Support for Thai growers facing price slump

Thailand’s air force has been called upon to transport fruit across the country in an attempt to shore up fruit prices.

According to a report from the Bangkok Post, the initiative by Thailand’s Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives flew mangosteen grown in the southern province of Surat Thani north to Chiang Mai, meanwhile, the return flight was filled with longan.

Wichawut Jinto, governor of Surat Thani, said the province had produced around 7,000 tonnes of mangosteen casing an oversupply in the local market.

The oversupply combined with the downturn in the country’s economy due to the Covid-19 pandemic had seen prices drop to record lows he said.

This initiative provided a new market for growers in these respective regions and Jinto said the programme will also be expanded to include rambutans from Surat Thani and rice from the north-east of Thailand.

Thailand’s Ministry of…