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Published on March 20, 2008

"Fertiliser prices are going up every week in line with rising rice prices," said Agriculture Minister Somsak Prissanananthakul.

The ministry will call a meeting with both traders and importers soon after farmers complained that they have to pay 60 per cent more than the market.

The Cabinet has ordered the ministry to closely monitor such inequitable pricing and urgently help farmers.

Somsak said he had talked with foreign ambassadors in the countries supplying fertiliser to Thailand, as well as Thai envoys in those countries. He found importers had quoted prices here that are 60 per cent higher than the prices in those countries, even though the product is not subject to an import duty.

The ministry will check the real production cost of fertiliser to find ways to bring down the local price.

Although rice prices have rocketed, farmers have also faced soaring costs for oil, fertiliser and other chemical products.

The ministry has warned farmers in the Central region for the second time this year against planting a second crop to avoid losses from drought.

The Nation