Narongdet challenges the government spokesperson's claim of a 17,000 baht price for jasmine rice, stating that farmers actually receive only 13,000-14,000 baht, urging swift implementation of the National Rice Policy Committee (NRPC) measures to support prices before the rice harvest ends.
On 9 Nov 2026 GMT+7, Narongdet Ularkul, former party-list MP and agricultural task force member of the People’s Party, addressed the assistant spokesperson for the Prime Minister’s Office’s statement that farmers can sell jasmine paddy rice at up to 17,000 baht per cart. Narongdet said this information is only half true and does not reflect the reality farmers face today.
Narongdet explained that the 17,000 baht per cart cited by the government refers to dried paddy rice with moisture content no higher than 15%. Most farmers, however, do not have rice at 15% moisture to sell, since jasmine rice is grown in only about 23 specific provinces and must be harvested fresh and sold immediately. For the 2026/2027 wet season currently being harvested, fresh rice prices at mills range only from 13,500 to 14,200 baht per cart. Moreover, most farmers receive significantly less due to deductions for moisture and impurities imposed by traders and mills.
Narongdet further urged the government to act urgently, noting that jasmine rice harvesting in many areas is nearly finished. Yet, the measures for price stabilization according to the National Rice Policy Committee’s resolutions remain unclear and lack budget allocation. As a result, agricultural institutions and cooperatives involved in collecting produce cannot fully intervene to purchase paddy rice from farmers during the market’s supply surge due to funding limits.
He pointed out that this situation has caused fresh paddy rice prices at mills to fall far below reasonable levels, despite an overall reduced rice yield this season. According to market mechanisms and economic principles, farmers should be able to sell their rice at better prices and receive higher income.
"The government should stop presenting paper prices that farmers never actually receive. It is time for ministers and authorities to take real action and urgently unlock NRPC price support measures for agricultural cooperatives before jasmine rice harvests completely leave farmers’ hands. If communicating with the public, spokespeople with real knowledge of the production chain and farmers’ lives should speak to avoid further distressing farmers facing problems in their fields," Narongdet said. Narongdet concluded his remarks.