University of the Thai Chamber of Commerce (Distinguished Alumni Award, 2019).
Career history
2005 - 2009: Agricultural Counselor at the Royal Thai Embassy in Washington, D.C.
2009 - 2012: Agricultural Attaché at the Royal Thai Embassy in Washington, D.C.
2012 - 2014: Agricultural Attaché in Rome and Permanent Representative of Thailand to the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO/United Nations).
2014 - 2016: Assistant Secretary to the Cabinet
2016 - 2019: Assistant Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives
2019 - 2020: Secretary-General of the Office of Agricultural Economics
2020 - 2022: Deputy Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives
2022 - Present: Director-General of the Department of Agriculture
Effective 1 October 2026: Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives
Royal decorations received
2026: Knight Grand Cordon (Special Class) of the Order of the White Elephant
2012: Companion (Third Class) of the Order of the Crown of Thailand
2015: Knight Grand Cross (First Class) of the Order of the White Elephant
2020: Knight Grand Cordon (Special Class) of the Order of the Crown of Thailand
Other special assignments
Executive Committee Member of the Royal Project Foundation (2021 - Present); President of the Soil and Fertilizer Association of Thailand, 21st term (20th term: 2021-2022, 2023 - Present); Member of the Committee for the Promotion of Science, Research, and Innovation, Ministry of Higher Education, Science, Research and Innovation (2022 - 2023); Member of the Steering Committee and Executive Committee for the Advanced Agricultural Science Program (2021 - Present).
Additional reports indicate that Mr. Rapeepat is a seasoned official of the Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives, recognized publicly as the Director-General of the Department of Agriculture, which manages the World Horticultural Exposition projects for 2026 and 2029. Previously, he faced complaints concerning the inspection of BY2 substances in exported durians during the tenure of Minister Narumon Pinyosinwat, following allegations from some exporters about the testing process. The Ministry established a fact-finding committee, and Mr. Rapeepat was temporarily reassigned during the investigation. Subsequently, after due process, he resumed his role as Director-General and was eventually appointed as Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives.