Pheu Thai MP Criticizes Ekniti Over Unpaid Rice Farmer Subsidies

According to a report by Matichon Online on September 17, 2026, Noppol Luangthongnara, a Member of Parliament for the Pheu Thai Party, has criticized Ekniti Nitithanprapas, accusing his actions of negatively impacting the morale of Thai rice farmers. The core of the dispute involves approximately 1.8 billion baht in government subsidies that remain unpaid for the 2025 fiscal year.

Noppol has urged the government to expedite the clearance of these outstanding debts to ensure farmers receive the financial support they were promised. The MP argued that the delay in processing these payments is causing unnecessary hardship for the agricultural community.

For residents and those interested in Thailand’s agricultural economy, this situation highlights ongoing fiscal challenges within the government’s subsidy programs. While the agricultural sector is a cornerstone of the Thai economy, such payment delays can lead to localized economic instability in rural provinces.

At this stage, it remains to be confirmed how the government intends to source the funds to settle the 1.8 billion baht debt and what specific timeline will be established for the disbursements. There has been no official response from Ekniti or the relevant ministry regarding the specific mechanism for resolving these arrears as of the time of reporting.