Deputy Prime Minister Prawit Wongsuwon on Monday pledged to maintain the price of oil palm during his visit to the southern province of Surat Thani, in what was widely seen as a bid to court voters.
Gen Prawit, who chairs the National Oil Palm Policy Committee, was greeted by a group of local residents and oil palm farmers at the provincial hall.
After a meeting with local officials, in which he instructed them to push ahead with the "Oil Palm City" project that is aimed at helping local farmers add value to their products, the deputy premier met with oil palm producers to gather a first-hand account of the market situation.
Gen Prawit, who is also the leader of the ruling Palang Pracharath Party, promised to maintain the market price of oil palm, which has steadily risen from one baht per kilogramme to eight baht.
Among the measures taken by the government to raise the oil palm price was the introduction of biodiesel B10 as the main diesel variety offered in the market, and the Egat's purchase of 360,000 tonnes of palm oil for power generation as part of its efforts to absorb surplus oil palm in the market.
He said the government will come up with a long-term plan to promote oil palm as a sustainable economic crop, before pointing out that since 2019 the price of oil palm has never dipped below four baht per kg and that over the past nine months the average price was around 8.50 baht.
"Let me tell you that we've been doing all we can to keep the price of oil palm price above eight baht per kg. The government cares about palm oil farmers no matter where they are. We'll try to maintain the price and raise it further," he said.
During the meeting with farmers, one of them asked the government to bring up the price to ten baht per kg. Gen Prawit said that the price is steadily increasing, and the current price is considered high already.
Gen Prawit also inspected flood prevention schemes in Muang and Phunpin districts, where he assured residents that preparations were underway for the upcoming rainy season.
The deputy prime minister was accompanied by DES Minister Chaiwut Thanakamanusorn, Deputy Finance Minister Santi Promphat and Deputy Defence Minister Gen Chaichan Changmongkol.
Asked about the election in Surat Thani, the PPRP leader said more than 20 people want to run under the party's banner, but only seven seats are open.
