Thai farmers across the country are very happy this year, with sugarcane growers being the happiest group due to rising world sugar prices, a survey has found.
The survey, conducted by the Bank for Agriculture and Agricultural Cooperatives' research centre, revealed that Thai farmers from all regions were in better spirits as their average happiness score stood at 3.11 out of a total 4 points, Apiradee Yimlamai, director of the research centre said on Thursday.
The research centre conducted the survey among 2,044 farmers across the country between Nov 20 and Dec 4 last year to gauge their views on "Thai farmers’ happiness level".
The results showed that sugarcane farmers got the highest score of 3.22 out of four. Their happiness was attributed to the global sugar prices in November that increased by 5.6% from the previous month and there was a positive trend.
Palm oil farmers came second, with an average happiness score of 3.19, followed by chicken raisers with a happiness score of 3.17, Ms Apiradee said.
Palm oil prices have kept increasing due to high demand of both consumption and industrial use, including biodiesel production, she said.
Prices of chicken meat have also significantly increased as there was more demand during the high peak tourist season and festival periods.
The survey showed farmers working as hired hands at crop plantations and paddy fields received the lowest happiness score of 3.01, compared with other groups of farmers.