Minister Clarifies Cost of Electric Rice Harvester Project
Thailand's Minister of Agriculture and Cooperatives, Suriya Juangroongruangkit, has refuted claims that the government's electric rice harvester project involves a cost of 16 million baht per unit.
Clarification on Agricultural Technology Procurement
Thailand’s Minister of Agriculture and Cooperatives, Suriya Juangroongruangkit, has officially addressed public speculation regarding a government initiative to procure 500 electric (EV) rice harvesters. Recent reports circulating in the media suggested that each unit was priced at 16 million baht, a figure the Minister has explicitly denied as inaccurate.
Context and Impact
For residents and those involved in the agricultural sector, this clarification serves to correct misinformation regarding the allocation of public funds for modernizing farming equipment. The project aims to introduce sustainable EV technology into the rice harvesting process, which is a significant step toward reducing carbon emissions in the agricultural industry. While the Minister has confirmed that the 16 million baht per unit figure is false, specific details regarding the actual procurement cost and the timeline for the deployment of these 500 harvesters have not yet been fully disclosed.
What Remains Confirmed
As of now, the Ministry has only confirmed that the reported price is incorrect. Stakeholders and the public are awaiting further official documentation or a detailed breakdown of the project's budget to understand the true financial scope of this initiative. The Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives is expected to provide additional transparency as the procurement process moves forward.
