On May 31, 2022, in the Huai Mun Pineapple Procurement Area, Banhuaizuo 1 Village, Huaimen Street, Nanpat District, Chengyi House, there is a famous thing that generates at least 400 million baht per year for farmers. It is the most delicious pineapples that also get a Geographical Indication (GI) seal. This year, farmers have been affected because they were sold at 5-7 baht per kilo for C-grade pineapples, which were cut down to 3-4 baht by buyers, and those buyers also requested the A-grade products. The “Kob” factory, known for its canned fruit, bought it from 3-4 baht per kilo in the past and lowered the price to 1 baht, and there are fewer buyers than in previous years. As a result, some pineapple seedlings were planted on the farm until they rotted, and they were not put on the market because the wages for felling, transportation costs and automobile fuel costs all increased. Farmers who used to endure expensive fertilisers of up to 800-1,000 baht per bag, plus pesticides, can no longer afford it.
Huai Mun pineapple farmers loaded their pineapples into E-Ten trucks, tractors, and Y-Tok trucks, with signs “Help Pineapple, Farmers Die” for sale on Tuesday. Farmers said that consumer goods have risen, agricultural products have fallen, and the price of pineapples has dropped to 1 baht, and 6 pineapples are equal to 1 packet of Mama noodles. They were calling on other pineapple farmers to come together and carry pineapples with banners for the relevant agencies to assist farmers in selling their produce to the market at acceptable prices. At the same time, he called on Prime Minister General Prayut to solve the problem of falling pineapple prices and help divert pineapples to the market.
Meanwhile, Mr Saranwut Sarunket from District 2 of Cheng Yifu and his team came to express the pineapple growers’ dilemma. He took a knife to peel the pineapple, showed the meat inside, and called on Prayut Chan-o- With General Cha present, government leaders must urgently find a way to help farmers who grow the world’s most delicious Huai Mun pineapple. It is proposed to divide the aid into two stages; in the short term, the price of agricultural products must be protected. The Ministry of Commerce must assist in promotion and publicity to be sold nationwide at a price favourable to farmers. In addition, the Ministry of Agriculture must make a concerted effort to get distributors and factories from all over the world to come to buy, and agricultural cooperatives across the country to help buy some Huaimen pineapples so that the price will be better. The Ministry of Finance could also help Huai Mun farmers with tax measures. In the long run, I want to leave it to the Prime Minister, General Prayuth, to help deal with planning and marketing and how can pineapples be exported to the country every year. We would also like to give some pointers on whether any techniques can help preserve pineapples for months before they can be shipped abroad so that when they arrive in the country from shipment or by road, the taste is still as good as when they were cut from the tree. All the above are the things entrusted to the government.
“We help fishermen get purple oil. Why not help Huai Mun people get cheap fertiliser? Thailand has its natural resources to produce fertilisers; can the government help farmers to produce fertilisers? If fertilisers are cheap, crops in the whole country will be cheaper. The feed cost will be reduced, and the meat price will be lower. Thai people will enjoy the nutrition brought by food, and exports will win worldwide. Can the government be nationalised? How do we ensure that Huai Mun pineapples find good buyers every year? Does quantity guaranteed by each dealer? When will the farmers prepare the pineapples for sale? How long will they wait now? The farmers have a suggestion to General Prayuth to sell the pineapples to Mars.”
Ms Somrit Pim-up, a farmer who grows Huai Mun pineapples, said they planted 10 rai and yielded 1 ton per rai. If sub-district is included, they have an area of nearly 20,000 rai. Prices are the lowest this year. So had to come out and ask for help from two government agencies, politicians, and MPs in the area; please help find a way to bring pineapples to markets and factories at a price that is acceptable for farmers. Only select high-grade canned pineapples and pineapple juice processing factories, the price is 3-4 baht per kilogram, and there is almost no purchase this year unless the cost can be reduced to 1 baht per kilogram. Farmers would rather cut pineapples as fertiliser for the farm. The losses caused this year is unprecedented, now requiring all parties to help farmers of Huai Mun pineapples and put their products on the market.
The journalist reported that Huai Mun pineapple is a pineapple species from Batavia, with thin skin, easy to peel, pineapple pulp colour like honey, sweet taste and does not irritate the tongue. And they are certified with a Geographical Indication (GI) mark, proving quality and grown in Huai Mun District, Nanpa District. Growing starts from May to July in some Ban Khok districts of Cheng Yi province. The planting area is more than 20,000 rai, the output is about 50,000-60,000 tons, and the average income is about 20-400 million baht.
