Corn farmers have set up a blockade at Huay Nam Onn in Wiang Sa district of Nan province, blocking the Nan-Phrae highway, reports said.
The farmers set up the blockade of Highway 101 at 5pm on Wednesday after authorities failed to respond to their demands to tackle low corn prices.
More than 200 farmers began to rally in Nan yesterday, demanding the government extend its corn price guarantee programme for an extra four months. The programme, which began last month, is due to end in December.
The programme guarantees the price of maize with 30% moisture at eight baht per kilogramme and at 10 baht/kg for grain with 14.5% moisture.
The blockade made the main road to Nan impassable. Tour bus passengers had to walk past the protesters to board new buses waiting on the other side of the road block. Cargo trucks were forced to park up on the roadside.
Farmers vowed to continue to rally until Deputy Commerce Minister Yanyong Puangraj and Pheu Thai MP for Nan Cholanan Srikaew come to meet them with an answer to their requests.
Pol Maj Gen Narongchai Wongsami, the Nan police chief, issue an announcement telling motorists to avoid Highway 101 and instead take alternative routes 1091, 1120 and 1154 (Muang Nan - Ban Luang - Chiang Muan - Song - Muang Phrae).