The government has launched a cassava harvest postponement program to stabilize prices and prevent market oversupply during the peak harvesting season. The Bank for Agriculture and Agricultural Cooperatives (BAAC) is providing financial support to registered cassava farmers, offering loans of up to 50,000 baht per household to delay harvesting by up to six months. The program has a total budget of 10.79 billion baht and is expected to benefit more than 215,000 farming households.
Farmers participating in the program can access loans at an interest rate of 1% per year, with the government covering the remaining interest. Repayment is due within six months but no later than September 30, 2025. Existing BAAC customers with cassava production loans for the 2024/25 season can also apply for a repayment extension. Applications are open at BAAC branches nationwide until March 31, 2025.
Meanwhile, the Department of Internal Trade is collaborating with animal feed factories and livestock farmers to boost domestic demand for cassava, while the Department of Foreign Trade is working to expand exports and find new industrial applications for cassava products.
The Cabinet has also approved additional measures worth 368 million baht to support cassava farmers and processors. These include interest compensation for stockpiling processors, loans for farmer cooperatives to add value to cassava products, provision of cassava chipping machines, and funding to improve cultivation efficiency through modern agricultural technology.
Source: NNT
