Bangkok (VNA) – Thailand’s agriculture sector is expected to record growth between 1.8% and 2.8% next year, helped by factors such as secure water resources, an improving economy and higher demand for farm produce in the global market, according to the Office of Agricultural Economics (OAE).
Chantanon Wannakejohn, Secretary-General of the OAE, said the upbeat forecast stands in contrast to this year, when drought in the early months and heavy floods in the last quarter shaved 1.1% off growth, along with higher costs of production and geopolitical conflicts.
Statistics of the office showed that growth in 2024 fell 1.7% in the crop sector, 2.8% in the fishery sector, and 0.5% in the agricultural services sector, but livestock gained 3.2% and forestry was up 2.2% from the year before.
Every region experienced weakening overall growth, except the Northeast where expansion of 1.7% was reported. A decline of 1% was reported in the North, 1.2% in the central region, 2.3% in the South, 3.6% in the East and 4.8% in the deep South.
Chantanon expressed his hope that the situation will improve next year thanks to the government's economic policy and higher demand in the global market./.
