Phichit farmers protest low prices

Phichit farmers protest low prices

About 100 rice farmers from Muang district of Phichit province rallied on Tuesday, calling on the government to guarantee a price of 10,000 baht per tonne.

The farmers, led by Montra Boonruang, chief of Village Group 6 in tambon Ban Bung, first demonstrated on Phichit-Taphanhin road before moving to the city hall to voice their grievances.

About 100 rice farmers from Muang district of Phichit province rallied on Tuesday, calling on the government to guarantee a price of 10,000 baht per tonne. (Bangkok Post photo)

They said they were seriously suffering very low rice prices of 6,000 baht per tonne while the production costs were much higher.

Mr Montra admitted staging protest violated martial law, but farmers had to do it as they are in real trouble.

He said the farmers wanted the government to guarantee a price at 10,000 baht per tonne and give them a three-year moratorium on debt repayment to the Bank for Agriculture and Agricultural Cooperatives.

The farmers then moved to city hall, where they submitted a letter to Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha through governor Surachai Khan-asa.

Mr Montra said the farmers expected a reply from the government as soon as possible. Otherwise farmers from 12 districts of the province would come out to raise their demands again.

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