Akrasankiri urged the government to use the increased central budget to support farmers, pressing for urgent disbursement of aid to rice farmers and sugarcane growers after a long wait, fearing a lack of working capital could impact the next planting season. During field visits, locals repeatedly asked about the aid.
On 7 Sep 2026 GMT+7, Akrasankiri Lohveera, MP for Chaiyaphum from the Kla Party, debated Section 6 of the 2027 fiscal year budget bill concerning the central budget expenditure. He highlighted farmers' hardships and called on the government to use the increased budget to comprehensively support and compensate the public.
Akrasankiri stated that the special committee proposed raising the central budget from about 693 billion baht to over 699 billion baht, an increase of more than 6 billion baht, mostly allocated as emergency or contingency reserves.
The Chaiyaphum MP from the Kla Party said if the House approves the central budget increase, the Prime Minister will have more funds available. He urged the committee and government to consider using this to address farmers' problems, especially rice farmers and sugarcane growers awaiting government aid.
“If this chamber approves an increase of over 6 billion baht, the central budget will rise to more than 699 billion baht. I want this to be used to help farmers,” Akrasankiri said.
He noted that when Lieutenant Colonel Thammanat Prompao was Deputy Prime Minister overseeing the Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives, he pushed measures to assist rice farmers, such as 1,000 baht per rai for up to 10 rai for rainy-season rice, including aid for off-season rice. Farmers are still waiting for such support.
Meanwhile, sugarcane growers await the fresh-cutting aid, crucial for them. The government has instructed provincial governors, village heads, and relevant agencies to oversee preventing farmers from burning sugarcane fields, but farmers also need financial aid as working capital for planting.
Akrasankiri said this aid is essential for farmers' livelihoods and occupations. Without sufficient working capital, it could affect planting in the next season.
“Whether rice farmers or sugarcane growers, if they lack this money to circulate, I fear it will impact planting in subsequent seasons,” Akrasankiri said.
He also revealed that whenever he visits Chaiyaphum, village heads and residents frequently ask and press about the progress of government assistance. He told them he would raise these concerns in parliament.
“Every week when I return to Chaiyaphum, to my district, village heads and residents keep asking and pressing. I tell them I will follow up in parliament. Today, I bring their voices to speak in Section 6,” Akrasankiri said.
Finally, Akrasankiri urged the government that if the parliament approves the increased central budget, it should promptly allocate funds to assist and compensate farmers, as this ongoing distress is a direct concern of the local people and affects their livelihoods and future planting seasons.