The government is advancing the upgrade of Cooperative Distribution Centers (CDC) into regional hubs, preparing a 500 million baht budget to enhance warehouses and refrigerated trucks. It is also partnering with the transport sector to help farmers distribute their products, aiming to reach 5 billion baht in transaction value by year-end.
On 25 September 2026, Second Lieutenant Phatdarasmit Thongsaluaykorn, Deputy Spokesperson of the Prime Minister’s Office, revealed that the government, through the Department of Cooperative Promotion under the Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives, is advancing the upgrade of CDCs to become regional “hubs,” with one to two centers per region. This initiative will be actively pursued in the 2027 fiscal year to serve as central points for collecting and distributing cooperative products, linking produce from various areas more quickly to markets and consumers, especially seasonal fruits, while reducing damage during transportation.
For the 2027 fiscal year, the Department of Cooperative Promotion plans to allocate over 500 million baht from the Cooperative Development Fund at interest rates of 1–3% for capable cooperatives. These funds will be used to develop and expand CDC infrastructure, including buildings, collection and quality control warehouses, as well as to procure trucks, refrigerated trucks, and forklifts to maintain product quality and reduce damage along the entire supply chain from origin to market.
Additionally, the Department is preparing to sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Land Transport Association of Thailand to seek cooperation for transporting cooperative goods at special rates. This will enhance the efficiency of product distribution and handle periods when large volumes of produce enter the market simultaneously. Meanwhile, discussions are planned with the Ministry of Commerce to select premium-grade cooperative products that meet market demand and expand opportunities to international markets.
Furthermore, the Department of Cooperative Promotion plans to organize cooperative network linkage forums at least once per quarter. These forums will enable cooperatives to exchange product information, understand market needs, and engage in business matching or joint ventures, thereby increasing market opportunities and expanding the buyer network.
The Deputy Spokesperson of the Prime Minister’s Office stated that currently there are 125 CDC centers distributed across various provinces, with cumulative transaction value exceeding 3.13 billion baht as of September 2026. The top three products by transaction value are rice, fruits, and processed goods.
The Department aims to raise the transaction value through CDC centers to 5 billion baht by December 2026, and to increase it to 8–10 billion baht in the following year. Efforts will focus on developing CDCs as mechanisms that connect farmers, cooperatives, buyers, and consumers, enabling faster distribution of agricultural products, broader market access, and stronger bargaining power for farmers.