August 28, 2025

 

Thailand's feed producers protest mandatory corn purchase at guaranteed price 

 

 

Thai animal feed producers have voiced concerns after the Ministry of Commerce, under pressure from farmers, required factories to buy corn at a guaranteed price of ฿9.80 (US$0.30) per kilogramme, effective August 22.

 

According to Pornsilp Patcharintanakul, president of the Thai Animal Feed Manufacturers Association, in a meeting between the Ministry of Commerce and corn farmers from Phetchabun province on August 19, the ministry ordered animal feed factories to open for purchases at the guaranteed income price specified in accordance with the resolution of the meeting with the Animal Feed Corn Policy and Management Committee (NBPMC) held in March this year.

 

Based on the meeting, the association, however would like to express the following considerations:

 

    1. The aforementioned meeting was held between the Minister of Commerce, the Phetchabun Provincial Farmers' Group, and produce collectors. The Animal Feed Producers Association and the Livestock Association did not participate. Therefore, this meeting was not a complete gathering of information. The association disagrees with the meeting's conclusions as presented in the media and various platforms.

 

    2. The Association has consistently maintained that farmer income insurance must be based on liberalised import conditions for raw materials. This is in accordance with the principles discussed with Phumtham Wechayachai, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Interior, at the meeting on November 17, 2023. The farmer income insurance issue discussed at the March 2025 meeting of the Animal Feed Corn Policy and Management Committee (APCMC) was a policy discussion for 2026, not 2025, and must also be accompanied by other conditions and measures.

 

    3. The guaranteed income price of ฿9.80 /kg does not reflect reality because it is calculated from the initial cost of farmers from 2023/2024. Furthermore, farmers and producers currently dispute the yield figures per rai provided by the Office of Agricultural Economics (OAE). A revision of the yield figures per rai will result in changes in farmers' costs per rai. Therefore, a new calculation of the guaranteed income price will be required.

 

    4. Animal feed producers are just one link in the livestock supply chain. Policy considerations must take into account the impacts on livestock farmers and consumers. Should any impacts occur, the government must also consider ways to alleviate these impacts.

 

"The Thai Animal Feed Manufacturers Association therefore requests that the agency hold a meeting with animal feed manufacturers and farmers to obtain complete information before holding a meeting with the NBP. They disagree with the idea of ​​purchasing and starting immediately," Patcharintanakul said.

  

As of August 20, 2025 corn prices are at ฿8.75฿-9.05 (US$0.27 – US$0.28) per kg.

  

-      Thansettakij