BANGKOK, Thailand – As the cassava harvest season approaches next month, the government has announced measures to stabilize prices and protect farmers’ incomes. The initiative aims to ensure fair pricing, improve crop quality, and safeguard transactions through strict monitoring and enforcement of legal standards.
Deputy Government Spokesperson Anukool Pruksanusak revealed that the Department of Internal Trade has mobilized special task forces. These teams are working with provincial commerce offices and weights and measures inspectors to oversee cassava purchasing activities across the country.
Anukool emphasized the importance of fairness in quality assessments and pricing. He urged farmers to harvest their crops at full maturity to achieve higher starch content and better prices.
Currently, some farmers have already started harvesting. However, premature harvesting or the use of uncertified cassava varieties has led to lower starch content, averaging around 19–20%. This results in reduced prices. Fresh cassava with 25% starch content is currently priced at an average of 2.50 baht per kilogram. Starch content is expected to increase by December as the rainy season concludes.
Buyers have been warned to comply with legal standards. Violators face strict penalties under existing laws.
Penalties for underpricing include up to seven years’ imprisonment, fines of up to 140,000 baht, or both. Violations such as failing to display prices, displaying incorrect prices, or charging for weighing agricultural products carry penalties of up to five years’ imprisonment, fines of up to 100,000 baht, or both.
Anukool also warned that using unverified or expired measuring instruments can result in six months’ imprisonment, fines of up to 20,000 baht, or both. Tampering with measuring devices may lead to seven years’ imprisonment and fines of up to 280,000 baht. (NNT)
