The Thai Chamber of Commerce has joined forces with 28 organisations in the public and private sectors to establish the Agriculture and Food Coordination and Public Relations Centre to solve the problem of low prices and oversupply of agricultural products.
Poj Aramwattananont, vice-chairman of the Thai Chamber of Commerce and Board of Trade of Thailand, said the agriculture sector employs roughly 12 million people, or around 30% of the total labour force covering 7.8 million households. This makes it one of the most important sectors in the economy, generating food and living incomes for most Thai people.
However, the agricultural sector is facing many uncertainties in terms of income, production and quality due to external changes that directly affect productivity and the incomes of farmers.
These include extreme weather fluctuations, drought, disease outbreaks in land animals, aquatic animals and plants, and intense competition in the world's export markets due to stringent trade measures which have led to an oversupply and a decline in the prices of agricultural products.
In response to such unprecedented challenges, the Thai Chamber of Commerce, the Board of Trade of Thailand and 28 partner agencies signed a memorandum of understanding on the establishment of the Agriculture and Food Coordination and Public Relations Center (AFC) to solve the crisis of the agriculture and food sector in terms of oversupply and falling prices as well as developing quality standards to increase competitiveness of the agricultural and food sectors.
Partner agencies include the Thai Tuna Industry Association, the Thai Frozen Foods Association, the Thailand Chefs Association, the Thai Fresh Market Association, the Thai Retailer Association, the Thai Broiler Processing Exporters Association, the Thai Restaurant Association, the Thai Hotels Association, Central Food Retail Co Ltd, CP Axtra Co Ltd, Central Food Wholesale, The Mall Group Co and Big C Supercenter Plc.
Information on seasonal agricultural products will be collected by public organisations and sent to the AFC to be compiled within a central database for the analysis and assessment of the situation of agricultural products by the University of the Thai Chamber of Commerce.
The partner agencies will use the information for marketing plans to help farmers distribute products to consumers, restaurants, modern retail stores and processing factories in the event of oversupply and falling prices.
Moreover, the partner agencies will also facilitate contract farming and support research and development which create added value for agricultural products throughout the supply chain, as well as publicising the mission of the AFC to all regional networks.
The AFC will be responsible for the coordination and promotion of agricultural and food products nationwide through cooperation with the public and private sectors.
The Thai Tuna Industry Association, in collaboration with Purse Seine Fishery Association (Thailand), plan to purchase bonito fish to promote and support sustainable use of fishery resources during July to December, amounting to 20 million kilogrammes worth 800 million baht.
The Thai Frozen Foods Association, in collaboration with the Fisheries Association of Thailand, purchase sea fish as raw material to produce minced fish meat (surimi) at a higher price by around 1-2 baht per kg.
The Thai Restaurant Association, in collaboration with the Thai Marine Fish Farmers Association, promote the consumption of white seabass to help fishermen distribute products to members of the Thai Restaurant Association and consumers.