BANGKOK, Thailand – Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul has urged the public not to stockpile food, saying Thailand’s strong domestic food production and supply chain mean there is no reason to fear shortages. Speaking at Government House at 11.30am on November 5, Anutin, who also serves as Interior Minister, was asked about public concern following advice from the Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation (DDPM) on preparing an emergency survival kit containing essentials for 72 hours.
The advice had prompted some people to become concerned about possible shortages and begin stockpiling goods. Anutin dismissed the need for such a response, describing Thailand as a major food-producing country with food security and an integrated domestic supply chain.
He said the government remained attentive to ensuring that Thai people could access food and insisted the country would not face a shortage. Asked whether people could continue their daily lives without stockpiling food, Anutin said they should carry on as normal and not be unsettled by situations that might arise in other countries.
He noted that Thailand produces and exports a wide range of food and agricultural products, including fruit, vegetables, rice, sugar, cassava and processed agricultural goods.
He said this position could also make Thailand more important on the international stage as a reliable food producer and exporter. On the question of preparedness for cyberattacks, Anutin said that as Thailand is an exporting country, manufacturers must take responsibility for protecting their respective supply chains.
