Ministry vows to help tap domestic and overseas markets for Thai fruit

[webfact]

Ministry vows to help tap domestic and overseas markets for Thai fruit

By The Nation

 

File Photo: Thai fruits; durian, mangosteen, longkong, mango and rambutan.

 

The Commerce Ministry is getting ready for this year's fruit harvest and has pledged to help Thai farmers sell their farm products both in the domestic and export markets.

 

Despite the shadow of a drought, a large fruit output is expected this year, said Whichai Phochanakij, director-general of the Internal Trade Department.

 

The department will facilitate trade in Thai fruits such as durian, mangosteen, longan, longkong, lychee and rambutan with a budget of Bt396 million, he said.

 

The department will match major buyers with 20,000 farmers and will collaborate with retailers, department stores and Blue Flag chain stores to sell at least 50,000 tonnes of fruit.

 

The department would hold promotion sales of fruit in both the domestic and overseas markets, aiming to sell more than 20,000 tonnes of fruit, he noted.

 

They would also arrange total loans of Bt1.5 billion at 3 per cent interest to provide liquidity to traders for six months. Another 3 per cent interest subsidy would be allocated to support funding for upgrading their factories and facilitating organic farm certification, he said. Each trader could get a loan of up to Bt10 million.

 

The department will also help farmers to select middlemen from China who come to Thailand to buy fruits for sale later in the Chinese market.

 

The farmers and labourers would be trained in post-harvest handling to maintain the high quality of farm products and reduce losses.

 

Middlemen from China found cheating farmers as in the previous years will be put on the blacklist.

 

The department will also collaborate with four airliners to allow each passenger to take up to 20 kilograms of fruit on board without fee, he added.

 

Source: https://www.nationthailand.com/business/30380453

 

-- © Copyright The Nation Thailand 2020-01-13

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[Oziex1]

I may as well be the first one to query attempts to boost trade in the shadow of the strong baht. 

 

Also 20kg of carry on baggage in the form of fruit? How do the Airlines feel about that? 

 

Yeah I know all just talk. 

[mickymouse1]

Brilliant thoughts????????????????

For me the prices of Thai Fruit are high in comparison to those of other exporting countries. Not mentioning the strong baht.

Devaluation step is of a paramount importance at the moment. 

[techietraveller84]

Hi Thailand, please send fresh mangosteen to the US west coast! There's no fruit like mangosteen.

 

If only it was more tropical where I live, I'd smuggle some seeds and start an orchard of my own.

 

Hmmm...maybe a business opportunity.

[Isaan sailor]

Good luck exporting fruit with high Baht.  Maybe Prayut’s master, China will take pity on Thailand.

Or, better yet, offer the ChiComs free Thai produce, in exchange for increased water flow on Mekong.

[Jimbo2014]

High baht, excessive use of pesticides, open crop burning and high pollution.  Some significant barriers to overcome.

[Assurancetourix]

4 hours ago, webfact said:

to allow each passenger to take up to 20 kilograms of fruit on board without fee

for example 20 kg of turian ...I’m sure the other passengers will enjoy 

[hotchilli]

6 hours ago, webfact said:

Despite the shadow of a drought, a large fruit output is expected this year, said Whichai Phochanakij, director-general of the Internal Trade Department.

So if the harvest is expected to be high why are they predicting a rise in prices because of the shadow of a drought, it's not as if the drought has dropped the output which can drive up the price.

[sammieuk1]

All I smell is rotten tomatoes when the government gets involved with money???? 

[Redline]

More loans that cannot be repaid, more depending on China who’s economy is falling as well

Edited January 13, 2020 by Redline