Thailand’s agriculture sector is projected to grow between 1.8% and 2.8% next year, driven by favorable factors such as reliable water resources, an improving economy, and increased global demand for agricultural products, according to the Office of Agricultural Economics.
This positive outlook contrasts with the current year, where growth was hindered by drought in the early months and severe flooding in the final quarter, resulting in a 1.1% decrease overall. Additionally, rising production costs and geopolitical conflicts played a role, stated Chantanon Wannakejohn, secretary-general of the Office.
In 2024, the cropping sector contracted by 1.7%, the fishery sector by 2.8%, and the agricultural services sector by 0.5%. However, livestock production saw a growth of 3.2%, while forestry increased by 2.2% compared to the previous year.
All regions faced a decline in overall growth except for the Northeast, which reported an expansion of 1.7%. The North experienced a decline of 1%, the central region 1.2%, the South 2.3%, the East 3.6%, and the Deep South 4.8%.
“We anticipate an improved situation next year due to government economic policies and increased global market demand,” Mr. Chantanon noted. “We are optimistic about growth ranging from 1.8% to 2.8%, with the crop sector being instrumental in fostering a healthier economy.”