PM Anutin puts food security and farmers’ incomes in focus amid global uncertainty
Anutin highlights Thailand’s food export potential amid global uncertainty, calling for higher farm incomes and caution over ties with Cambodia.
- Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul is positioning Thailand's food security as a key economic opportunity to capitalize on global conflict and uncertainty.
- The strategy involves improving the food sector's infrastructure to increase income and quality of life for Thai farmers, who are the primary food producers.
- To protect domestic crop prices, the policy includes measures like maintaining border checkpoint closures to prevent agricultural smuggling that harms local farmers.
- Anutin is promoting the Udon Thani International Horticultural Expo 2026 as a platform to exchange agricultural knowledge and showcase Thailand's strengths.
Prime Minister and Interior Minister Anutin Charnvirakul highlighted food security as an economic opportunity for Thailand on October 31, 2026, calling for improvements that would help farmers earn more amid global conflict and uncertainty.
Speaking on the programme “Talk with Anutin's Cabinet”, Anutin described food as people’s most essential need when different regions face conflict and instability.
Anutin said Thailand’s abundant food resources and ability to supply almost every region of the world gave the country an opportunity to demonstrate its food-security strengths and stimulate international demand for Thai food.
Higher incomes and savings for farmers
Government spokesperson Ekkapob Pianpises reported that Anutin wanted Thailand to improve the structures supporting its food sector so the country could capitalise on these opportunities. Farmers, as food producers, should earn more, have money to spend and save, and enjoy a better quality of life.
Anutin also discussed bringing the national agricultural agenda forward for deliberation and launching policies at a Cabinet meeting in Udon Thani, which he described as a hub of northeastern Thailand.
The prime minister assessed rice and other agricultural commodity prices as favourable this year, arguing that Thailand should showcase its strength as a food-secure country.
Udon Thani expo offers agricultural knowledge exchange
Anutin encouraged the public to take an interest in the forthcoming Udon Thani International Horticultural Expo 2026, describing it as an event of international significance.
The prime minister highlighted the expo’s role as a platform for exchanging knowledge about agricultural products and crops, alongside its extensive programme of academic activities.
Caution over restoring relations with Cambodia
Addressing border closures and the situation along the Thai–Cambodian border, Anutin argued that closing checkpoints helped prevent agricultural smuggling that could undermine prices received by Thai farmers.
Anutin said illegal agricultural imports had previously affected domestic crop prices and the competitiveness of Thai-grown produce.
Restoring relations with Cambodia would require consideration of several factors, Anutin said. Outstanding matters needed further discussion and sufficient reassurance for Thailand, including national interests, maritime areas containing natural resources, and measures against transnational crime and scam networks harming the economy and the public.
Anutin stressed that national interests must guide policy and cautioned against rushing to restore relations before sufficient confidence had been established.
