Location: Ban Hong and Mueang District, Lamphun, Thailand
Language: Thai
Duration: 00:05:26
Source: A24
Restrictions: A24 Subscribers
Dateline: 31-03-2022
Storyline:
More than 25,000 Thai farmers who grow garlic in Thailand are demanding to stop importing it from China, whose garlic is considerably cheaper due to lower production costs. The China-Thailand Free Trade Agreement (FTA) signed in June 2003 allowed China to import their garlic to Thailand with 0% tax. Growers in Thailand are concerned about the China-Laos railway network, fearing it does not lead the Thai economy to have a balance of trade deficit. Local officials have also raised concerns that the railway will hurt Thailand’s agricultural economy and the competitiveness of small and medium enterprises (SMEs). The garlic community enterprise in Ban Hong, a district of Lamphun Province, in northern Thailand, accelerate the promotion of organic garlic cultivation which meets more demands in the Chinese markets. Local garlic grower, Pathipong Nupalao, complained that the Chinese garlic flooded Thai markets and that will make buyers delay their order. Head of Community enterprises Chana Chaichana said Thai Local growers have to bear the cost in their garlic production process while in China, the garlic plantation and trade are huge as they grow them in an extensive area. A greengrocer urged for stopping importing Chinese garlic since a kilogram of it is priced at about 80 baht, considerably lower than Thai prices which stood at 100 baht.
Shots list:
Soundbite the local garlic grower (Pathipong Nupalao, Local garlic grower)
“The Chinese garlic has been bought by the huge corporations, which causes the Thai garlic price to drop. Therefore, we cannot sell our garlic. If there is no Chinese garlic imported, after the Thai new year (Songkran) about in May, we can start to sell them, but the flooding of Chinese garlic will make our buyers delay their order. Currently, the local garlic growers have almost given up on growing the garlic in our area. “
Soundbite the representative of the local organic garlic growers (Chana Chaichana, The chairman of the organic community enterprise)
“In the Thai garlic context, the growers have to bear the cost in their production process. But in China, the garlic plantation and trade are huge as they grow them in an extensive area. So, the problem happens when Chinese companies have the capacity to import the low price agriculture produces. The 60 million Thai consumers willingly consume these vegetables and fruit. We are low income.”
Soundbite a lady who sells the vegetable at Nong Dok Market (Araya Pintayong, The garlic seller)
“Thai garlic is small while Chinese garlic is huge. In general, Thai garlic is expensive. Even though the price fluctuates every season, the Thai garlic price is always higher than 100 baht, while the Chinese garlic price is not more than 80 baht. This is not that good for the Thai garlic growers as it is more difficult to sell their agricultural products. It will be good if we stop importing Chinese garlic.”
Soundbite the representative of the local organic garlic growers (Chana Chaichana, The chairman of the organic community enterprise)
“Actually, the Thai government has already blocked the Chinese flooding produce by setting the high tax wall, such as the FTA. But the situation on the ground is more tricky sometimes. The business sector intentionally
clarifies that their agricultural produce misleads from what is imported. For example, clarifying they import the carrots container, but actually, they hind the garlic in the containers. The importers keep the garlic at the cold storage, located beside the big market. Then, they gradually take them out for selling widely all in Thailand.
Soundbite the representative of the local organic garlic growers, Chana Chaichana, The chairman of the organic community enterprise
“Thai growers have to be more adaptable. Chinese businesses and governments state they want more organic agriculture. If we want to export the garlic to the EU, they require us to have an organic certificate. In China, they also have their own standard.”
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