The government spokesperson presented the latest agricultural prices: cassava up 80.75%, rubber up 53.79%, and white rice up 40%. He stressed the need to view the economy from multiple perspectives, noting that despite high living costs, farmer incomes have risen. He reaffirmed the government's commitment to increasing incomes.
On 7 Nov 2026, Mr. Aekaphop Pianpiset, spokesman of the Prime Minister's Office, revealed that overall prices of key agricultural products have risen compared to the same period last year. This is a positive factor for farm household incomes amid ongoing pressure from global energy prices and living costs.
However, some critics argue that the improved agricultural prices are insufficient to offset the public's living cost burdens. The government listens to all opinions but emphasizes that economic assessments should consider both income and expenditure sides rather than focusing on only one aspect.
Mr. Aekaphop said recent data shows that in October 2026, cassava was priced at 3.85 baht per kilogram, up 80.75% from 2.13 baht a year earlier. Meanwhile, grade 3 raw rubber sheets were at 82.14 baht per kilogram, a 53.79% increase from 53.41 baht.
White rice with 15% moisture content was priced at 9,073 baht per ton, up about 40% from 6,471 baht. Jasmine rice at 15% moisture was 17,853 baht per ton, a 12% increase from 15,931 baht.
Animal feed corn with 14.5% moisture was priced at 9.36 baht per kilogram, up 6% from 8.83 baht. Oil palm fresh fruit bunches were at 8.02 baht per kilogram, a 10.32% rise from 7.27 baht.
“The government does not deny that people still face high living costs, especially with volatile global energy prices. But to say that crop prices are poor or farmers gain no benefit overlooks the clear price increases in many products today. These figures are factual and should be jointly considered,” said Mr. Aekaphop.
He added that the government does not expect rising crop prices to fully offset living costs for all groups. Therefore, it is implementing measures both to increase incomes and reduce expenses, such as lowering the first 200 units of household electricity rates to 3 baht per unit to directly ease household burdens.
The community solar project allows households to generate their own electricity, reduce bills, and sell excess power back to the grid, transforming citizens from sole energy consumers into producers with additional income from their rooftops.
Mr. Aekaphop said the government is also reducing excise taxes on E20 and B20 fuels, creating a price gap of nearly 10 baht per liter compared to base fuels. This incentivizes people to use more biofuels, lowering fuel costs and future oil imports. This measure directly benefits agriculture by increasing demand for sugarcane, cassava, and oil palm, which are raw materials for ethanol and biodiesel, creating new markets beyond traditional consumption and export.
He compared this approach to enabling farmers to participate in the country’s oil industry through energy crops. Every liter of biofuel produced from Thai raw materials means more money circulating back to agriculture while reducing foreign energy import expenditures.
“The government’s challenge is not to make everything cheap against global markets but to increase people’s incomes while reducing essential expenses. Electricity costs must be lowered, energy options expanded, farmers given more markets, and money that once left the country for energy imports should circulate more within the Thai economy,” Mr. Aekaphop said.
Mr. Aekaphop concluded that the government will continue managing agricultural prices via market mechanisms, expanding export markets, timing imports, and creating new domestic demand alongside measures to reduce living costs. This aims to balance farmer incomes, business costs, and consumer purchasing power amid ongoing global economic volatility.