CityNews – Around 200 potato farmers protested outside Chiang Mai Provincial Hall yesterday, after a company that had agreed to buy their crops cancelled without giving them advance notice.
Potato farmers’ leader Inthorn Pothacharoen (left) files a complaint with Vice-governor Nawin Sinthusa-ard. Photo: Weerasak Panyachod.
The farmers, from Sansai’s Mae faek sub-district, said they would lose more than 100 million baht in total if the company refuses to honour its agreement.
Inthorn Pothacharoen, president of the Chiang Mai Potato Growers’ Cooperative, said the company agreed last April to buy their crops but changed its mind, citing the current economic climate as a reason. This had caused problems for the farmers, who had already budgeted for the new crop.
Inthorn said the farmers have worked with the company for 30 to 40 years and previously had no problems. They want it to help them through this year, and said they would follow the company’s system next year.
After acknowledging the complaint, provincial vice-governor Nawin Sinthusa-ard asked the local Department of Internal Trade, the Office of Commercial Affairs and agricultural authorities to look into the case and help the potato farmers as soon as possible.