BANGKOK, Aug 26 (TNA) – The Industry Ministry is to
propose a subsidy scheme to alleviate sugar cane farmers’ plight as local sugar
prices have dropped sharply.
Industry Minister Suriya Jungrungruengkij said on Monday
that his proposed scheme would guarantee sugar cane price at Bt837 per ton.
The current sugar cane price is estimated at Bt680 per ton,
the lowest in five years.
Production cost of Thai sugar 
cane farmers in Thailand is
around 1,100 baht per ton, according to the Ministry.
In addition, the Ministry planned to delay debt payment of
the sugarcane and sugar fund to the state-run Krungthai Bank, Mr Suriya said.
In the meantime, the Ministry would speedily push ahead
legal processes to allow diversification of sugar cane products, he added.
The Industry Ministry predicts that Thailand will produce
120 million tons of sugar cane in 2019-2020 crop season. Since last year, falling world sugar prices
have affected Thailand’s overall sugar industry. Domestic sugar prices have dropped sharply to
below Bt20 per kilogram. (TNA)
