BANGKOK, Oct 19 (TNA) — The Commerce Ministry is closely controlling the importation of coconuts and encouraging relevant manufacturers to buy local coconuts at a reasonable price to help growers.
Deputy Prime Minister Somkid Jatusripitak chaired the meeting of a committee on oil plants and plant oil and the committee agreed in principle with the listing of coconut as a controlled item. It would send the resolution to the Commerce Ministry’s committee on product and service prices next week to implement the policy.
Boonyarit Kalayanamit, permanent secretary for commerce, said the committee on oil plants and plant oil set up a sub-committee to regulate coconut importation to guarantee proper imports. The permanent secretary for agriculture chairs the sub-committee.
The oversupply and low price of coconuts caused the manufacturers of coconut milk and plant oil to suspend coconut purchase, he said. He expects the coconut price will improve after the government keeps a balance between demand and supply.
The government would impose strict measures to control trade in coconut and would ask related manufacturers to buy coconuts at a reasonable price that the government would set, Mr Boonyarit said.
The present price is at 4-5 baht per coconut. Farmers demand it at 15 baht. The sub-committee would work out a reasonable price, he said. (TNA)
