BANGKOK, 16 November 2014 – The Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives has set plans to establish markets of high quality agricultural products in all 77 provinces. The markets target the middle class who have high purchasing power.
Minister of Agriculture and Cooperatives Pitiphong Phuengbun Na Ayutthaya said he had asked provincial governors and the private sector in the 77 provinces to find locations for the markets in city areas or government places. There would be one market in each province to trade high quality agricultural products with Good Agricultural Practices, Good Manufacturing Practices and Q Mark. At the markets, farmers would sell their produce to consumers directly. This way, they would sell their produce at good prices and had higher profits since there were no middlemen, said the minister.
On 28 November 2014, the ministry will open the markets in five pilot provinces, including Trang, Amnat Charoen, Nakhon Nayok, Mukdahan and Uttaradit. The ministry has set a target to establish the markets in all 77 provinces by the end of this year.
