FOOD SECURITY SNAPSHOT
Mixed performance of 2023 monsoon season
Planting of the 2023 main (mostly rainfed) rice crop, accounting for about 70 percent of the annual output, started in late May with a two‑to‑three week delay due to soil moisture deficits in most cropping areas. Since then, rainfall amounts have been average to above average in the southern, central and northeast parts of the country. The improved rains benefited planting operations and supported crop establishment and development. Pockets of below‑average rainfall amounts have hampered planting activities and crop development in some important rice‑producing provinces, particularly in northern parts of the country. Rainfall performance in the next months will be crucial to support main crop development and to ensure sufficient water reserves for the successively planted 2023/24 secondary crop.
Harvesting of the 2023 main maize crop is underway. Recurrent dry spells from March to May 2023 in the Northern Region, where maize cultivation is concentrated, resulted in reduced plantings and anticipated low yields in localized areas. In an effort to boost domestic production, the government allocated THB 1.7 billion (USD 50 million) to support maize farmers between April 2023 and June 2024 through a system of subsidized loans and guaranteed minimum support prices. The 2023 secondary maize crop is expected to be planted next year.
Domestic prices of rice much higher than year earlier in August 2023
Domestic prices of rice have steadily increased since March 2023, driven by export demand and increases in production and transport costs registered over the course of the 2022/23 season. Between end‑July and end‑August prices surged by more than 20 percent, influenced by restrictions on rice exports imposed by India. Overall, domestic rice prices in late August 2023 were about 45 percent higher than one year before.
