Thailand’s cabinet has succumbed to pressure from protesting pineapple farmers and approved a budget of THB1.44 billion to buy 200,000 tonnes of surplus pineapple.
The farmers became disgruntled last week when the government refused to meet their valuation of four baht a kilo, only offering three baht a kilo.
In an act of defiance, the pineapple farmers dumped thousands of pineapples on the southern highway in Prachuap Khiri Khan’s Muang district on March 31st, blocking the main road from Bangkok to Southern Thailand.
Deputy government spokesman, Pakdihan Himathongkam outlined why the government decided to assist the farmers.
“From April to June, there’ll be 748,000 tonnes of pineapple entering the market but factories can only take in 546,000 tonnes. The government must buy the surplus crop as quickly as possible to prevent the price from declining further,” Mr Pakdihan told The Bangkok Post..
The government will buy up surplus crops from 20 provinces, including Prachuap Khiri Khan, Petchaburi, Rayong and Chon Buri.
The farmers demanded Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra meet with them to discuss the price of pineapples but the action taken by the cabinet means this meeting will no longer take place.
