KHON KAEN, 30 May 2018 (NNT) – Sugar cane growers in Thailand's Khon Kaen province have handed a letter to their deputy governor detailing issues surrounding the falling price of their produce and requesting that transport trucks be allowed to stack sugar cane higher to alleviate supply issues.
The Nam Pong Sugar Cane Growers Association of Nam Pong district in Khon Kaen, represented by Chairman Chaiwat Kamkaen and Chairman of the Central Isan Sugar Cane Growers Association Krairit Wongweeranimit, has made known its disagreement with proposed amendments to the Sugar Cane and Sugar act to the National Legislative Assembly (NLA).
Chaiwat indicated four sugar cane and sugar organizations with processing factories have held rallies targeting their provincial governors to draw their attention to the falling price of sugar cane, which is now at only 880 baht per ton after hitting 1,050 baht just last year. They assured that, despite finding new sources of income for farmers, they have not been able to make up for lost profits.
The organizations reported to their governors that limitations on sugar cane sales as well as transport of sugar cane have kept supplies stagnant. They asked that a transport limit height of 3.6 meters be increased to 3.8 meters, promising they will take proper precautions to ensure safety.
The growers also pointed out they have been suffering a shortage of laborers due to strict measures governing foreign workers and disinterest from Thai laborers. Some farm owners have had to go into debt due to being unable to harvest in time to make factory deadlines.
Khon Kaen Deputy Governor, Suchai Butarasara, accepted the complaints and indicated his desire to help the farmers. He said he would present their letter to the province’s governor and push for the transport limitation to be changed.
National News Bureau Of Thailand | Northeastern sugar cane farmers outline problems following drop in product price