Prices of some vegetables have gone up sharply, but steps are being taken to solve the root causes and prices should return to normal soon, government spokesman Thanakorn Wangboonkongchana said on Monday.
He attributed the price rise to short-term factors, mainly floods damaging farm land and higher fuel prices and transport costs.
The spokesman said not all vegetables prices had gone up. It mainly affected phakchi (coriander), khana (kale), phak bung chin (Chinese morning glory) and ma khua Chao Phraya (Chao Phraya eggplant). Prices of many other vegetables, such as Chinese cabbage and scallions, were unchanged.
Floodwaters had already receded in many areas, Mr Thanakorn said.
Several government agencies had taken steps to enable growers to resume cultivation.
The Energy Ministry had frozen diesel prices until the end of October to keep down the cost of transport.
The Internal Trade Department was using vehicles, radiating out from central markets and selling vegetables to residents of Bangkok and surrounding provinces at reasonable prices.
The Commerce Ministry was also looking into the root causes to solve the problem systematically and eleviate impacts on farmers, consumers and food shops.
Vegetable prices should soon return to normal, in line with the market mechanisms, the spokesman said.